Bhuvneshwar Kumar saved 225 runs in Powerplay across last four IPL seasons per CricViz
CricViz data shows Bhuvneshwar Kumar saved 225 runs in the Powerplay across four IPL seasons, underlining his value with the new ball ahead of the New Zealand T20Is.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar saved 225 runs in the Powerplay across the last four IPL seasons according to CricViz's Bowling Impact metric, 80 more than the next bowler. The 36-year-old took 42 wickets with the new ball in 60 matches during that period at 7.51 runs per over. Only Jasprit Bumrah bowled tighter at 7.17. In 2026, Bhuvneshwar took 17 wickets with the new ball at 13.35 runs each and saved 178 runs for RCB. He finished as the tournament's second-highest wicket-taker with 28 wickets in 16 matches. Bhuvneshwar returns to India's T20I squad after nearly four years for the series against New Zealand that begins on Thursday.
CricHubb Take
The numbers explain why India turned to a 36-year-old rather than another young quick: Bhuvneshwar's economy in the first six overs remains unmatched among Indian seamers.