Bhuvneshwar Kumar Becomes IPL’s Top Pacer, Surpasses Dwayne Bravo in All-Time Wickets
Veteran Indian seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has etched his name in Indian Premier League history by becoming the most successful pace bowler in the tournament. The landmark moment came during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s clash against Mumbai Indians on April 7, when he dismissed Tilak Varma to claim his 184th IPL wicket.
With this achievement, Bhuvneshwar surpassed Dwayne Bravo (183 wickets) to become the highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in IPL history. The 35-year-old is now the third-highest overall, behind only Yuzvendra Chahal (206) and Piyush Chawla (192).
This was Bhuvneshwar’s third wicket of the IPL 2025 season. Having spent over a decade with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Bhuvi’s switch to RCB raised eyebrows, but the transition has been smooth. Before the match against MI, the swing specialist credited Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s warm environment for making him feel at home.
“After playing 11 years with one franchise, joining a new team can feel a bit strange. But at RCB, the way they welcome and manage players is something special. It feels great to be here,” Bhuvneshwar shared ahead of the game.
Top Fast Bowlers in IPL (as of April 8, 2025)
184 wickets – Bhuvneshwar Kumar (179 matches)
183 wickets – Dwayne Bravo (158 matches)
170 wickets – Lasith Malinga (122 matches)
165 wickets – Jasprit Bumrah (134 matches)*
144 wickets – Umesh Yadav (147 matches)
*Active players in IPL 2025
Bhuvneshwar: The Silent Game-Changer
Former cricketer Sreevats Goswami lauded Bhuvneshwar’s consistency and humility, calling him one of the most underrated figures in Indian cricket.
“He’s the most underrated and unsung hero of Indian cricket. There’s so much to learn from Bhuvi — his approach to the game and life is admirable. He just gets the job done quietly, without any fuss,” Goswami posted.
RCB’s Steady Climb
With their win against Mumbai, RCB moved up to third on the IPL 2025 points table with three victories from four matches. Bhuvneshwar’s control with the new ball and at the death continues to be a vital asset for the side.
