Bengaluru: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has revealed that he was surprised when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bought him for Rs 10.75 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction, particularly because Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were the teams initially involved in the bidding. The veteran pacer has now explained what happened as he was simultaneously preparing to play a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match for Uttar Pradesh.
Bhuvneshwar’s comments come after a highly productive IPL 2026 season in which he played an important role in RCB’s successful title defence. The 36-year-old fast bowler claimed 28 wickets during the season as RCB became back-to-back IPL champions.
The pacer, who had previously represented RCB early in his IPL career, said he had not expected the Bengaluru franchise to eventually secure his services when the bidding began.
Bhuvneshwar was playing when auction took place
The IPL 2025 mega auction took place while Bhuvneshwar was involved in domestic cricket. At the time his name came up on the second day of the auction, he was captaining Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Bhuvneshwar explained that he had received information before the auction that several franchises were interested in signing him. Sunrisers Hyderabad, his long-time IPL franchise, were also interested, but their budget and auction dynamics prevented them from completing the deal.
The bowler said that former Sunrisers coach Daniel Vettori had told him that a few teams were waiting for him during the auction.
When his name eventually came up, Bhuvneshwar managed to take a quick look at the bidding while his Uttar Pradesh team was preparing to enter the field.
MI and LSG started the bidding
According to Bhuvneshwar, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants initially competed for his services.
The bidding had reached approximately Rs 5 crore to Rs 6 crore when Bhuvneshwar had to leave to join his teammates because the umpires were entering the ground.
He therefore did not witness the final stages of the bidding live.
A few overs into the match, someone informed him that RCB had ultimately bought him.
Bhuvneshwar said he was surprised by the outcome because MI and LSG had been the two franchises bidding when he last saw the auction. He later received messages from the RCB camp and was happy to join a franchise with a large supporter base.
The final price was significantly higher than the Rs 5-6 crore level Bhuvneshwar had seen before leaving for his match. RCB eventually secured the experienced pacer for Rs 10.75 crore.
RCB’s previous connection with Bhuvneshwar
The move to Bengaluru also represented a return of sorts for Bhuvneshwar.
He began his IPL career with RCB, although his involvement with the franchise was limited. He played only once for the team in the Champions League T20 before moving on to establish himself with other franchises.
His return to RCB ahead of IPL 2025 therefore brought together a previous association with the franchise and a new phase of his career.
The move also came at a time when RCB were looking to strengthen their bowling attack following the mega auction. Bhuvneshwar’s experience in the powerplay and at the death provided the team with an established option.
His subsequent performances have made the decision particularly significant in the context of RCB’s recent success.
Bhuvneshwar’s remarkable IPL 2026 season
Bhuvneshwar’s second season after returning to RCB proved highly productive.
He finished IPL 2026 with 28 wickets, helping the team win its second consecutive IPL title. His performances were particularly notable given that he was 36 years old during the campaign.
Across IPL 2025 and 2026, Bhuvneshwar has taken 45 wickets in 30 matches for RCB. The franchise won the title in both seasons, giving him two championship medals since returning to the side.
His bowling has remained built around control, variations and experience rather than relying solely on pace. The performances also demonstrated his ability to remain effective in a T20 competition where fast bowlers regularly face aggressive batting attacks.
No pressure to end RCB’s title wait
When Bhuvneshwar joined RCB, the franchise had gone 17 seasons without winning the IPL title.
However, the pacer revealed that there was no overwhelming pressure within the team to end that wait immediately.
According to Bhuvneshwar, the coaching staff and players wanted to win, but their approach was to remain relaxed. The message within the group was that winning would be a major achievement, while failing to win would simply mean another season had passed.
That mindset allowed the players to prepare seriously without making the title drought the sole focus of their campaign.
RCB eventually ended their wait by winning the IPL 2025 title. They then followed it up by retaining the trophy in 2026, completing back-to-back championship victories.
From surprise auction pick to key RCB bowler
Bhuvneshwar’s auction story has therefore taken an interesting turn.
When his name appeared at the 2025 mega auction, he initially watched MI and LSG compete for him before leaving to play his domestic match. By the time he was informed of the outcome, RCB had emerged as the winning bidder with a Rs 10.75 crore purchase.
The pacer has since justified his place in the RCB setup with consistent performances across two seasons. His 45 wickets in 30 matches have contributed to two successive IPL titles.
The story also highlights the unpredictability of an IPL auction, where bidding dynamics can change quickly as franchises manage their budgets and squad requirements.
RCB and Bhuvneshwar look ahead
Bhuvneshwar’s latest comments provide an insight into the circumstances behind one of RCB’s major purchases at the 2025 mega auction. What began with MI and LSG competing for his services eventually resulted in a move to Bengaluru that neither the player nor the franchise could have known would lead to two consecutive IPL titles.
For Bhuvneshwar, the journey has also marked a successful return to a franchise with which he had an early association. His experience and performances have made him an important part of RCB’s recent campaigns.
The pacer may have been surprised when he first heard that RCB had won the bidding, but his performances over the following two seasons have established a strong connection between the veteran fast bowler and the Bengaluru franchise.