New Delhi
Bhuvneshwar Kumar believes bowlers in modern T20 cricket must embrace defensive tactics and disciplined planning against hard-hitting batters, insisting that being defensive does not necessarily mean negative cricket.
The experienced Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer delivered a sensational spell of 3/5 against Delhi Capitals during their IPL 2026 clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Alongside Australian quick Josh Hazlewood, who claimed 4/12, Bhuvneshwar dismantled Delhi’s batting line-up as the hosts were bundled out for just 75 runs.
RCB chased down the modest target in only 6.3 overs with nine wickets remaining to register a commanding victory.
Reflecting on the evolving nature of T20 batting, Bhuvneshwar said modern players attack relentlessly even when conditions favour bowlers, forcing seamers to adapt strategically.
“The biggest change is that batters no longer hold back, even when the ball is swinging in the powerplay. Earlier, there was more respect for conditions, but now the approach is consistently aggressive,” Bhuvneshwar said.
“That is where the mindset shift for bowlers becomes important. Being defensive is not negative, it is about bowling to a plan and targeting weaknesses,” he added.
The veteran swing bowler explained that bowlers naturally become more attacking when conditions offer movement through the air or off the pitch. However, on flat batting-friendly surfaces, controlling boundaries becomes the primary objective.
“On flat wickets with no assistance, the approach becomes more defensive, not in a negative way, but with the focus on controlling runs and avoiding boundaries, especially against aggressive batters,” he said.
Bhuvneshwar also credited preparation and communication for RCB’s dominant bowling display alongside Hazlewood.
“A lot of it comes down to preparation and understanding situations. Even small details matter, and having experienced players like Josh helps because communication on the field becomes crucial,” he noted.
Widely regarded as one of India’s finest swing bowlers, Bhuvneshwar attributed his control and consistency to extensive red-ball cricket experience.
“For me, playing a lot of red-ball cricket has really helped in mastering basics like wrist position, alignment and control over line and length,” he said.
RCB are currently placed second in the IPL 2026 standings with six victories from eight matches.
