Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) mentor Dinesh Karthik hailed the team’s new recruit, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as India’s best bowler. The fast bowler was acquired by the franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction 2025, which took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Royal Challengers Bengaluru was among the one of the few franchises who had a great outing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction 2025. The team acquired some big names in the bidding event and one among them was the premier India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who played for 11 long years for Sunrisers Hyderabad, was acquired by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the whopping price of INR 10.75 crore in Jeddah. This surely would solve the problem of franchise, which they have had in the bowling department.
This will be a homecoming for Bhuvneshwar Kumar as he started his career in the Indian Premier League with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He was part of the team in 2009, and now, with a wealth of experience under his belt, he will be a vital cog in the wheel for the franchise.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the most successful bowlers in the history of the Indian Premier League and India
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik feels Bhuvneshwar Kumar is still India’s best bowler after Jasprit Bumrah. Bhuvneshwar, who has played 21 Tests, 121 ODIs and 87 T20Is for India since making his international debut against Pakistan in Bengaluru on December 25, 2012, was signed for Rs 10.75 crore by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 mega auction which was held across two days in Jeddah.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is India’s most successful fast bowler in IPL history. The two-time purple cap winner has played a total of 176 matches for Pune Warriors India and SRH and has 181 wickets to his name. The 34-year-old is the second most successful pacer in T20Is but hasn’t played for the Men in Blue since November 22, 2022.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was associated with RCB in 2009-10 but he never got a chance to play any IPL match for the Bengaluru-based franchise. He however played one match for the team in the Champions League during the 2009 season. In the IPL 2025 mega auction, five-time champions Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants were engaged in an intense bidding war for securing the services of Bhuvneshwar Kumar but in the end, RCB managed to seal a deal for Rs 10.75 crore.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the most successful bowlers in the history of the Indian Premier League. The premier pacer is the highest wicket-taker in the league among fast bowlers. In the 176 games, he has racked up 181 wickets.
The India National Cricket Team fast bowler has been going through terrific form in the T20 Cricket. He has been oozing his class with the ball in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 for Uttar Pradesh.
He also claimed a hat-trick in the tournament, picking 11 wickets from eight innings at an average of 12.90 and an economy rate of just 5.64. With the kind of form he is in, it will be a massive boost for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL.
Despite Bhuvneshwar’s long absence from the Indian team, Karthik, who has been associated with RCB as a batting coach and mentor, feels Bhuvneshwar is India’s best bowler after Bumrah.
Dinesh Karthik shares his opinion on RCB’s new signing Bhuvneshwar Kumar at IPL 2025 Auction
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made some vital signings at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction to build a solid squad for the upcoming season in their quest for a maiden IPL trophy.
Bowling has been the biggest concern for RCB over the years, which has eluded them from winning the title. This time around, the franchise seemed to have made a conscious effort to build a potent bowling attack, particularly the fast-bowling unit.
Needing a lead Indian pacer with valuable experience after letting go of Mohammed Siraj, the Bengaluru franchise went all out after veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The 34-year-old was acquired by RCB on the second day of the IPL 2025 auction for a handsome amount of INR 10.75 crore.
In a video posted by a user (@coach_dk19) on social media platform X, Dinesh Karthik, now in the support staff of the franchise, can be seen in a discussion with Mo Bobat, Andy Flower and Omkar Salvi.
In the video, Dinesh Karthik said that Bhuvneshwar Kumar is India’s best bowler after Jasprit Bumrah even to date.
“Just for the record, I am convinced that he is the best bowler India has after Bumrah even today. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the best T20 bowler,” Karthik said.
Further, when Mo Bobat questioned about where Rasikh Salam stands, Karthik said that the 24-year-old has to be looked upon purely on skills. RCB also acquired the young pacer at the auction. Rasikh has been in top form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, having picked up 11 wickets.
In-form Bhuvneshwar Kumar to change RCB’s fortunes in IPL 2025 would be an interesting take
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was picked up by the Bengaluru franchise at the IPL 2025 auction and will be the lead Indian pacer in the side. Along with the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal, the trio appears to form a solid pace attack.
Bowling at the Chinnaswamy Stadium has always been a nightmare and a player like Bhuvneshwar, who possesses the skill-sets to absorb the pressure in such conditions, could be the answer to their bowling woes.
He has been impressive in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s premier domestic T20 tournament, having picked up 11 wickets from eight innings for Uttar Pradesh (as of December 11, 2024), including a hat-trick. Moreover, he has maintained an average of 12.90 and an economy rate of just 5.64, highlighting his fine form at present.
The franchise is yet to win the IPL and this time around it will be a massive opportunity for them to end the title drought and add themselves to the list of teams with IPL titles under their belt.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar will open the bowling attack for the Virat Kohli-starrer side in the 2025 edition of the cash-rich league which is reportedly set to start on March 14. Bhuvneshwar Kumar last played a competitive match on Wednesday (December 11). He was seen in action for Uttar Pradesh against Delhi at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the quarterfinal match of the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.