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    STUMP VISION                                                              MAY 15, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 44

                                                                      IPL 2026

                     Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Second Wind

             Keeps Swing Bowling Alive in T20 Cricket

             Even in an era ruled by power-hitters and flat pitches, Bhuvneshwar Kumar continues to prove that
                                           skill, swing and intelligence still matter in T20 cricket

            OUR BUREAU

            Mumbai
                  here  was  a  time  when  fast
                  bowlers  in  T20  cricket  were
            Texpected to survive rather than
            dominate. Batters dictated the terms,
            boundaries grew shorter, and yorkers
            became the only reliable currency for
            seamers. Yet, amid the noise and cha-
            os of modern franchise cricket, Bhu-
            vneshwar  Kumar  has  quietly  built  a
            second act to his career — one based
            not on raw speed, but on mastery.
                The veteran Indian pacer reached
            another landmark during Royal Chal-
            lengers Bengaluru’s IPL clash against
            Gujarat  Titans  in  Ahmedabad,  be-
            coming  the  first  Indian  pacer  and
            only  the  second  Indian  overall  to
            complete 350 wickets in T20 cricket.
            The achievement underlined not just
            longevity,  but  also  adaptability  in  a
            format  that  has  relentlessly  evolved      Bhuvneshwar represents proof that swing remains a potent weapon even in modern T20 cricket (ANI file photo)
            against bowlers.
                Bhuvneshwar  finished  with  fig-  15.52, emerging as the leading wick-  reserve for those who master the craft.  his future at the highest level. Young-
            ures of 3/28 in four overs during the   et-taker of the tournament. His econ-  Vaas also used the discussion to   er, quicker bowlers emerged. The IPL
            match,  keeping  RCB  in  contention   omy rate of 7.54 is equally impressive   highlight  the  lineage  of  great  swing   increasingly  became  a  stage  for  ex-
            while defending a modest total of 155.   in a season where many bowlers have   bowlers, calling Pakistan legend Wasim   press pace and mystery variations. But
            Even  as  Gujarat  Titans  eventually   struggled  to  contain  scoring  rates.  Akram  the  “complete  fast  bowler.”  Bhuvneshwar  refused  to  disappear.
            chased down the target, his spell stood   The resurgence has also revived   “He had everything — pace, con-  Instead, he reinvented himself.
            apart for its control and movement at   conversations about the fading art of   trol and the ability to swing the ball   He  shortened  his  run-up,  devel-
            a venue often dominated by batters.  swing  bowling  in  white-ball  cricket.   both ways,” Vaas said. “But what real-  oped  smarter  slower  deliveries,  and
                In 325 T20 matches, Bhuvneshwar   Former  Sri  Lanka  fast  bowler  Cha-  ly made him special was how late the   learned how to attack batters without
            has now claimed 352 wickets at an aver-  minda  Vaas  believes  Bhuvneshwar   ball would move.”       needing  excessive  speed.  The  result
            age of 24.51, including five four-wick-  represents  proof  that  swing  remains   The  comparison  may  seem  am-  has been one of the most durable T20
            et  hauls  and  five  five-wicket  hauls.   a potent weapon even in modern T20   bitious, but it captures an important   careers by an Indian fast bowler.
            Among  Indians,  only  spinner  Yuz-  cricket.                      truth  about  Bhuvneshwar’s  bowling.   His IPL numbers alone underline
            vendra Chahal has more T20 wickets.   “Bhuvneshwar showed that swing   He has never depended on intimidat-  that  consistency.  In  199  IPL  match-
                What  makes  the  achievement   bowling is still very relevant, even in   ing pace. Instead, he survives through   es, he has taken 215 wickets, making
            remarkable is the context in which it   white-ball formats,” Vaas told Olym-  deception,  seam  position  and  preci-  him the second-highest wicket-taking
            has come. T20 cricket today rewards   pics.com.  “With  the  new  ball,  he   sion — qualities that remain timeless   bowler in the league’s history behind
            brute force. Batters attack from ball   could move it both ways and trouble   regardless of format.   Chahal. For a seamer to sustain that
            one, pitches are flatter than ever, and   top-order batsmen. It’s about control   In  many  ways,  Bhuvneshwar’s   success across changing teams, venues
            bowlers are dissected by data analysts   and  understanding  your  strengths.”  career mirrors the evolution of Indi-  and batting eras is an extraordinary feat.
            before  every  game.  Yet  Bhuvnesh-  Coming  from  Vaas,  one  of  the   an fast bowling itself. When he burst   That philosophy has defined Bhu-
            war’s craft — the ability to swing the   finest swing bowlers of his generation,   onto the scene in 2012, India still re-  vneshwar’s cricket for over a decade.
            ball both ways, change pace subtly and   the praise carries weight. Across an il-  lied heavily on spin. He offered some-  While many bowlers chase speed guns
            outthink batters — continues to thrive.  lustrious international career, the Sri   thing different: classical outswing with   and  variations,  he  continues  to  trust
                This IPL season has been further   Lankan  left-armer  built  his  success   the  new  ball,  discipline  in  line  and   movement and intelligence.
            evidence of that enduring quality. The   on  precision  rather  than  pace.  His   length, and calmness under pressure.  And perhaps that is why, in a for-
            veteran seamer has picked up 17 wick-  admiration for Bhuvneshwar reflects   Over the years, injuries interrupt-  mat designed to diminish bowlers, Bhu-
            ets in nine matches at an average of just   the  technical  respect  swing  bowlers   ed his rhythm and raised doubts about   vneshwar Kumar is still going strong.

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