Bhuvneshwar Singh: IPL 2026: Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the verge of history, set to become first pacer ever to… | Cricket News – The Times of India
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is set to achieve another historic milestone in the Indian Premier League when he takes the field for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Lucknow Super Giants today at the BRSABV Ekana Stadium.The veteran seamer will become the first fast bowler in IPL history to play 200 matches, adding yet another remarkable achievement to his illustrious T20 career. Earlier this season, on April 5, 2026, Bhuvneshwar became the first pacer, and only the second player overall after Yuzvendra Chahal, to claim 200 IPL wickets. The swing specialist has continued his superb form this season and currently leads the IPL 2026 Purple Cap standings with 17 wickets in just nine matches.
With his 200th appearance, Bhuvneshwar will also join an elite group of IPL legends to have featured in 200 or more matches, becoming only the 12th player in tournament history to reach the landmark. Here are players with 200-plus IPL matches:
| Player | Span | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 2008–present | 278 |
| Rohit Sharma | 2008–present | 277 |
| Virat Kohli | 2008–present | 276 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 2008–present | 264 |
| Dinesh Karthik | 2008–2024 | 257 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 2008–2024 | 222 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 2009–2025 | 221 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 2008–present | 207 |
| Suresh Raina | 2008–2021 | 205 |
| Robin Uthappa | 2008–2022 | 205 |
| Ambati Rayudu | 2010–2023 | 204 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 2011–present | 199 |
His RCB teammate Virat Kohli heaped his praise on Bhuvneshwar Kumar, calling among the top 3 IPL pacers of all time,“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.
