Stats: Bhuvneshwar Kumar becomes second-highest wicket-taker in IPL

Stats: Bhuvneshwar Kumar becomes second-highest wicket-taker in IPL (source: RCB/X)

The right-arm pacer , who is currently representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2025, has become the second-highest wicket-taker in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. The veteran bowler has now picked up 193 wickets in the tournament after his three-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 27 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

The 35-year-old was acquired by RCB ahead of the 2025 season after spending 11 years with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). In 2011, the right-arm bowler was part of the RCB franchise and played one match in the Champions League T20. In the ongoing 2025 IPL season, the Meerut-born cricketer has played nine matches so far and claimed 12 wickets. In addition to this, he has previously won the Purple Cap twice, once in 2016 with 23 wickets and the other in the very next year in 2017 with 26 wickets, while representing the Orange Army.

In the match against DC, the right-handed bowler dismissed KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, and Ashutosh Sharma during his four-over spell, conceding 33 runs during his outing. In his career, he has bowled in 185 innings and maintained an economy rate of 7.60, which is exceptional to say the least. On the international front, the right-arm pacer was also brilliant in the T20Is, picked up 90 wickets in 86 innings at an impressive economy rate 6.96 with an average of 23.10.

Most wickets in IPL history

Among the top wicket-takers in IPL history, Yuzvendra Chahal leads the charts with 214 wickets in 167 innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar crossed former Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who has 192 wickets to his name. In fourth place is Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) off-spinner Sunil Narine, and followed by former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin in fifth (185).

S. No.	Player	Wickets	Innings Taken
1	Yuzvendra Chahal	214	167
2	Bhvneshwar Kumar	193	185
3	Piyush Chawla	192	191
4	Sunil Narine	187	183
5	Ravichandran Ashwin	185	215