Home / Sports / From Meerut to Top: Bhuvi's Second Act
From Meerut to Top: Bhuvi's Second Act
10 May
Summary
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar's sister financed his early cricket training.
- He is the only bowler to take a wicket bowled for his first in all formats.
- At 36, he leads the Purple Cap race again, proving age is just a number.
Growing up in Meerut, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the son of a police sub-inspector who viewed cricket as a hobby rather than a career. It was his elder sister, Rekha, who recognized his talent at the Meerut University Ground. Despite his slight build and lack of proper equipment, she enrolled him in Vipin Vats academy at age thirteen, paying the fees from her own pocket. Vats immediately noticed the teenagers natural ability to swing the ball with precision.
Kumar rose to national prominence in January 2009 during a Ranji Trophy final when he dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for his first-ever duck in first-class cricket. This landmark wicket established his reputation as a bowler who relied on accuracy and movement over raw pace. He later achieved a unique historical feat by becoming the only bowler to have his first wicket in all three international formats Test, ODI, and T20I come via being bowled.
His career reached a peak in 2016 and 2017 when he became the first player to win back-to-back Purple Caps in the IPL. Though injuries hampered his performance between 2018 and 2023, causing him to lose his spot in the national team, he reinvented his game through disciplined training. In 2025, he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru secure their first IPL title. By May 2026, he became the first pace bowler to reach 200 IPL wickets and currently leads the race for another Purple Cap at age 36.
Beyond the pitch, Kumar has built a successful career in business. He serves as a director for Shivalik Associates and founded the BK Cricket Academy in Meerut to mentor young athletes. He also co-founded Pickle Pros in 2025 alongside Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav to develop pickleball infrastructure across India. With an estimated net worth of 70 to 75 crore, he manages a portfolio of endorsements and family-run ventures. Despite his financial success and collection of luxury cars, he remains deeply connected to his roots in Meerut, maintaining the same quiet discipline that defined his early years in cricket. His legacy is one of technical mastery, proving that precision and psychological resilience can outlast sheer speed in the modern game.
