Veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has openly praised Virat Kohli for bringing a revolutionary change in India’s Test cricket approach. In a conversation released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru on social media, Bhuvneshwar called Kohli’s leadership “game-changing” and credited him for the fast-bowling revolution in India’s red-ball format.
“Virat changed the game for us in Tests. He didn’t just want to compete—he wanted to win overseas,” Bhuvneshwar said.
“And his belief in fast bowlers gave us a whole new identity.”
Kohli’s tenure as Test captain (2014–2022) saw India win historic matches in Australia, England, and South Africa. His emphasis on fitness, aggressive intent, and pace-dominant strategies played a major role in India’s ascent to the No.1 spot in Test rankings.
𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐯𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐫 𝐊𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫 ☄
Swing King Bhuvi opens up on his journey to becoming one of India’s finest pacers – the importance of backing instincts, being proactive, staying one step ahead of… pic.twitter.com/PdhlTEtbWV
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 7, 2025
Bhuvneshwar, who has 294 international wickets since debuting in 2012, last played for India in 2022. Though not in the current national setup, he remains active in domestic circuits and the IPL. In IPL 2025, he has quietly made an impact with 12 wickets in 10 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Reflecting on his journey, the 35-year-old said:
“I’ve never had big goals. I just stay in the moment and give my best match by match. It keeps me mentally at peace.”
He also spoke about the emotional toll of injuries, particularly during the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.
“Injuries at big moments hurt. You ask yourself, ‘Why now?’ But I’ve accepted it as part of the game. No regrets.”
As RCB pushes for a playoff spot with 16 points from 11 games, Bhuvi’s experience and calm temperament will be crucial in their next match against Lucknow Super Giants.
India’s transformation in Test cricket is well-documented.
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