Bhuvneshwar Kumar secured 49 wickets with an impressive strike rate of 14.4 and an economy rate of 7.2 during the 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons.
© BCCI
As we approach the mid-21st century, we reflect on the greatest players in the most popular format of cricket. Here, we rank the top 25 cricketers in the history of T20 leagues.
No. 25, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
by Karthik Krishnaswamy
Among 152 bowlers who have delivered over 1000 balls in the initial six overs of T20 innings, only Mohammad Hafeez boasts a superior economy rate compared to Bhuvneshwar, who excels in that role. While Hafeez participated occasionally, Bhuvneshwar consistently takes on the new ball, having bowled the first over in 225 of his 294 T20 innings, regardless of conditions or opposing batters.
Other new-ball bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Trent Boult may dismantle batting lineups more aggressively, but none have displayed Bhuvneshwar’s finesse in swing bowling over an extended period. His meticulous action emphasizes precision, with both outswingers and inswingers posed as rare threats. Instead of seeking extreme aggression like his counterparts, he maintains good length, compelling batters to respect his skill.
His prowess is evident in critical moments, highlighted when he restricted Chris Gayle to just eight runs in three powerplay overs during a game where his team conceded 263 runs. Similarly, during the 2018 IPL final, he troubled Shane Watson, conceding only nine runs in three overs, despite Watson later scoring a match-winning 117.
- Matches: 295
- Wickets: 310
- Econ: 7.27
- PotM awards: 12
- Titles: 1
- Standout stat: Bhuvneshwar holds the record for the most powerplay wickets (72) in IPL history.
Over time, Bhuvneshwar has added new skills such as a yorker and a slower knuckleball, enhancing his effectiveness in death overs. During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, he led the league with 27 wickets and remained more economical than standout bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga.
Career high: Bhuvneshwar won consecutive purple caps as the leading wicket-taker in the IPL for 2016 and 2017, playing a vital role in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s playoff runs, including their championship victory in 2016. His exceptional bowling held back formidable batsmen like Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, contributing significantly to their tightly contested final match.
