Former New Zealand and Mumbai fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan praised Bhuvneshwar Kumar for sticking to his strengths while still adapting to the demands of modern T20 cricket, saying that is what sets him apart. McClenaghan also said that Bhuvneshwar’s time away from international cricket allows the senior fast bowler to organize his year better 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 per season, although the selectors seem to have moved on from him. However, at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he remains the focal point of their campaign. The 36-year-old leads the Purple Cap race with 14 wickets in eight matches in IPL 2026 and beyond RCB won by nine wickets over Delhi Capitals on Monday, they are second in the 10-team points table.
On Monday, Bhuvneshwar produced one of the most impressive new ball spells of the season along with Josh Hazlewood as RCB tore through the Delhi batting. The two senior quicks operated in tandem to reduce Delhi to 9 for 6 before being bowled out for 75. On a windy evening in the capital, Bhuvneshwar turned the ball both ways and finished with figures of 5 for 3 in three overs, repeatedly beating the batsmen with a succession of deliveries they could not handle.
McClenaghan said Bhuvneshwar’s advantage lies in repetition rather than reinvention.
“Instead of reinventing himself, he’s been doing the same things consistently, over and over, and he’s only getting better at it. The time off from international cricket now helps him structure his time better throughout the year. He gets enough time to work on his fitness and stay fresh,” McClenaghan told JioHotstar.
He added: “He’s got enough experience and knows how to deal with pressure situations. It’s just about being able to do what you’ve been doing. That means hitting the ball in the areas that trouble batsmen the most and having control over the swing, which we’re seeing right now. That’s why his impact with the new ball has always been great.”
BEING DEFENSIVE IS NOT A NEGATIVE: BHUVI
Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood complement each other well at the forefront of the RCB attack. While they played a significant role in RCB’s winning run last year, the pair have looked even sharper this season. In a tournament in which scoring was at an all-time high, Bhuvneshwar scored 7.61 runs per match, slightly better than his career economy rate of 7.68.
Bhuvneshwar said part of that success comes from accepting that defensive bowling can still be the right option when conditions favor the batsmen.
“The biggest change is that the batsmen no longer hold back even when the ball is swinging in the over. There used to be more respect for the conditions, but now the approach is consistently aggressive. That’s where the change in mindset for bowlers becomes important. Being defensive is not negative, it’s about batting according to plan and targeting weaknesses,” he said.
He added that preparation and communication remain central to the process:
“A lot comes down to preparation and understanding the situations. Planning, even down to the small details, plays a big role and experienced players like Josh Hazlewood help because that communication on the pitch becomes key in adapting to the conditions.”
RCB, who are sitting pretty at the second spot in the points table, will face Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
28 Apr 2026 16:33 IST
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