New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is closing in on a historic milestone in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as his side gears up to lock horns with arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, April 05. Bhuvneshwar is only 1 wicket away from becoming the first pacer to complete 200 wickets in the IPL.
The Indian pacer made his IPL debut for now-defunct Pune Warriors India in 2011 and has since been one of the most consistent pacers in the league. Bhuvneshwar is the second-highest wicket-taker of all time in the IPL at present, with 199 wickets to his name in 191 matches at an excellent economy rate of 7.69.
He needs only 1 wicket against the Chennai Super Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday to become the first pacer to complete 200 wickets in the IPL. Bhuvneshwar will also become only the second bowler, after Yuzvendra Chahal, to achieve the milestone. Chahal is currently the leading wicket-taker in the IPL with 224 wickets in 176 matches.
Most wickets in IPL:
Yuvzendra Chahal – 224 wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 199 wickets
Sunil Narine – 193 wickets
Piyush Chawla – 192 wickets
R Ashwin – 187 wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s IPL journey
Bhuvneshwar’s IPL career began with the Pune Warriors India in 2011. He was one of the best swing bowlers in India at the time and quickly rose to prominence with his ability to restrict runs and pick up wickets in the Powerplay. With time, Bhuvneshwar sharpened his skills further while developing pace to become a regular for India across formats and in the IPL.
He spent three seasons with Pune Warriors India before moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014, where he established his credentials as one of the best in the league. Bhuvneshwar was at the peak of his prowess for SRH from 2014 to 2017. He played a key role in SRH’s maiden IPL title triumph in 2016 with 23 wickets in 17 matches.
Bhuvneshwar’s form dipped after 2017, but in the last few years, he has once again managed to reinvent himself. While he remains a force to reckon with in the Powerplay with the new ball, Bhuvneshwar is equally reliable in the death. He joined RCB ahead of IPL 2025 and played an instrumental role in their maiden IPL title victory last season with 17 wickets in 14 matches.
With 18 wickets in 15 games, he has been one of RCB’s best bowlers since IPL 2025 and will be hoping to continue his fine form in the ongoing season. Bhuvneshwar is just one wicket away from etching his name in history by becomin the first pacer to complete the milestone of 200 wickets in the league.