IPL 2026: ‘He has a highly repeatable action’ - Irfan Pathan praises Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s consistency

Published - 13 May 2026, 17:58 IST | Updated - 13 May 2026, 17:59 IST

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan credited Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s success in IPL 2026 to his consistent and repeatable bowling action over the years. The veteran pacer is currently the Purple Cap holder this season.

In 11 matches, Bhuvneshwar has claimed 21 wickets at an average of 15.29, including one four-wicket haul. His performances have played a crucial role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title defence campaign, with the side currently placed second on the points table after seven wins from 11 games.

Pathan praised the experienced seamer’s consistency and control, stating that his long-standing repeatable action has been the foundation of his success. He also highlighted Bhuvneshwar’s wrist position, seam presentation, and ability to swing the ball both ways accurately, adding that his experience helps him execute plans effectively under pressure.

"Bhuvneshwar has an amazing and highly repeatable action. He has had a 16-year-long IPL career and hasn't changed his action one bit. When you have the same action for such a long period, you can hit the areas you want to target. At the same time, his wrist position and the way he manoeuvres it is masterful, with very little change in seam position, whether he is bowling the inswinger or moving it away, and all of it with so much control. When a bowler is running in at a certain speed, you only get a fraction of a second to react, and he has the ability to land the ball exactly where he wants to with the right fields. That's where experience comes into play," Pathan said on JioHotstar.

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Bhuvneshwar is currently the highest wicket-taking pacer in the history of the IPL, with 219 wickets from 201 matches. He sits second overall behind Yuzvendra Chahal, who leads the chart with 229 wickets. The veteran right-arm seamer will aim to continue his excellent form in the upcoming matches and help RCB secure a playoff spot. RCB are set to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 13 in Raipur.