The trophy is more important: Bhuvneshwar Kumar reacts after missing Purple Cap

In an iconic clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers rose to glory as they defended the IPL trophy, emerging as the Champions of the IPL 2026. Gujarat Titans lost out on getting their second trophy within six years of being a part of the IPL as they could not post enough runs during the first innings and the total of 155 was easily chased by the Challengers.

In the post match interview, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was asked about losing out on the Purple Cap, Kumar with utmost gratitude in his conversation said that he prefers the trophy over the Purple Cap and would always trade the Trophy for the cap. “I mean the trophy is the most important thing for us. I would trade that any day”.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a championship winning spell of 2/29 in 4 overs and took the crucial wickets of Sai Sudharshan in the Powerplay and later of Jason Holder to keep the team struggling for runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar sits at the second position of the Purple Cap table as the IPL 2026 tournament comes to an end. He lost out on the Cap by just one wicket and was overtaken by Kagiso Rabada who has been in a fierce form since the IPL 2026 has begun.

Despite a superior economy as compared to Kagiso Rabada, Kumar missed out on his third cap of the IPL history. Bhuvneshwar Kumar supported by Josh Hazlewood choked runs for the runners-up as they looked clueless while playing against the power-packed duo.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar talks about teamwork in bowling rotation in post match interview

In the post match interview, Kumar also highlighted the belief the bowlers had in each other that if they are not able to perform in the match, the other bowlers will do it for the team. He also credited everyone for the success of the team as they defended the trophy and emerged champions at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

He highlighted his partnership with Josh Hazlewood, noting that they complement each other perfectly by leveraging their unique skill sets rather than trying to replicate one another. He also credited young bowler Rasikh Dhar who performed extremely well under pressure and took 3 wickets by giving just 27 runs in 4 overs. “But I think credit goes to everyone. If he (Hazlewood) didn't do well, I was there. If I didn't do well, Rasikh was there”.

See Also: IPL 2026 Purple Cap Winner

Bhuvneshwar explained that a major part of successful in-game rotation involves closely watching what the bowler before you is doing. Observing their fields and how the ball responds allows the next bowler to adapt instantly. He underscored that bowling pairs must constantly exchange notes on pitch conditions and variations to adjust strategies mid-over rather than sticking to a rigid pre-match plan.

Kumar concluded that the success of the bowling unit stems from complementing partners' skills and consistent, year-round preparation rather than just pre-match routines. He emphasized that the partnership dynamics, including observing a partner's bowling, field placements, and thought process, are crucial for adapting during matches.