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The current purple cap holder Bhuvneshwar Kumar is set to script history on May 7 as he takes the field at Ekana Cricket Stadium against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Bhuvneshwar will play his 200th Indian Premier League (IPL) match, the first pacer to achieve the feat. Ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer's milestone match, head coach Andy Flower has likened him to Virat Kohli as he enjoys watching the pacer bowl.
"It's an absolute privilege to watch him do his thing. It's a bit like watching Virat bat and watching Bhuvi bowl. They're masters at what they do. On your 200th, congratulations on the way that you've operated as a man and as a player over all these years," the former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter said.
Kohli puts Bhuvi in IPL’s all-time top 3 pacers category
Kohli is in awe of Bhuvneshwar as well. He rates him among the top three pacers in IPL history considering his economy rate and how creates pressure with dot balls.
“It’s a huge achievement to play 200 IPL games, especially as a fast bowler. That speaks volumes about his longevity and consistency. He has played so much cricket across formats and has remained successful throughout,” Kohli said.
“The thing that has always stood out about Bhuvi is his understanding of the game and his cricket intelligence.
He is definitely among the top three pacers in IPL history. When you look at his economy rate, the wickets he has taken, and the number of dot balls he delivers every match, it is truly remarkable. He is someone you can rely on under pressure every single time,” he added.
Hazlewood impressed with Bhuvi’s skill set
Bhuvneshwar got praise from his new-ball partner, Australia's Josh Hazlewood as well. Hazlewood feels that the Indian pacer's skill set is unmatched. He said that the 36-year-old has achieved almost everything possible in his IPL career.
“I think his skill set is second to none. His swing bowling is of the highest quality. The lengths he consistently hits, his ability to move the ball both ways, and the way he reads the game are outstanding,” Hazlewood said.
“For someone who bowls the opening over almost every game, his communication and understanding of conditions are extremely important. Reaching 200 IPL matches is a special achievement. You are probably the first fast bowler to reach this milestone and also the leading wicket-taker among pacers. You’ve achieved almost everything possible in this tournament,” he added.
Bhuvi rules in age of big scores
From nine games, Bhuvneshwar has 17 wickets in the ongoing season at an average of 15.52. In the era of big scores, he has conceded runs at an economy rate of 7.54 runs per over. Only Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Mohsin Khan has a better economy rate (7.45) among bowlers with 10 or more wickets in the current season.
Bhuvi’s IPL career in numbers
From 199 IPL games, he has 215 wickets at an average of 26.40, including fifers and as many four-fers. Before joining RCB, he was a part of SRH for 11 years. He helped them win the title in 2016, beating RCB in the final. Earlier, he played three seasons for now-defunct Pune Warriors India. He is often credited for not letting former RCB opener Chris Gayle scored a double century in the 2013 edition with his economical spell. Gayle's unbeaten 175 still stands as the highest individual score in T20s.
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