Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]: Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar carved his name into the record books, becoming the joint-highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers during his impressive spell for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
At RCB’s home ground, Rajat Patidar faced his first defeat as captain, as Gujarat Titans chased down the 170-run target with authority, securing a dominant eight-wicket victory.
Despite the home team’s setback, there were a few silver linings, with Bhuvneshwar’s stellar bowling performance standing out. He bowled his full quota of four overs, made an early breakthrough by dismissing GT skipper Shubman Gill, and finished with figures of 1/23.
Although his efforts did not change the outcome, they were enough to place him alongside Dwayne Bravo as the joint-highest wicket-taker among pacers, both with 183 wickets. Bravo reached this milestone in 161 matches, while Bhuvneshwar achieved the feat in 178 appearances.
On the overall IPL wicket-takers list, he now sits in third place, trailing only Yuzvendra Chahal (206 wickets) and Piyush Chawla (192 wickets).
Nicknamed the “Prince of Swing,” Bhuvneshwar showcased his exceptional skills and remained RCB’s most economical bowler, conceding runs at just 5.80 per over.
Defending a 170-run target at the high-scoring M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was always going to be a tough task. While RCB struggled to adapt to home conditions, Gujarat executed their chase with precision, setting a benchmark for visiting teams.
Bhuvneshwar’s early breakthrough gave RCB a glimmer of hope, but it was short-lived. Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler built a crucial 75-run stand for the second wicket, effectively dismantling RCB’s bowling attack. Josh Hazlewood eventually dismissed Sudharsan, but by then, the damage had been done.
Sherfane Rutherford was introduced as an impact substitute to finish the chase for GT. In the 18th over, Buttler and Rutherford put the game to bed in style. Buttler smashed two consecutive boundaries before Rutherford sealed the victory with a massive six over deep backward square, guiding Gujarat Titans to an emphatic win.