Royal Challengers Bengaluru seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar became the second Indian bowler to claim 350 wickets in T20s on Thursday.
He reached the milestone during his side’s (RCB) IPL match against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Defending a modest total of 156 runs, Bhuvneshwar was brilliant as he returned figures of 3 for 28
In 325 T20 matches, Bhuvneshwar has picked up 352 wickets at an average of 24.51. He has taken four wickets in an innings five times and grabbed five wickets in a match on five occasions, with his best figures being 5 for 4. Among Indian bowlers, only Yuzvendra Chahal has taken more T20 wickets than him.
This IPL season, the experienced pacer has been in excellent form, troubling batters with his swing. He has taken 17 wickets in nine matches at an average of 15.52 and an economy rate of 7.54, with best figures of 3 for 5. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in the tournament and the holder of the Purple Cap.
In the IPL, Bhuvneshwar has played 199 matches and taken 215 wickets at an average of 26.40. He has two four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls, with best figures of 5 for 19. He is the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL history, behind Chahal, who has 228 wickets.
Coming to the match, GT registered a crucial four-wicket win over an in-form RCB as the race for the playoff heats up. Put in to bat, RCB were bundled out for 155, on what looked like a good batting surface. Devdutt Padikkal top-scored for RCB with a 24-ball 40.
Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada struck early with the big wickets of Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli, respectively. RCB then kept losing wickets at regular intervals as they found it difficult to build momentum in the middle overs, with GT bowlers Arshad Khan taking three scalps while Jason Holder and Rashid Khan claiming two wickets each.
GT’s chase was given impetus by skipper Shubman Gill’s 18-ball 43 and Jos Buttler’s 39 before Bhuvneshwar struck with three wickets. The early platform laid by Gill helped Rahul Tewatia (27*) take GT over the line in 15.5 overs.
