Bhuvneshwar Kumar is leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowling attack in IPL 2026, and on Sunday (May 31), during the final of this year’s IPL, he entered his name in the record books by equalling
Mohammed Shami’s record for the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in the powerplay in a single IPL edition. Shami picked up 17 wickets in the powerplay for Gujarat Titans in the 2023 edition of the IPL, whereas Bhuvneshwar claimed his 17th powerplay wicket of IPL 2026 on the fourth ball of the fourth over of GT’s innings.
IPL 2026 | Schedule | Results | Orange Cap | Purple Cap
He dismissed Sai Sudharsan to extend his tally to 17 wickets in the powerplay in IPL 2026.
The record for the most wickets taken in the powerplay in a single edition of the IPL is held by Kagiso Rabada. The South African has dismissed 19 batters in the powerplay in the ongoing edition of the IPL.
Most wickets in powerplay in an IPL season
| PLAYER | TEAM | WICKETS | EDITION |
| Kagiso Rabada | Gujarat Titans | 19 | 2026 |
| Mohammed Shami | Gujarat Titans | 17 | 2023 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 17 | 2026 |
| Mitchell Johnson | Mumbai Indians | 16 | 2013 |
| Trent Boult | Mumbai Indians | 16 | 2020 |
The wicket of Sudharsan, who managed to score only 12 runs in the IPL 2026 final, helped Bhuvneshwar extend his tally to 27 wickets in IPL 2026. He is second on the list of bowlers with the most wickets in the ongoing 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League.
Bhuvneshwar needs one more wicket in the ongoing match to equal Rabada’s tally of 28 wickets. Rabada is leading the Purple Cap race in IPL 2026 and has accounted for the dismissal of 28 batters so far.
If Bhuvneshwar tops the wicket-takers’ list in IPL 2026, he will become the first bowler in IPL history to win the Purple Cap three times.
Most wickets by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in an IPL season
| EDITION | TEAM | MATCHES | WICKETS |
| 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16* | 27* |
| 2017 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 26 |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 17 | 23 |
| 2014 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 20 |
| 2015 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 18 |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 14 | 17 |
| 2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 16 |
Most wickets by Indian bowler in one edition of IPL
| PLAYER | TEAM | MATCHES | WICKETS | EDITION |
| Harshal Patel | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 15 | 32 | 2021 |
| Mohammed Shami | Gujarat Titans | 17 | 28 | 2023 |
| Mohit Sharma | Gujarat Titans | 14 | 27 | 2023 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Mumbai Indians | 15 | 27 | 2021 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | Rajasthan Royals | 17 | 27 | 2022 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 26 | 27* | 2026 |
He won his first Purple Cap in 2016 for Sunrisers Hyderabad and also topped the wicket-takers’ list in the 2017 edition. In the 2017 season, Bhuvneshwar picked up 26 wickets, whereas this year he has already dismissed 27 batters.
