Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is the most successful of the most glamorous teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), having passionate fans and glamorous players. It was established in 2008 and has had three appearances at the final match of the IPL but never emerged with the cup. The title famine aside, RCB has produced historic matches, such as record-breaking performances with the bat.

• Team Name: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
• Founded: 2008
• City: Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Home Ground: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
• Capacity: 35,000
• Owner: United Spirits
• Team Colors: Red and Gold

IPL 2025 SCHEDULE:

• 22nd March: vs KKR in Kolkata (Saturday, Match 1)
• 28th March: vs CSK in Chennai (Friday, Match 8)
• 2nd April: vs GT in Bengaluru (Wednesday, Match 14)
• 7th April: vs MI in Mumbai (Monday, Match 21)
• 10th April: vs DC in Bengaluru (Thursday, Match 24)
• 13th April: vs RR in Jaipur (Sunday, Match 28)
• 18th April: vs PBKS in Bengaluru (Friday, Match 34)
• 20th April: vs PBKS in Mullanpur (Sunday, Match 37)
• 24th April: vs RR in Bengaluru (Thursday, Match 42)
• 27th April: vs DC in Delhi (Sunday, Match 44)
• 3rd May: vs CSK in Bengaluru (Saturday, Match 52)
• 9th May: vs LSG in Lucknow (Friday, Match 59)
• 13th May: vs SRH in Bengaluru (Tuesday, Match 64)
• 17th May: vs KKR in Bengaluru (Saturday, Match 68)

RCB SCHEDULE IN IPL 2025: 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qUFMmS3o4s

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 16, 2025

ALSO READ:IPL 2025  full schedule date time venues and complete details

Highlights of 2024:

In this article, we are talking about the top five Indian cricketers who have disappeared from the spotlight at present. 

Yuzvendra Chahal

The 34-year-old leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is the present leading T20I wicket-taker for India (96 wickets) as well as the leading IPL wicket-taker (205 wickets) and leading T20 wicket-taker as an Indian (364 wickets). He is also India’s second-fastest spinner to complete 100 ODI wickets, as he has taken 121 wickets in 72 ODIs. While Chahal has played for India in only ODI and T20I formats, his last matches in these formats were in January 2023 and August 2023, respectively. Although he was a member of the Indian team that won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, he wasn’t selected in the playing XIs. Despite his strong stats, Chahal’s position in the Indian squad is slowly moving away. Meanwhile, he shined in the recent English County season but has struggled in Indian domestic cricket. It is important to see whether he can be called up to the national team in the upcoming assignments, at least for the replacements. 

See Also: Rishabh Pant: Credits for Rohit Sharma for Shaping His Leadership

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The 34-year-old right-arm medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is known for his incredible swing-bowling abilities, as he can swing the ball effectively in both ways. After his international cricket debut in December 2012, he was a dependable bowler with new balls in every format. He also developed his skills in the slog overs, and he has never stopped dominating with the new balls. Kumar played his last Test in January 2018, his last ODI in January 2022, and his last T20I in November 2022. 

Despite being the leading T20I wicket-taker for India during his last international match with 90 wickets in 87 matches, who also took 63 Test wickets and 141 ODI wickets, Kumar has been far from the spotlight since 2023. Although we still experience his abilities in the IPL, he isn’t close enough for his international comeback despite recently recording his T20 hat-trick in a domestic match. 

Ishant Sharma

The 36-year-old tall Indian right-arm fast bowler Ishant Sharma is still active in domestic cricket. He has produced many great memories for India in Test and ODI formats. He was one of the most dependable bowlers in the overseas venues. While he was the fifth-youngest bowler to complete 100 Test wickets, he has taken 311 wickets in 105 Tests and 115 wickets in 80 ODIs. Among the regular pacers, only Kapil Dev and Ishant Sharma have recorded 100 Tests for India. As time progresses, the new generation of Indian pacers is evolving, and Ishant is slowly becoming the past of Indian cricket. While he played his last white-ball match for India in January 2016, Ishant stretched his Test career to January 2021. 

Hanuma Vihari

The 31-year-old Hanuma Vihari has played only 16 Tests for India between September 2018 and July 2022. Despite serving the national team for a very short time, the right-handed batter put a special mark by scoring 839 Test runs in 28 innings with an average of 33.56, including one century and five half-centuries. Majorly effective batter in the middle order, the right-arm off-spinner has also taken five Test wickets. The right-handed batter is known for his patience and controlled batting and was a key member of India’s historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy victories in Australia in the 2018-19 season and 2020-21 seasons. During the 2021 Sydney Test, Vihari had an important role in drawing the Test with his 23 not out off 161 balls. Despite his hamstring injury just before the tea of the final day, he safely guided the visitors to the draw with another fighter, Ravichandran Ashwin (39 not out off 128 balls).

Recently, Vihari changed his domestic teams between Hyderabad and Andhra multiple times, where he was also in some controversies. His present season isn’t going well, and he is facing massive competition in the Indian team.

T Natarajan

The 33-year-old left-arm medium-pacer T Natarajan created history during India's tour of Australia in 2020-21, where he made his debut in all formats of international cricket and became the first Indian to debut in all international cricket formats on the same tour. He last played for India in March 2021. The left-arm pacer has taken seven wickets in four T20Is, three wickets in two ODIs, and three wickets in only one Test. Injuries and challenging competitions have affected his growth in international cricket.

Indian Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar joined his former team Royal Challenger Bengaluru. RCB bought him for the whopping amount of 10.75 Crores. The veteran caused the bidding war between Lucknow Supergiants and Mumbai Indians but in the end, Royal Challengers Bengaluru was able to sign him.

The pacer has 181 wickets in 176 matches with an average of 27.23. Veteran has won Purple Back back-to-back seasons in IPL 2016 & 2017. It would be a homecoming for Bhuvneshwar Kumar as he started his IPL journey with the same team in 2009.

Stealth with moves like a panther, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is #NowAChallenger. 🥶

Are you ready to witness Poetry in Motion? 😍 #PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPLAuction #BidForBold #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/VEtsd6P9R9

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) November 25, 2024

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and his IPL Journey

The Pacer was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier in the 2009 and 2010 season. He moved to Pune Warriors India from 2011 to 2013. As Pune Warriors India got dissolved, Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him in 2014 for 4.25 Crores. Pacer was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team for 10 years. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was monumental in their 2016 IPL winning campaign as he scalped 23 wickets with an average of 21.30 and won Purple Cap in 2016. He won the purple cap again in the 2017 season, scalping 26 wickets with an average of just 14.19.

In a stunning reversal, Hyderabad managed to clinch victory from what seemed like certain defeat, inflicting only the second loss of the season on the leading team, Rajasthan. Rajasthan appeared to have the match well in hand, but a late collapse, losing several quick wickets, unexpectedly shifted the momentum in favor of Hyderabad. Rajasthan’s inning got off to a rocky start with the early losses of heavy hitters Jos Buttler and captain Sanju Samson in the opening over, placing the team under immediate pressure.

Despite the initial setbacks, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag stepped up, adopting a bold counterattacking strategy that steadied their team. They showed considerable poise under pressure, bringing the score to a healthy 60/2 at the end of the Powerplay, setting a strong foundation for the remaining chase.

The pair continued to build on this momentum, crafting a commendable 134-run partnership and both securing well-earned half-centuries. However, their dismissals within three overs of each other initiated a dramatic batting collapse. Though they had set a significant platform, it wasn’t enough as Rajasthan faltered in the final stages, narrowly missing out on a win by a slim margin.

See Also: IPL 2024: Player Analysis: How did Harpreet Brar’s disciplined spell lead to CSK’s submission?

In-depth Analysis of SRH’s Death Overs Bowling

Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck a critical blow to Rajasthan’s chase early on, dismissing both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for ducks in the opening over. This double setback initially suggested that Rajasthan might crumble under the pressure. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag quickly steadied the ship, putting together a formidable 134-run partnership off just 78 balls, bringing stability and momentum back to their side. As long as Jaiswal and Parag were at the crease, Rajasthan appeared in control and on track for a win.

The dynamics of the match shifted dramatically after Parag’s dismissal in the 16th over, followed closely by Jaiswal’s departure in the 14th. Suddenly, Rajasthan found themselves needing 43 runs from the remaining 25 balls with six wickets in hand. This critical phase of the game marked a turning point, leaving the team to navigate a tricky finish without their key partnership at the helm.

Pat Cummins delivered a critical performance in the final stages of the game, conceding just 10 runs across his last two overs while crucially removing Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel. T. Natarajan also played a key role, dismissing Shimron Hetmyer with a low full toss, right after Hetmyer had hit him for a massive 106-meter six, adding to the tension of the match’s closing moments.

However, the standout performer was Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was instrumental both at the start and in the dramatic final over of the match. Having already set the tone by dismissing two of Rajasthan’s top three run-scorers in the first over, Bhuvneshwar returned to bowl the final over with only 13 runs to defend. He expertly executed yorker after yorker, but Rovman Powell managed to navigate them, squeezing out a boundary and a couple of twos.

Bhuvneshwar’s strategic bowling in these crucial moments played a pivotal role in the match’s outcome, highlighting his skill and composure under pressure. Rajasthan Royals needed just 2 runs to win on the last ball. But Rovman Powell was trapped lbw by a full toss, giving Sunrisers Hyderabad a thrilling 1-run victory. This was RR’s first loss while chasing in the ongoing IPL season.

Veteran India pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar said that the final result was not on his mind when he came to defend 12 runs in the final over against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday (May 2). SRH, who were put under the pump in the run chase, managed to clinch a thrilling one-run win in Hyderabad as well.

“I told everyone process is very important,” Bhuveshwar said after the game. “I was literally thoughtless, I was not thinking about the result. I was just trying to do what I can do.”

Bhuvneshwar Kumar starred with the ball

With Rovman Powell facing strike for most of the balls in the final over, Bhuvneshwar’s task became more difficult, especially with SRH forced to bring in an extra fielder due to a slow over-rate as well. With two runs needed off the final ball, he bowled a low full toss that was missed by the batter completely as he got trapped lbw as well.

“I knew if I could bowl just two good balls, and if it went to the last ball, anything could happen,” he said. “It was a full toss, I know, but he missed it. I was not thinking about the one extra fielder up, or whatever the restriction was there, I was so detached from the result. I wasn’t thinking about where the fielder is, where he is going to hit, where I’m gonna bowl, I was so focused on the process, that was the only thing I was doing.”

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan shares MS Dhoni’s plans after IPL 2024

However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar also did well with the new ball as he put the Royals on the backfoot very early. He dismissed both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for ducks.

“It was the first match the ball swung so much,” he added. “I can’t really pinpoint where the ball swung last, but the way it swung I literally enjoyed it. When it swings, you are always on top of the game, you try to take wickets and luckily, I got wickets.”

Rajasthan Royals gave a tough fight

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals’ batting allrounder Riyan Parag also dismissed suggestions that some of the batters, including himself, threw their wickets away especially when they were heading towards another win at one stage. Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal stitched 134 for the third wicket and had the upperhand in the game before getting dismissed.

“I don’t think any one of us threw our wickets,” he noted. “Jaiswal tried that scoop because Natarajan was bowling good slow bouncers and hence he predicted a yorker and went with that shot. I tried to muscle it for a six, probably an error in execution but I don’t really think we threw our wickets. It would have been nice to stay till the end, it was the plan for both of us.”

“I was pretty confident but you have to give credit to how they bowled,” he said. “It’s their home ground, they bowled like they knew how the wicket was playing. You got to give credit to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Natarajan and Cummins. Cummins especially bowling that 19th over, going for 8 runs or something like that, they bowled better than us in the slog overs.”

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) approaches its 2024 season, cricket fanatics eagerly await the exciting confrontations and standout performances that distinguish the competition. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise is one of the teams that is attracting notice, having added excellent talent to their squad.

Armed with a mix of seasoned veterans and rising talents, SRH hope to end their title drought that began in 2016 by winning a second championship this year. In this article, we will focus on the Orange Army’s top four players that could create an impact on the team’s upcoming run in the IPL 2024 edition.

Heinrich Klassen 

Heinrich Klaasen, the South African power hitter, is one of the players who will be focused from the Orange Army side. Klaasen’s aggressive, clean striking and ability to overpower bowlers can turn the tide in SRH’s favour during vital occasions; his ability to accelerate the scoring rate in the middle overs will be critical for SRH’s innings-building.

Klaasen had an outstanding season with SRH, scoring a century for the team. Heinrich Klaasen, currently in excellent form, is anticipated to play an essential part for SRH as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Klaasen has made 512 runs in 19 IPL appearances, including a century and two fifties.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the Indian medium-fast bowler, has been a regular part of the Hyderabad-based franchise since 2014 and is regarded as one of the finest pace bowlers in IPL history, with two purple caps. Kumar, who has 170 wickets in 160 games at an astonishing economy rate of 7.39, will join captain Pat Cummins in the powerplay.

Also, not to forget his recent performance in the 2023 UP T20 league when he represented the Noida Super Kings and performed an outstanding job with the ball, taking 14 wickets in just nine matches with an economy rate of 5.81, making him the tournament’s fourth top wicket-taker. 

See also: IPL 2024: Best Playing XI for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Post Mini Auction

Pat Cummins

Australian speedster Pat Cummins leads the SRH team from the front. Cummins brings new energy to SRH’s roster, drawing on his leadership skills and experience guiding Australia to many wins. The Australian skipper is the tournament’s second most expensive player, costing a whopping INR 20.5 crore following a fierce auction war with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Aside from his bowling abilities, Cummins’ ability to score critical runs strengthens SRH’s batting lineup. He has played 42 games in the premier league and taken 45 wickets. Furthermore, he has scored 379 runs with a phenomenal strike rate of 152.21. 

Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan leg-spinning maestro, will join the SRH camp after spending three seasons with RCB. The 26-year-old all-rounder is now ranked second in the ICC shortest format rankings and is regarded as one of the best leg-break bowlers.

His ability to take up wickets in the middle overs and control the run flow might be critical to SRH’s prospects this season. IPL fans were surprised to learn of his purchase for a measly INR 1.5 crore, but based on the spinmeister’s performance, it may be a fantastic deal for SRH. In 26 IPL matches, he has 35 wickets at an 8.13 economy rate. 

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not just a cricket tournament; it’s a spectacle that captivates millions of fans worldwide. The seventeenth season of this IPL festival will start on 22nd March 2024 between the five-time title holder and defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, and one of the most loyal franchises, Royal Challengers Bangalore. It will be interesting to see how the team will perform this season because we will have this IPL season in two parts due to the assembly election in India. 

The schedule for the first half has been announced, and the other half will be declared soon by BCCI. Apart from team performance, two of their performances will grab attention: Purple cap winner (the player who will take the most wickets in a season) and orange cap winner (the player who scored the most in a season).  

See Also: “It’s infectious the way Virat…”: RCB skipper on batting with Virat Kohli

Among the many accolades, the Purple Cap is a coveted prize awarded to the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. As we gear up for IPL 2024, let’s delve into the potential contenders for the Purple Cap and what sets them apart.

Jasprit Bumrah: The Yorker Specialist

Jasprit Bumrah, synonymous with lethal yorkers and impeccable line and length, is pivotal in the Mumbai Indians’ bowling arsenal. Despite missing the 2023 IPL due to injury, his stellar performances in international cricket hint at his readiness to dominate IPL 2024. With 145 wickets in 120 IPL matches at an average of 23.30, Bumrah is a formidable contender.

Yuzvendra Chahal: The Spin Maestro

In the Rajasthan Royals’ camp, Yuzvendra Chahal’s guile and variety add depth to their bowling attack. With 187 wickets in 145 IPL matches at an average of 21.69, Chahal’s ability to adapt to different conditions and pick crucial wickets makes him a genuine threat for the Purple Cap in IPL 2024.

Rashid Khan: The Afghan Sensation

Joining Gujarat Titans, Rashid Khan brings his spin magic to the fore. Despite a lower back injury setback, his track record of 139 wickets in 109 IPL matches at an average of 20.76 showcases his prowess. Rashid’s ability to take wickets on any surface makes him a prime candidate for the Purple Cap.

Mohammed Siraj: The Shining Star

Mohammed Siraj’s meteoric rise in the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s ranks has been remarkable. With 78 wickets in 79 IPL matches at an average of 29.83, Siraj’s pace and accuracy have troubled many batters. With impressive performances in IPL 2023 and other international competitions, Siraj has showcased his ability to deliver under pressure. His knack for picking crucial wickets under pressure makes him a dark horse for the Purple Cap. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The Swing King

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar, a two-time Purple Cap winner, remains a seasoned campaigner in the IPL. With 170 wickets in 160 matches at an average of 25.86, Bhuvi’s ability to swing the ball both ways and deliver pinpoint yorkers threatens opposition batters. Despite facing challenges with injuries, his experience and skill make him a contender for the Purple Cap in IPL 2024.

Each of these bowlers brings unique strengths to the table. Whether it’s Bumrah’s toe-crushing yorkers, Chahal’s strategic variations, Rashid’s spin prowess, Siraj’s pace, or Bhuvi’s swing and seam movement, their skills make them formidable contenders for the Purple Cap.

Factors such as current form, match conditions, team strategies, and opponents will determine the Purple Cap winner in IPL 2024. With the stakes high and competition fierce, fans can expect an exhilarating battle among these bowling stalwarts.

As the countdown to IPL 2024 commences, the race for the Purple Cap promises to be intense and captivating. With a lineup of formidable bowlers vying for supremacy, cricket enthusiasts can anticipate thrilling battles and memorable performances on the field. Whether it’s Bumrah’s yorker barrage or Rashid’s spin magic, the stage is set for an enthralling spectacle in the quest for the Purple Cap.

Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is on the verge of setting a significant record in the game’s shortest format with India’s three-match T20I series against New Zealand. Bhuvneshwar will be the bowler with the most wickets in a calendar year if he takes four against New Zealand in the series.

He has taken 36 wickets in 30 matches so far in 2022.

Joshua Brian Little of Ireland holds the record for the most wickets taken in a calendar year.Little, who performed admirably at the T20 World Cup, has taken 39 wickets in 2022. Bhuvneshwar became India’s all-time leading wicket-taker in the shortest format during the T20 World Cup.In the game’s shortest format, Bhuvneshwar has taken 89 wickets in total. He has represented Team India in 85 T20Is.

India will play three T20Is, followed by as many ODIs, against the Kiwis.

The first T20I will be played at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Friday, November 18.

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Squad for New Zealand T20Is: Hardik Pandya (C), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson (wk), W Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umran Malik.
New Zealand T20I squad: Kane Williamson (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee and Blair Tickner.

Skipper Rohit Sharma has backed the struggling Bhuvneshwar Kumar to come out of the difficult phase he’s going through. Bhuvneshwar’s disappointing show with the ball has been a major reason behind India’s recent T20I losses, but Rohit seems to have unwavering faith in the senior pacer.  According to Rohit, Bhuvneshwar needs to be given some space, which could enable him to work his way back to prime form. “It’s important that we give Bhuvi that space, given the quality that he brings to the side.

“We know that he’s had more good days than bad ones over the years. We’ve been working on some plans and hopefully, we can give him more options to bowl at the death. And then he’ll be as good as he was before,” Rohit said in Sunday’s news conference after India’s six-wicket win over Australia in the third and final T20I in Hyderabad. In spite of his woeful run, Bhuvneshwar is not short on confidence, the captain believes.

Also Read: Shami, Hooda unlikely for SA series

We need to give him time and space to work on his skills and get back in form

“It’s time for us to show that faith in him and keep backing his skillset. “From our side, we’re trying to work out the things we can do because when you’re bowling at the death, you can’t be predictable. You need to have options to bowl on both sides of the ground and set the field accordingly. “And for someone with the experience of Bhuvi, it’ll be easy for him to grasp all that knowledge,” Rohit explained. Rohit also backed Harshal Patel who, returning after a long injury layoff, had a tough time in the T20Is against Australia. “We won’t judge Harshal on the basis of how he has performed in this series. We know his quality.”

Mohammed Shami is yet to recover from Covid-19 and has been ruled out of the T20Is versus South Africa. He had missed the series against Australia too. The pacer has not travelled to Thiruvananthapuram, the venue for the first game. Umesh Yadav, who was a replacement for Shami, will continue to be with the team. Deepak Hooda, who missed the last T20I against Australia because of a back injury, will travel to the National Cricket Academy and also miss the South Africa series. Shreyas Iyer will be his replacement. Bengal’s Shahbaz Ahmed will also join the side since Hardik Pandya will also be at the NCA for “conditioning-related work”.

The first T20I of the three-match series was played on Tuesday in Mohali, where Team India suffered a crushing loss to Australia. Team India was unable to hold on to a goal of 209 despite Hardik Pandya‘s impressive performance with the bat, who hammered 71* off 30 balls. Australia was victorious by four wickets thanks to the heroics of Cameron Green (61), who performed admirably, and Matthew Wade (45*). In their eight overs together, the fast bowling pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel allowed 101 runs to be scored.

Since he let up a total of 16 runs in the 19th over on Tuesday, Bhuvneshwar’s bowling in the last innings has been a source of concern for the past few games. However, Matthew Hayden, a former cricketer for Australia, backed Bhuvneshwar and referred to him as a “good finisher.”

“I disagree with that, I think he can and has been a very good finisher. I think that’s his role, I mean, obviously, his role is to take wickets up front but if your skipper wants an over or two from you at the end, then he can do that,”

Hayden told Star Sports.

In the recent few games, Bhuvneshwar has shown to be quite expensive in the final overs. The pacer lost to Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the recently concluded Asia Cup, allowing 19 and 14 runs in the 19th over, respectively.

With regard to the game, it was Hardik’s second T20I fifty, and the innings was extremely important because India scored 208/6. The groundwork for India had been set earlier by KL Rahul 55 off 35 balls and Suryakumar Yadav 46 off 25 balls.

Australia managed to reach the target with four deliveries remaining, but it was not enough.

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The opponents took a 1-0 series lead because to Matthew Wade’s unbeaten 45 off 21 at No. 7 and Cameron Green’s 61 off 30 at the top of the order which was strong. Axar Patel excelled with the bat, taking three wickets for just 17 runs off of his four overs, but the Australian hitters completely destroyed the rest of the Indian bowlers.