Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Smart Spin: How RCB’s Bowlers Tamed DC’s Batsmen

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar believes that in the current era of T20 cricket, given the consistently aggressive stance of batsmen, bowlers should bowl with a strategic and defensive mindset even when the ball is swinging in the Powerplay.
Bhuvneshwar took five wickets against Delhi Capitals on Monday. Alongside him, Josh Hazlewood took four wickets for 12 runs, helping bowl out Delhi Capitals for just 75 runs on a swinging Kotla pitch.
RCB chased down the target in just 6.3 overs with nine wickets to spare.
The biggest change in this format is that earlier, conditions were respected more, but now the batsmen’s attitude remains consistently aggressive. In such a situation, it is necessary for bowlers to change their thinking.
Redefining ‘Defensive’ he clarified that being defensive isn’t “negative”; rather, it is about bowling according to a plan and targeting the batsmen’s weaknesses. He noted that while fast bowlers naturally become more aggressive when the pitch or atmosphere helps them, they must become strategically defensive on flat pitches where there is no help for the bowlers. This, he argues, is a smart strategy rather than a negative one.