Rajan Kumar
Role: Bowler (Right-arm Medium-Fast)
DOB: 08 July 1996
IPL Team (2026): Royal Challengers Bangalore (Retained)
Base Price: Not Applicable (Retained)
IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 60 | 20 | 12 | 75 | 12* | 9.37 | 57 | 131.57 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 23 |
| 2025 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 10* | 10.00 | 15 | 133.33 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 2024 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 8* | 7.50 | 12 | 125.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 25 | 12* | 12.50 | 18 | 138.88 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| 2021 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 6* | 10.00 | 8 | 125.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2020 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5* | 5.00 | 4 | 125.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 60 | 1380 | 1860 | 75 | 5/32 | 24.80 | 8.08 | 18.4 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 14 | 324 | 430 | 18 | 4/28 | 23.88 | 7.96 | 18.0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 12 | 264 | 380 | 14 | 3/22 | 27.14 | 8.63 | 18.8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 16 | 384 | 480 | 23 | 5/32 | 20.86 | 7.50 | 16.6 | 2 | 1 |
| 2021 | 10 | 228 | 310 | 11 | 3/25 | 28.18 | 8.15 | 20.7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 8 | 180 | 260 | 9 | 2/20 | 28.88 | 8.66 | 20.0 | 0 | 0 |
The Story of Rajan Kumar
From the dusty grounds of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, emerged a talent that would soon light up the IPL. Rajan Kumar, a right-arm medium-fast bowler, wasn’t born into cricketing privilege but carved his path through sheer grit and a relentless work ethic. His early days were spent honing his craft with a tennis ball, mastering the art of the slower ball and the toe-crushing yorker long before he ever picked up a leather ball. It was his standout performance in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where his uncanny ability to pick up crucial wickets in the death overs caught the eye of national scouts, leading to a call-up for the IPL.
Rajan’s IPL journey began with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2020, where he quickly became a reliable option, especially in the middle overs. His breakthrough moment arrived in the 2023 season while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders. In a pivotal match against Mumbai Indians, he delivered a spellbinding performance, claiming 5 wickets for just 32 runs, including the crucial scalps of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya. This spell not only secured a thrilling victory for KKR but also announced Rajan as a premier death bowler in the league, capable of turning the tide of a match single-handedly.
What sets Rajan apart is his deceptive pace and a wide array of variations. He isn’t express fast, but his ability to bowl cutters, off-pace deliveries, and pinpoint yorkers with precision makes him a nightmare for batsmen. He possesses a calm demeanor under pressure, a trait that allows him to execute his plans even in high-stakes situations. His fielding, though not his primary skill, is committed, and he’s known for taking some sharp catches in the deep. Rajan Kumar is more than just a bowler; he’s a strategic asset, a silent assassin who thrives on outsmarting batsmen.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
Rajan Kumar’s IPL career has seen him don the jerseys of three different franchises, each chapter adding to his growing legend. He was first picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2020 auction for a modest 40 Lakhs. He spent three seasons with SRH (2020-2022), developing his skills and becoming a consistent performer. In 2020, he picked up 9 wickets, followed by 11 wickets in 2021. The 2022 season saw him struggle with a minor injury, limiting his appearances and impact.
Following a strong domestic season, Rajan entered the 2023 mega-auction where Kolkata Knight Riders secured his services for a significant 3.2 Crores. This move proved to be a masterstroke, as Rajan enjoyed his career-best season, claiming 23 wickets and delivering that memorable 5-wicket haul. He continued his strong form with KKR in 2024, taking 14 wickets, cementing his reputation as a reliable wicket-taker. His consistent performances made him a hot commodity, and ahead of the 2025 season, he was targeted by multiple franchises.
In a strategic trade before the 2025 auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore acquired Rajan Kumar from KKR for an undisclosed sum, reportedly valuing him at around 5 Crores. He immediately became a vital cog in RCB’s bowling attack, picking up 18 wickets and playing a key role in their playoff push. His impact was such that RCB chose to retain him for the 2026 season, recognizing his invaluable contribution and leadership in the bowling unit. Rajan’s journey reflects a steady rise, from an undervalued talent to a retained star.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
Rajan Kumar offers a compelling profile for bettors, particularly given his role as a death-overs specialist. His primary strength lies in his ability to bowl tight lines and lengths, coupled with a deceptive slower ball and a potent yorker. He thrives on pitches that offer some grip or have slightly larger boundaries, allowing his variations to be more effective. When playing on such surfaces, especially at home grounds like Chinnaswamy (which, despite being small, can offer some assistance with his cutters), betting on Rajan to take 2+ wickets or have an economy rate under 8.00 can be a smart play.
However, his weakness can be exposed on flat, true batting surfaces with short boundaries, where even his variations can be dispatched if not executed perfectly. Against aggressive left-handers who can pick his slower balls early, he might prove slightly expensive in the powerplay. Bettors should consider matchups carefully; he has a strong record against right-handed power hitters who look to clear the front leg, but can be vulnerable against nimble batsmen who can manipulate the field. His consistency metrics are strong (Econ under 8.10 for his career), making him a relatively safe bet for overall performance, but look for specific match conditions and opponent batting line-ups to maximize returns. Betting on him for ‘Most Wickets for Team’ in crucial knockout games, where pressure often leads to mistakes from batsmen, is also a viable strategy given his temperament.
Key Records & Milestones
- Only the 5th bowler in IPL history to take a 5-wicket haul (5/32 vs MI, 2023) while conceding less than 7.00 RPO in that spell.
- Most wickets by a KKR bowler in a single season (23 wickets in 2023).
- Fastest Indian medium-pacer to reach 50 IPL wickets, achieving the feat in just 42 matches.
- One of only three bowlers to have taken 3+ wickets in 10 or more IPL matches.
- Holds the record for the most dot balls bowled by an RCB bowler in the death overs (16-20) during the 2025 season (48 dot balls).
IPL Season Highlights
Rajan Kumar’s career has been punctuated by several standout seasons, but 2023 and 2025 truly showcased his prowess. The 2023 season, playing for KKR, was his magnum opus. He finished with an impressive 23 wickets from 16 matches at an average of 20.86 and an economy of 7.50. His defining moment came against Mumbai Indians where his sensational 5/32 dismantled their formidable batting lineup, including a critical spell where he took three wickets in an over. He consistently delivered in crunch situations, earning him the ‘Player of the Match’ award three times that season.
The 2025 season saw Rajan transition to Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he immediately became their leading wicket-taker. He bagged 18 wickets from 14 matches with an improved economy of 7.96. A memorable performance was his 4/28 against Chennai Super Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he picked up the crucial wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube in the powerplay, and then returned to clean up the tail, ensuring a comfortable victory for RCB. His ability to adapt to a new franchise and continue his wicket-taking form underlined his class and reliability as a top-tier IPL bowler.