In a crucial IPL 2025 semi-final, Bhuvneshwar Kumar once again showcased his skills as a seasoned white-ball bowler, taking out key batters during the 17th over to turn the game in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) favor. Delhi Capitals (DC) were cruising along on a tricky Delhi pitch, but Bhuvneshwar’s timely breakthroughs and his varied bowling proved to be the turning point.
On Sunday night, Bhuvneshwar delivered the perfect over to break DC’s momentum. In the 17th over, he took out KL Rahul, a batter DC hoped would anchor the innings and maximize the final overs, and Ashutosh Sharma, a key player known for his ability to hit quick runs in the death overs. These crucial wickets, as former cricketer Anil Kumble put it, were the perfect answer from Bhuvneshwar on a surface that demanded precision.
Kumble praised Bhuvneshwar’s consistency and the experience that allows him to shine in different phases of the game: “Bhuvi has always been very special. Whichever team he plays for, he picks up wickets in the powerplay, has learned the tricks to bowl effectively in the back end, and has been extremely consistent.”
Despite the game being played on a tricky surface, Bhuvneshwar’s skills stood out. He bowled a near-perfect second spell, with a critical dismissal of KL Rahul. Rahul, known for anchoring the innings, had planned to attack the faster bowlers in the final overs, but Bhuvneshwar’s execution thwarted that plan. He set up Rahul by pitching it up, with a scrambled seam delivery that was caught at deep mid-wicket after Rahul mistimed his shot.
The next delivery saw Bhuvneshwar bowl a slower legcutter to Ashutosh Sharma, which completely foxed the batter. Ashutosh tried to cut the ball to third man, but it was so slow that he was bowled out before the ball even reached him. This over alone effectively halted DC’s progress towards a higher total, and Bhuvneshwar’s final figures of 3 for 33 were a testament to his ability to adapt and control the game.
Despite his relatively quiet presence this IPL season, Bhuvneshwar has been an important support act for his team. With 12 wickets from 9 games and an economy rate of 8.35, he continues to be a vital bowler, contributing immensely in the death overs and maintaining pressure. His variations, including the yorker, slower ball, knuckleball, and hard-length deliveries, make him difficult to predict for the batters. As Wasim Jaffer noted, Bhuvneshwar’s versatility is what sets him apart: “He’s got two or three really good variations… it’s tough to line him up.”
In the final over of the game, Bhuvneshwar again showed his brilliance by using a slower ball to dismiss Tristan Stubbs, leaving DC with no opportunity to push for a bigger score. Without his key overs, the target set for RCB would likely have been much higher. Despite Stubbs’ late hitting (34 runs off 18 balls), Bhuvneshwar’s contribution ensured that RCB’s chase remained manageable, ultimately helping them secure a six-wicket victory and climb to the top of the points table.
Bhuvneshwar’s performance was a timely reminder of how seasoned bowlers like him remain a force to be reckoned with, even in the latter stages of their careers. His consistency, skill, and variety in deliveries make him an indispensable asset to RCB in the IPL 2025 season.
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