Young guns have dominated IPL 2026, with the likes of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya taking the Powerplay by storm. But, like a stealth bomber, a man who is almost the combined age of Sooryavanshi and Arya, has been bossing the start of the innings like no one else — with the ball, rather than bat. The 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar has done it in trademark style: quietly and effectively. The RCB pacer has 21 wickets so far, and holds the Purple Cap (award for most wickets in a season).

Bhuvneshwar was speaking to select media on Sunday night, hours after his magnificent 4-23 in RCB’s last-ball win over MI in Raipur, in an interaction filled with equal parts insight, reflection and humour.