In a night full of nostalgia and high quality fast bowling, Bhuvneshwar Kumar reminded everyone why he is regarded as one of India’s best swingers. Although Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffered a six-wicket defeat Capitals of Delhi their IPL 2026 A clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bhuvneshwar’s sensational spell became the biggest talking point of the match.
The veteran paceman returned figures of 4-0-26-3, displaying excellent control, movement and game awareness. His performance not only unsettled the opposition but also reignited discussions about a possible return to Team India with the former Indian cricketer leading the chorus of praise.
The former cricketer recalls the early days and supports Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to the Indian team.
Former Indian cricketer posting on social media after the match Muhammad Kaif He expressed his admiration for Bhuvneshwar’s ability to perform at the highest level even at the age of 36. Drawing on his personal memories, Kaif reminisced about the pacer’s early days in domestic cricket, recalling how he supported young Bhuvneshwar during his Uttar Pradesh days.
Kaif shared that the selectors were initially hesitant to pick the youngster, citing his age, but he insisted on his inclusion. That faith paid off in dramatic fashion when Bhuvneshwar dismissed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for a duck in the Ranji Trophy final – an early glimpse of the bowler’s immense potential.
Reflecting on the current situation, Kaif emphasized that Bhuvneshwar still has the skills required to trouble top order batsmen. He suggested that if performances continue to meet international standards, age should not be a barrier, and is strongly backed to return to the national side.
“There are emotional moments. Watching Bhuvi bowl so beautifully today brought back memories of his 17-year-old days. I was the UP captain and was impressed by his control and swing. But the selectors said he was too young. I persisted. Bhuvi made his Ranji debut, Sachin Paaji was still in the 6th final for the best. His return to India with his swing, Bhuvi is still there. Kaif wrote in X.
There are moments when a person is emotional. Looking at Bhuvi’s bowl so beautifully today brought back memories of the days when she was 17 years old. I was the captain of UP and I was impressed with his control and swing. But voters said he was too young. I insisted. Bhuvi made Ranji…
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 18, 2026
Swing masterclass puts DC under pressure
Bhuvneshwar’s spell against Delhi Capitals was a textbook display of swing bowling. From the outset, he consistently shaped the ball in both directions, making life difficult for batsmen. His first breakthrough came when he fell into a trap Pathum Nissanka plumb in front with a sharp back bumpy delivery. The dismissal highlighted his ability to move even on batting-friendly surfaces.
He didn’t stop there. In his next spell, Bhuvneshwar dismantled the middle order with precision. Karun Nair while the attempt against subtle changes in length fell Samir Rizvi left behind soon after. At this stage, Delhi Capitals were under immense pressure, mainly due to Bhuvneshwar’s relentless accuracy. Although in the end DC managed to defeat the following RCB David Millerthe last of the heroics.
Also WATCH: IPL 2026 – Virat Kohli stunned after Tim David Lungi spins Ngidi for a mighty flat six in RCB vs DC.
