Josh Hazlewood Compares Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins
The Rise of the RCB Pace Battery: Hazlewood’s High Praise for Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The IPL 2026 season has been nothing short of a fairy tale for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). As the defending champions, the pressure was immense to maintain their standards, and they have done so with clinical precision. With 16 points accumulated from just 12 matches, the franchise is on the doorstep of another playoff appearance. While much of the spotlight often falls on the batting heavyweights, it is the sophisticated bowling attack that has caught the eye of experts and fans alike.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins [Source: AFP]
Ahead of their critical encounter against a struggling Punjab Kings side, senior Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood shared his thoughts on the team’s bowling dynamics. Specifically, he drew a fascinating parallel between his RCB teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar and his long-time Australian national colleagues, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. This comparison is not made lightly, given the stature of the ‘Big Three’ in world cricket.
A World-Class Trio: Comparing Bhuvi to Starc and Cummins
Hazlewood, who has shared many a battle on the field with Cummins and Starc for Australia, noted that bowling alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar feels remarkably similar to operating with his national teammates. The synergy and balance within the RCB attack seem to mirror the successful formula used by the Australian national team for over a decade.
According to Hazlewood, the variety is what makes the partnership work. “It’s a little bit like bowling with Patty [Pat Cummins] and Starcy [Mitchell Starc] for Australia,” Hazlewood explained. “Bhuvi probably pitches it up a little more and swings the ball. I can hit the seam and get a bit of bounce. It’s nice to have balance in your attack. Last year and this year we’ve had a nice mix.”
This tactical balance is vital in the T20 format. While Hazlewood provides the bounce and consistency from a length, Bhuvneshwar offers the lethal ability to move the ball both ways in the powerplay. This combination has consistently put opposition openers on the back foot, allowing RCB to control the game from the very first over.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The Undisputed King of the Purple Cap
The numbers certainly back up Hazlewood’s high praise. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, often described as the ‘forgotten star’ of Indian cricket in recent years, has experienced a magnificent resurgence in IPL 2026. He is currently the proud owner of the Purple Cap, signifying his status as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.
His statistics this season are a testament to his evergreen skill set:
- Wickets: 22 in 12 innings
- Bowling Average: 16.13
- Best Figures: 4/23 against Mumbai Indians in Raipur
At 36 years of age, Bhuvneshwar has demonstrated that swing and intelligence can be just as effective as raw pace. His recent demolition of the Mumbai Indians, where he finished with figures of 4-23, was a masterclass in modern-day seam bowling. While Hazlewood himself has been finding his rhythm after returning to competitive cricket, bagging 11 wickets so far, he acknowledged that his economy rate has been slightly higher than he would like, hovering above nine runs per over.
RCB’s Path to the IPL 2026 Playoffs
Under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, who took over the captaincy reins with great poise, RCB has looked like a well-oiled machine. Their recent victory over KKR in a tense, final-over thriller in Raipur showcased the team’s resilience. Chasing a competitive total, they secured a six-wicket win, propelling them to 16 points with a healthy Net Run Rate (NRR) of +1.053.
The equation for RCB is now simple yet exciting. A victory against the Punjab Kings on Sunday, May 17, will officially secure their spot in the top four. Furthermore, a win in Dharamsala would put them in a prime position to finish in the top two, granting them two opportunities to reach the grand final through the Qualifier 1 route.
Match Preview: RCB vs Punjab Kings at Dharamsala
The upcoming fixture at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala is expected to favor the seamers, given the altitude and the typical conditions at the venue. This plays directly into the hands of Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The match is scheduled to commence at 3:30 PM IST, and fans can expect the ball to move significantly in the early stages of the innings.
For Punjab Kings, the task is daunting. They face a bowling attack that Hazlewood believes is as balanced as any in the world. As RCB looks to cement their legacy as one of the most consistent teams in IPL history, the focus will remain on whether Bhuvneshwar can continue his Purple Cap-winning form and if Hazlewood can tighten his economy in the high-altitude conditions of the North.
In a season where individual performances have been stellar, the collective strength of the RCB pace battery stands out as their greatest asset. Whether it is the ‘Indian version of Starc’ or the ‘Australian consistency’ of Hazlewood, the defending champions have all the ingredients for a successful title defense.
