IPL 2025 mega auction: 3 teams who might target Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has picked up 181 wickets in his IPL career.

Senior Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be up for grabs in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction after being released by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Bhuvneshwar and SRH have had a long-term association: the pacer joined SRH in 2014 and is the franchise’s highest wicket-taker. Overall, Kumar is the fourth-leading IPL wicket-taker with 181 scalps in 176 matches.

He is one of the best pacers in the tournament, adept at picking wickets in both the powerplay and death-overs phases of the match. His economy rate of 7.56 is simply terrific.

With a vast experience and success over the years, Bhuvneshwar should get a hefty sum at the IPL 2025 mega auction. It is to be noted that SRH cannot use their RTM card on Bhuvneshwar as they have retained five capped players and can utilise their RTM option only on an uncapped cricketer.

Three teams who might target Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the IPL 2025 mega auction:

1. Chennai Super Kings

Having released Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande and Shardul Thakur, CSK will be on the lookout for Indian pacers at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

The 34-year-old Bhuvneshwar fits the requirements of CSK – immense experience – to the tee. Further, Kumar’s cutters and knuckle balls will be highly effective on the dry Chepauk surface. Kumar might just be the player CSK needs to get back to glory after missing out on a playoff spot last season.

2. Mumbai Indians

Since the departure of Trent Boult after IPL 2021, Mumbai Indians have struggled to find perfect bowling partners for Jasprit Bumrah, who has had to take extra duties in the powerplay, leaving one over fewer for the death overs.

MI should target Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the mega auction. Kumar also has significant experience playing with Bumrah on the national side where both complemented each other’s strengths very well.

3. Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans have not retained a single fast bowler among their five retentions. They have released a spate of fast bowlers – Shami, Umesh, Darshan Nalkande, Kartik Tyagi, Mohit Sharma, Josh Little, and Spencer Johnson.

With Shami out of action due to ankle surgery, Gujarat are likely to be one of the teams who would go hard after Bhuvneshwar at the mega auction. There is often some swing movement available in night games at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for new ball pacers, something Bhuvneshwar can utilize to great effect.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.