IPL 2026: Has absence from international cricket worked in Bhuvneshwar's favour? |

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Former New Zealand and Mumbai Indians fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan has praised Bhuvneshwar Kumar for sticking to his strengths while still adapting to the demands of modern T20 cricket, saying that is what separates him from the rest. McClenaghan also said Bhuvneshwar’s time away from international cricket is allowing the senior fast bowler to better organise his year and work more closely on his game.

Bhuvneshwar last played a T20I for India in November 2022. Since then, the right-arm pacer has continued to take more than 10 wickets a season, even as the selectors appear to have moved on from him. At Royal Challengers Bengaluru, however, he remains central to their campaign. The 36-year-old is leading the Purple Cap race with 14 wickets in eight matches in IPL 2026, and after RCB’s nine-wicket win over Delhi Capitals on Monday, they are placed second on the 10-team points table.

On Monday, Bhuvneshwar produced one of the most striking new-ball spells of the season alongside Josh Hazlewood as RCB tore through Delhi’s batting. The two senior quicks operated in tandem and reduced Delhi to 9 for 6 before they were bowled out for 75. On a windy evening in the capital, Bhuvneshwar swung the ball both ways and finished with figures of 5 for 3 in three overs, beating batters repeatedly with a sequence of deliveries they could not handle.

McClenaghan said Bhuvneshwar’s edge lies in repetition rather than reinvention.

“Instead of reinventing, he has been doing the same stuff consistently, over and over again, and he is just getting better at it. The time off from international cricket is now helping him structure his time better throughout the year. He’s getting enough time to work on fitness and stay fresh,” McClenaghan told JioHotstar.

He added: “He has enough experience and knows how to deal with pressure situations. It is just about being able to do what you have been doing. That means hitting those areas with the ball which trouble batters the most, and having control over swing, which we are seeing right now. That is why his impact has always been great with the new ball.”

BEING DEFENSIVE ISN’T NEGATIVE: BHUVI

Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood have complemented each other well at the front of RCB’s pace attack. While they played an influential role in RCB’s title-winning run last year, the pair have looked even sharper this season. In a tournament in which scoring has been at an all-time high, Bhuvneshwar has gone at 7.61 runs per over, marginally better than his career economy rate of 7.68.

Bhuvneshwar said part of that success has come from accepting that defensive bowling can still be the right option when conditions favour batters.

“The biggest change is that batters no longer hold back, even when the ball is swinging in the Powerplay. Earlier, there was more respect for conditions, but now the approach is consistently aggressive. That’s where the mindset shift for bowlers becomes important. Being defensive isn’t negative, it’s about bowling to a plan and targeting weaknesses,” he said.

He added that preparation and communication remain central to that process:

“A lot of it comes down to preparation and understanding situations. The planning, even down to small details, plays a big role, and having experienced players like Josh Hazlewood helps, because that communication on the field becomes crucial in adapting to conditions.”

RCB, who are sitting pretty at the second spot on the points table, will take on Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

– Ends

Published By:

Akshay Ramesh

Published On:

Apr 28, 2026 16:33 IST

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