Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Purple Cap Holder, Credits RCB Environment For Restoring His Lost Confidence

Bhuvneshwar Kumar credited RCB's support staff and meticulous planning for the team's success and first-place finish during the IPL season.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Purple Cap Holder, Credits RCB Environment For Restoring His Lost Confidence

Bhuvneshwar Kumar reflected on the support he received within the RCB environment. (via MSN)

In Short
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar credits the supportive environment at RCB for restoring his confidence after struggles at SRH.
  • RCB secured a spot in the IPL final by defeating Gujarat Titans by 92 runs, scoring 254/5.
  • Kumar leads the IPL 2026 Purple Cap race with 26 wickets, becoming the first Indian bowler with 25+ wickets for multiple teams.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, in his second full season with the franchise, explained the importance of a good team environment. His statement followed the defending champions’ dominant victory over the Gujarat Titans in the 2026 IPL Playoffs. 

RCB defeated GT in the first qualifier at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala to make it to the IPL final for the second season in a row. Batting first, RCB posted a massive 254/5, guided by Rajat Patidar‘s 93* off 33, Krunal Pandya‘s 43 off 28, Virat Kohli‘s 43 off 25, and Devdutt Padikkal‘s 30 off 19. For a team that has often struggled to chase targets of 200+ runs, it was a mountain to climb, as GT fell short by 92 runs. 

Gujarat Titans’ innings ended at just 162 runs in 19.3 overs, with Rahul Tewatia‘s 68-run knock being their sole highlight. The Royal Challengers’ bowling unit was spot on, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s impactful spell of 2/28 and Jacob Duffy’s 3/39. While the RCB batters were praised for their performance, Kumar’s vital contribution, taking the key wickets of Shubman Gill and Tewatia, was also well-received.

The 36-year-old currently stands on top of the IPL 2026 Purple Cap list, having scalped 26 wickets in 15 matches at a remarkable average of 18.15. Bhuvneshwar Kumar moved to the Bengaluru-based franchise in 2025, after a decade at Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he picked up over 150 wickets. The only bowler to win consecutive Purple Caps in the IPL, Kumar switched to RCB in 2025 after his SRH career hit a rough patch due to a dip in form and recurring injuries. 

Speaking after contributing to his team’s win over GT, the out-of-favor India star reflected on his final days at SRH, noting that he lacked confidence as a result of the uncertainty over his place in the playing XI.

In fact, Kumar saw his average climb past 30 at the time, before he turned it around. The veteran pacer attributed his recent surge to the supportive environment in the RCB dressing room, including the backing from the coaching staff and his teammates. He said after the game:

A few years back I didn’t have the confidence, as my place [in SRH] was on the line…Then the RCB environment made me believe in my skills again. A good environment brings out the best in you.

Kumar also spoke in detail about the usage of data in the RCB dugout. Nonetheless, the defending champions are now waiting for the second finalist, as the championship match is scheduled for May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar etches name in IPL record books with 26 wickets for RCB this season

An IPL legend, Bhuvneshwar Kumar etched his name in history books after picking up his 26th wicket of the season, for RCB. He became the first Indian bowler to take 25+ wickets in an IPL season for multiple teams, which includes his previous tenure with SRH. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 25+ wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has picked up 26 wickets in IPL 2026. (via Indian Express)

Kumar needed a wicket to reach this milestone during RCB’s playoff clash against GT. He then bowled out Shubman Gill for just 2 off 7, in just the 4th over of the second innings of the match. His impressive spell of 2/28 in four overs helped him level Kagiso Rabada‘s season tally of 26 wickets, allowing him to reclaim the Purple Cap as the defending champions secured their spot in the 2026 IPL final.

The 36-year-old is on track to win his third IPL Purple Cap. Prior to that, Kumar had managed a 26-wicket season with SRH in 2017. He is also just the third bowler, along with Kagiso Rabada and Dwayne Bravo, to have multiple seasons with 25 or more wickets. Rabada is the only other player to have taken 25+ wickets for multiple franchises, doing so for Delhi Capitals in 2019 and 2020, and the Titans this season.

Overall, the RCB star is ranked second on the list of bowlers with the most wickets in the IPL. From 2011 to date, he has picked up a staggering 224 wickets in 205 matches at an average of 26.26, while giving runs away at an economy rate of just 7.71. 

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