The ball that goes both ways: Sachin Tendulkar explains Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s ‘wobble’ magic ahead of IPL final – Watch | Cricket News
Former India batter Sachin Tendulkar believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar has found success in IPL 2026 through the use of the “wobbly seam”, a variation that has made it harder for batters to predict the movement of the ball.Bhuvneshwar has played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s run to the IPL 2026 final, taking 26 wickets in 15 matches. Ahead of Sunday’s title clash against Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium, Tendulkar explained how the veteran seamer has adapted his approach this season.“This season, if you look at Bhuvi’s seam, I think it is a wobbly seam. So when a wobbly seam comes, a batsman often doesn’t know whether the ball is going to fall out or in. And that is what Bhuvi has been doing,” Tendulkar said in a video posted on X.According to Tendulkar, Bhuvneshwar has moved away from depending mainly on conventional swing and instead focused on bowling straighter lines while using seam movement to create uncertainty.“Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been bowling really well this season. The previous season, when Bhuvi was bowling, he had a long outswinger or inswinger. He has developed this variation; it is his conscious decision, but he has been bowling as straight as possible. When a bowler wants to bowl a long outswinger or inswinger, the seam is always pointing towards the first or second slip for an outswinger. And when you want to inswing, the seam goes towards the leg slip to a right-hander. And the wrist position also changes,” he said.Tendulkar also highlighted Bhuvneshwar’s control and consistency, saying his accuracy allows him to make the most of the variation.“He has been very, very accurate. If you see, his lines have been very, very tight, either off-stump or at the most towards the fourth stump. And from there, he tries to bowl a straight ball with a wobbly seam,” the 53-year-old said.“That ball either goes out or in. So that becomes a little difficult to pick because the signal is less from the wrist. What happens in a wobbly seam is that when the seam lands one way, the ball goes out, and when it lands another way, it goes in or stays straight. So that has been Bhuvi’s success mantra, I think, for this season. He has been bowling exceedingly well. Well done, Bhuvi,” he added.Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to Bhuvneshwar to make an impact with the new ball when they take on Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final. The fast bowler heads into the title clash with 26 wickets and remains one of the team’s key performers this season.
