More muscle, less fat, same deadly swing: How Bhuvneshwar Kumar defies age at 36

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) While the cricketing world has spent the IPL season marveling at 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – and rightfully so – at the opposite end of the age spectrum, another remarkable story has quietly unfolded.At 36, an age when fast bowlers are usually coping with declining pace, recurring injuries or plans to retire, Bhuvneshwar Kumar continues to provide Royal Challengers Bengaluru with the same discipline and consistency that has defined his career for over a decade.Which naturally begs the question: how has a fast bowler survived and thrived in the IPL for so long?The answer, according to the man responsible for much of Bhuvneshwar’s fitness work, lies in years of careful planning and discipline that most people never see.TimesofIndia.com spoke to Bhuvneshwar’s personal strength and conditioning coach, Surya Pratap Yadav, who has been working hard on his fitness. When asked how Bhuvi, even at the age of 36, continues to bowl with the same intent and consistency, he pointed to the transformation that has taken him away from the limelight.The Work Behind the Overs“Our primary goal was to reduce body fat while increasing muscle mass. As athletes age, muscle loss becomes a problem, so we worked heavily on strength training, protein intake, and supplementation.”“Bhuvneshwar’s body fat percentage has come down from 19% to 14% while he has maintained his weight, indicating an increase in muscle mass. His strength levels have improved significantly and this has helped in increasing power production and run speed,” Surya Pratap told TimesofIndia.com.Bhuvneshwar, the swing king, has been one of the standout performers for RCB in the last two seasons. Long after his last appearance for India in November 2022, he continues to remain one of the most reliable fast bowlers in Indian cricket.But fitness gains are only part of the story.At an age when bowlers often struggle with warts, paralysis issues and recurring breakdowns, Bhuvneshwar has remained remarkably resilient.“Discipline is the biggest factor. He understands his body’s weaknesses and proactively works on them. We spend almost an hour every day on rehabilitation and injury prevention exercises. Along with that, we focus a lot on recovery, hydration, sleep, protein intake and supplementation. All these factors help him stay fit throughout the season,” said Surya Pratap.Longevity numbersThe numbers suggest that this discipline has translated into one of the most remarkable longevity stories the IPL has witnessed.Since his IPL debut in 2011, no fast bowler has taken more wickets than Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Only Yuzvendra Chahal has taken more wickets overall during this period.No pacer has played more IPL matches than Bhuvneshwar’s 205. The next best among fast bowlers is Jasprit Bumrah with 158.No fast bowler bowled more overs than Bhuvneshwar’s 762.4. Bumrah, despite being one of the leading bowlers of his generation, is more than 160 overs behind him at 605.1.Only Dwayne Bravo and Bhuvneshwar have managed multiple IPL seasons with 25 or more wickets among fast bowlers. Only a select group comprising Lasith Malinga, Kagiso Rabada, Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar have recorded four separate 20-wicket IPL campaigns.The speed at which the IPL is going seems like it was made for drag racers: young legs, fresh shoulders and explosive tops. But Bhuvneshwar belongs to a different category altogether.It’s the sporting equivalent of a Le Mans endurance machine – built not for one heartbreaking lap, but for years of relentless punishment.No shortcuts, no experimentsWhen Bhuvneshwar made his IPL debut in 2011, Dale Steyn was at his peak, Zaheer Khan was India’s paceman, Munaf Patel was a World Cup winner and Morne Morkel, Vinay Kumar and Umesh Yadav were among the leading wicket-takers in the competition. Fifteen seasons later, most of those names belong to a different era.Bhuvneshwar, despite being kicked out of the national set-up, never backed down from the grind.Between 2022 and 2026, Bhuvneshwar went from being India’s regular to a domestic pacer. As the selectors moved on, he continued to lead Uttar Pradesh’s bowling attack in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, while remaining a key figure in the IPL.One of the reasons he has been able to maintain this workload is his refusal to experiment during the season.When asked if Bhuvi changes his diet during the IPL keeping in mind the demands of the tournament, his coach revealed that the routine remains largely unchanged. The commitment extends well beyond the season.“No. We avoid introducing anything new during the season. Any supplement, training method or recovery protocol is tested well in advance. During the tournament, the aim is to keep the body fresh and allow the player to focus on cricket rather than experimenting with new fitness routines,” Pratap told TOI.Bhuvneshwar picked up 29 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in the last two years and followed it up with 43 wickets for RCB in the last two IPL seasons.According to his coach, none of this happens by accident.“Much more than people realise, he spends 6-7 hours a day training. This includes gym sessions, rehab work, recovery routines, batting, bowling and training in different environments. Although it is not always visible on social media, the amount of effort he puts in every day is tremendous,” Surya Pratap Yadav told TOI.One of the last men still runningWith fans and pundits increasingly clamoring for his return to the national side, Bhuvneshwar remained characteristically calm about the discussion.Recalling his long journey in Indian cricket, he recently explained why he no longer spends his time chasing distant targets.“I’m not thinking about an India comeback. It’s been many years since I stopped keeping or giving long-term targets because whenever I did, it never worked for me. I’m happy to have played 200 matches and taken so many wickets in the overs and at the death. I think it’s all a reward for what I’ve done over the years.”“There have been good years and bad years. Honestly, I don’t feel anything special at the moment. Of course, I’d be lying if I said I won’t feel it later. When I stop playing, I think those will be memories that will come in handy later. But at the moment, I think it’s very normal for me,” Bhuvneshwar said in a video released by RCB.And that might explain why he lasted so long.He no longer chases milestones. He’s not even trying to prove anything. What remains is the work — the daily routine, gym workouts, rehab workouts and discipline that have quietly sustained a career spanning nearly two decades.His coach echoed the same sentiment.“Every cricketer wants to represent India. Bhuvneshwar continues to work extremely hard and remains fully committed to his cricket. His dedication to training and preparation reflects these ambitions,” added Surya.IPL will always celebrate its newest stars. It should be. But every now and then it also reminds us of the value of perseverance.Fifteen years after he started, while generations of fast bowlers have come and gone, Bhuvneshwar Kumar remains one of the last men still running.