Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: A video of former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik heaping massive praise on Bhuvneshwar Kumar has gone viral again after the veteran pacer produced a sensational match-winning display for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026.Ahead of Bhuvneshwar’s historic 200th IPL appearance against Lucknow Super Giants on Friday, RCB had shared a behind-the-scenes clip featuring Karthik and head coach Andy Flower discussing the veteran seamer’s greatness.In the now-viral clip, Karthik made a bold statement on Bhuvneshwar’s standing in Indian cricket.
‘Best bowler India has after Bumrah’
“Just for the record, I am convinced that he is the best bowler India has after Bumrah even today. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the best T20 bowler,” Karthik said in the video shared by RCB on social media handles.The timing of the video’s resurgence could not have been more fitting.On Sunday in Raipur, Bhuvneshwar delivered a vintage performance to help RCB seal a dramatic two-wicket victory over MI in a last-ball thriller. The experienced pacer dismantled Mumbai’s top order with figures of 4/23, removing Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav in a devastating opening spell on a tricky surface offering movement and uneven bounce.He then added the finishing touch with the bat, smashing a crucial six in the final over during RCB’s tense chase.Following the performance, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin called for Bhuvneshwar’s return to India’s T20I setup.“Hashtag ‘BringBackBhuvi’, I’d love to see him being considered for the T20I side,” Ashwin said on JioStar.Bhuvneshwar’s remarkable IPL 2026 campaign continues to gather momentum. The RCB pacer currently leads the Purple Cap standings with 21 wickets in 11 matches and also boasts the best economy rate among the leading wicket-takers this season.The veteran had already scripted history earlier this week by becoming the first fast bowler to feature in 200 IPL matches, further cementing his legacy as one of the tournament’s greatest-ever pacers.
