Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL stats tell the story of the finest swing bowler the league has seen. Across 206 matches he has taken 226 wickets, becoming the first seam bowler to reach 200 IPL wickets and the first bowler ever to win the Purple Cap in back-to-back seasons. In IPL 2026 he rolled back the years with 28 wickets at an average of 17.89 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defended their title, a season so strong it earned him an India T20I recall at 36.
His game was never about raw pace. Bhuvneshwar’s control of swing in the powerplay made him Sunrisers Hyderabad’s all-time leading wicket-taker, and his return to RCB in 2025 turned into back-to-back championships in 2025 and 2026. With the IPL 2027 season still to come, he is expected to stay with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, retained on the ₹10.75 crore deal RCB signed him to at the 2025 mega auction.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Stats Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh |
| IPL Debut | 2009 (Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad; first played for Pune Warriors in 2011) |
| Role | Bowler |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Current IPL Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| IPL Matches | 206 |
| IPL Runs | 320 |
| Highest Score | 27 |
| IPL Wickets | 226 |
| Best Bowling | 5/19 |
| IPL 2027 Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (expected; not officially confirmed) |
| IPL 2027 Price | ₹10.75 crore (expected, carried over from 2025 auction; not officially confirmed) |
Who Is Bhuvneshwar Kumar?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh was born on 5 February 1990 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, and represents Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket. A right-arm fast-medium bowler who moves the new ball both ways, he made his India debut in December 2012 against Pakistan and became the first Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
In the IPL he is remembered as the powerplay specialist of the 2010s, the spearhead of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s rise, and now the senior bowler of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning attack. He holds the record for the most powerplay wickets in IPL history (79) and the most dot balls ever bowled in the league (1,964).
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Teams
| Season(s) | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2009-2010 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Signed; did not play a match |
| 2011-2013 | Pune Warriors India | Played; quiet early seasons |
| 2014-2024 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Played; Purple Cap winner 2016 and 2017 |
| 2025-2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Played; IPL champion 2025 and 2026 |
| 2027 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Expected to be retained; not officially confirmed |
The arc of his career is unusually neat. Two fallow seasons on RCB’s bench and three modest years with Pune Warriors gave way to eleven seasons as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s new-ball leader, where he won back-to-back Purple Caps and the 2016 title. Released before the 2025 mega auction, he came full circle: RCB bought him for ₹10.75 crore and he won two more titles with the franchise that first signed him.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL 2024 Stats
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 11 | 48.45 | 9.35 | 3/41 |
The 2024 season was the leanest of Bhuvneshwar’s IPL career. Eleven wickets in 16 matches at an average of 48.45 and an economy of 9.35 were a sharp fall from his career standards, and it was the season that put his Sunrisers future in doubt. Sunrisers released him before the 2025 mega auction, ending an eleven-year association.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL 2025 Stats
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 17 | 28.41 | 9.29 | 3/33 |
Back at RCB for ₹10.75 crore, Bhuvneshwar produced a timely comeback: 17 wickets in 14 matches, with his new-ball spells and death-overs control both playing a part in RCB’s maiden title. His two wickets in the 17th over of the final against Punjab Kings were decisive in a six-run win. Partnering Josh Hazlewood at the top of the attack, he gave RCB the control they had long lacked.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL 2026 Stats
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 28 | 17.89 | 7.95 | 4/23 |
The 2026 season was one of the great late-career renaissances in IPL history. Bhuvneshwar took 28 wickets in 16 matches at 17.89, finishing one wicket behind Purple Cap winner Kagiso Rabada, and became the first seam bowler to complete 200 IPL wickets. His 4/23 against Mumbai Indians was the standout spell, and he struck in the powerplay, middle overs and at the death through the playoffs as RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, defended their title. The season earned him an India T20I recall for the New Zealand tour in October 2026, nearly four years after his last international appearance.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL 2027 Stats
IPL 2027 statistics are not available yet because the season has not started. The 2027 season will be played under the existing squad framework after the mini auction, with the retention deadline and auction dates yet to be officially announced. This section will be updated once the season begins.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL 2027 Team and Price
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are expected to retain Bhuvneshwar Kumar for IPL 2027 on his existing ₹10.75 crore deal — the contract RCB gave him at the 2025 mega auction. This is not officially confirmed: the franchise has not published its retention list and the IPL retention deadline has not passed. RCB kept the core of their back-to-back title-winning squad together, and a senior swing bowler coming off a 28-wicket season is the sort of player champions hold on to. Check the IPL 2027 retention deadline, rules and purse guide for how the mini-auction retention process works.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Career Batting Stats
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| IPL Runs | 320 |
| Highest Score | 27 |
Batting was never Bhuvneshwar’s brief. His 320 IPL runs came almost entirely in brief lower-order cameos, with a highest score of 27. Season-by-season batting figures are not available from reliable sources.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Career Bowling Stats
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | Best Bowling | 4-wicket hauls | 5-wicket hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 206 | 226 | 26.16 | 7.71 | 20.35 | 5/19 | 2 | 2 |
Through IPL 2026, Bhuvneshwar stands as the second-highest wicket-taker in league history, behind Yuzvendra Chahal. An average of 26.16 and economy of 7.71 across 206 matches, in an era of escalating scoring, underline a career built on control rather than pace. He is the only seamer in the 200-wicket club.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Stats by Year
| Season | Team | Mat | Wkts | Avg | Econ | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Pune Warriors India | 4 | 3 | 22.33 | 6.09 | 2/14 |
| 2012 | Pune Warriors India | 11 | 8 | 35.12 | 7.20 | 2/9 |
| 2013 | Pune Warriors India | 16 | 13 | 28.53 | 6.50 | 3/18 |
| 2014 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 20 | 17.70 | 6.65 | 4/14 |
| 2015 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 18 | 22.61 | 7.87 | 3/26 |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 17 | 23 | 21.30 | 7.42 | 4/29 |
| 2017 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 26 | 14.19 | 7.05 | 5/19 |
| 2018 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 9 | 39.33 | 7.66 | 3/26 |
| 2019 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 15 | 13 | 35.46 | 7.81 | 2/24 |
| 2020 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 4 | 3 | 33.00 | 6.98 | 2/25 |
| 2021 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 11 | 6 | 55.83 | 7.97 | 1/16 |
| 2022 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 12 | 31.92 | 7.34 | 3/22 |
| 2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 16 | 26.56 | 8.33 | 5/30 |
| 2024 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 16 | 11 | 48.45 | 9.35 | 3/41 |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 14 | 17 | 28.41 | 9.29 | 3/33 |
| 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16 | 28 | 17.89 | 7.95 | 4/23 |
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Highest Score
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s highest IPL score is 27. He batted at the tail for most of his career, so there is no substantial batting record to analyse — his value to every side he played for came with the new ball.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Wickets and Best Bowling
His career-best 5/19 came in 2017 against Punjab Kings, in the season he won his second consecutive Purple Cap. His second five-wicket haul, 5/30 against Gujarat Titans at Ahmedabad in 2023, made him one of only two bowlers with an IPL five-for at that venue. His finest single-season spell with RCB was 4/23 against Mumbai Indians in 2026, the high point of his late-career revival.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Batting Records
Bhuvneshwar holds no significant IPL batting records. His batting contribution was limited to lower-order support, with 320 career runs at a highest score of 27.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Auction Price History
| Season | Team | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Not officially confirmed | Signed |
| 2011 | Pune Warriors India | Not officially confirmed | Auction purchase |
| 2014 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Not officially confirmed | Signed after PWI folded |
| 2022 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹4.20 crore | Retained |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹10.75 crore | Auction purchase (mega auction) |
| 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹10.75 crore | Retained |
| 2027 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹10.75 crore (expected) | Expected retention; not officially confirmed |
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Records and Achievements
- First bowler to win the IPL Purple Cap in consecutive seasons (2016 and 2017).
- First seam bowler to take 200 IPL wickets, reaching the mark during IPL 2026.
- Most powerplay wickets in IPL history: 79 (per ESPNcricinfo).
- Most dot balls in IPL history: 1,964, with 43.6% of his deliveries going scoreless.
- Best powerplay economy among bowlers with 50-plus powerplay wickets: 6.46.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad’s all-time leading wicket-taker: 157 wickets.
- Three-time IPL champion: Sunrisers Hyderabad 2016, Royal Challengers Bengaluru 2025 and 2026.
- Second-highest wicket-taker in IPL history (226 wickets through IPL 2026).
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s IPL Performance Analysis
Look at the by-year numbers and the pattern is clear: Bhuvneshwar had two distinct peaks. The first ran from 2014 to 2017 with Sunrisers, when he took 87 wickets in four seasons, won two Purple Caps, and averaged under 22 in three of those years. The 2017 campaign — 26 wickets at 14.19 with a best of 5/19 — remains the gold standard for an Indian seamer in the IPL.
The middle years show a bowler fighting his body and the format: injury cut his 2020 season to four matches, 2021 and 2024 were poor, and his economy crept above 9 in the high-scoring 2024-2025 era. What changed in 2026 was not pace but method — the wobble-seam and slower-ball variations let him bowl the full quota of attacking overs again, and his 28 wickets at 17.89 matched his very best years. The trajectory says he adapted his craft twice: once to become the powerplay king of the 2010s, and again to survive and thrive in the 200-plus era alongside younger quicks like Mohammed Siraj.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many IPL wickets does Bhuvneshwar Kumar have?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken 226 wickets in 206 IPL matches through the 2026 season, at an average of 26.16 and an economy rate of 7.71. He is the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL history.
Which team will Bhuvneshwar Kumar play for in IPL 2027?
He is expected to continue with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who are likely to retain him on his ₹10.75 crore contract. This is not officially confirmed until RCB announce their retention list.
What was Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s price at the IPL 2025 auction?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru bought him for ₹10.75 crore at the 2025 mega auction, his return to the franchise where his IPL journey began in 2009.
How many Purple Caps has Bhuvneshwar Kumar won?
Two — in 2016 (23 wickets) and 2017 (26 wickets). He is the first bowler to win the Purple Cap in consecutive IPL seasons.
What is Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s best bowling figure in the IPL?
5/19, recorded in the 2017 season. He also took 5/30 against Gujarat Titans in 2023, one of only two IPL five-wicket hauls at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
Has Bhuvneshwar Kumar won the IPL?
Yes, three times: with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, and with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and 2026.
What is Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s IPL 2027 price?
His expected price is ₹10.75 crore if RCB retain him, which is the reported expectation. The official retention list has not been announced, so this is not confirmed.
Sources and Data Notes
Season-by-season bowling figures are drawn from the official IPL website and cross-checked against ESPNcricinfo data cited in the Indian sports press, with career totals verified against season sums. Auction and retention prices are as reported by IPL coverage (₹4.20 crore SRH retention in 2022; ₹10.75 crore RCB purchase at the 2025 mega auction); figures for 2009, 2011 and 2014 are not available from reliable sources. IPL 2027 team and price status is labelled expected, not confirmed, pending official announcements. Statistics and player information are checked against available reliable sources and may be updated as new IPL matches, transfers, or official announcements are confirmed.
Statistics updated through: 20 October 2026
