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Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s salary more than double as RCB buy him at IPL 2025 auction

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bought experienced medium-pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday, November 25. This came after the Bengaluru-based franchise entered a bidding war with Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants.

His salary has now more than doubled, getting a hike of ₹6.55 crore after leaving SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). He was bought for a whopping ₹10.75 crore on Monday.

This is Bhuvneshwar’s homecoming, having represented RCB in 2009 and 2010. He then played for now-defunct Pune Warriors India for the next three seasons.

The SunRisers had re-bought Bhuvneshwar at the 2022 auction for ₹4.20 crore. He spent 11 seasons with the Hyderabad-based franchise.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has a rich legacy in the IPL, picking up 181 wickets in 176 games at an economy rate of 7.56. The 34-year-old, however, managed just 11 wickets in 16 games in the 2024 season, where SRH ended as the runners-up, losing to eventual champions Kolkata Knight Riders. He won the 2016 season with the franchise.

As a skipper, Bhuvneshwar failed to weave his magic, managing just two wins in eight games. The franchise bought Pat Cummins for a whopping ₹20.50 crore for the captaincy role last season.

Bhuvneshwar is currently leading Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He returned with 1/29 in his last outing, which came against Delhi.

“His experience comes to the fore under pressure” – When Virat Kohli lauded Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of 2021 T20 World Cup

Virat Kohli, who is synonymous with RCB in the IPL, heaped praise on Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his experience ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup. He said (via ESPNcricinfo):

"His economy rates still continue to be top notch, something that he's always been known for and his experience comes to the fore under pressure.”
“He bowls lengths so well and so consistently, which is not an easy thing to get away in T20 cricket, especially with the new ball. It's quite an underrated thing and I think his experience and accuracy has always been priceless for the team,” he added.

RCB buys so far:

Josh Hazlewood (₹12.25 crore), Phil Salt (₹11.50 crore), Jitesh Sharma (₹11 crore), Liam Livingstone (₹8.75 crore), Rasikh Dar (₹6 crore), Suyash Sharma (₹2.6 crore), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (₹10.75 crore), Krunal Pandya ((₹5.75 crore) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Retained players:

Virat Kohli (₹21 crore), Rajat Patidar (₹11 crore), Yash Dayal (₹5 crore).

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