Royal Challengers Bengaluru can rather opt to delay Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s debut with the franchise in IPL 2025 than playing him in Chennai. The reason? Spin-friendly conditions in Chepauk and the limited assistance offered to pacers in terms of swing and pace. RCB will take on CSK next on March 28 (Friday) at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai.
Why RCB shouldn’t play Bhuvi in Chennai
Having moved from SRH to RCB ahead of IPL 2025, Bhuvneshwar was left out of the team’s playing XI in the opening game against KKR. It will be ideal for the team to once again do so when they take on CSK in Chennai. For starters, the home team’s spinners, especially Noor Ahmed, tasted more success compared to other pacers at the venue in the game against MI. Besides, the conditions in Chennai will offer no help to “swing king” Bhuvi and would instead make his life more difficult.
While squaring off against CSK in Chennai, it would be better for RCB to field an extra spinner or a pacer who isn’t lightning quick instead of playing Kumar. In 13 matches that the ex-SRH pacer has played at the MA Chidambaram stadium, he has only managed to take 7 wickets, averaging a terrible 54.14. He has conceded 379 runs at an economy rate of 8.42.
| Matches | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Best figures | Average | Economy |
| 13 | 45.0 | 2 | 379 | 7 | 2/12 | 54.14 | 8.42 |
Instead of playing Bhuvneshwar in Chennai, RCB would be better off by sticking with the same bowling line-up they fielded against KKR. The likes of Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Yash Dayal among others are bound to taste more success at the venue compared to the veteran pacer. Part-time spinners like Liam Livingstone and Tim David could also come of good use for the side on that surface.
Besides, a player like Rasikh Salam – who is a medium pacer- could be much better than Bhuvi on that surface simply because the conditions will favour him more. Yash Dayal and Josh Hazlewood are more than enough for RCB in terms of pace. All signs indicate that it would be best for Kumar to be left out of the playing XI vs CSK, which means his RCB debut will have to be delayed.
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