Royal Challengers Bengaluru speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar added another chapter to his IPL story in Raipur during the high-pressure clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, moving level with Yuzvendra Chahal for the most wickets taken against KKR in the tournament. The veteran pacer struck again at a pivotal moment, taking his tally to 33 dismissals versus the franchise and reaffirming how consistently he has troubled their batting over the years.
Key takeaways
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed his 33rd IPL wicket against Kolkata Knight Riders, matching Yuzvendra Chahal’s record at the top of the list.
- He reached the milestone with an economy rate of 8.01 in the match, highlighting tight control against KKR.
- Finn Allen was dismissed early in the innings when Bhuvneshwar induced an edge, giving RCB a crucial powerplay breakthrough.
- The dismissal came as part of Bhuvneshwar’s strong season for RCB, alongside a new-ball partnership with Josh Hazlewood.
- Despite early setbacks, KKR’s Angkrish Raghuvanshi responded with a 71 off 46 balls, including seven fours and three sixes.
Milestone for Bhuvneshwar as he matches Chahal at the top
The pacer’s achievement came during RCB’s rain-affected contest against KKR in Raipur, where he claimed his 33rd wicket against the side. With that strike, Bhuvneshwar equalled Chahal, taking top spot on the all-time chart for most wickets versus Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL history.
That elite list reads: 33 — Bhuvneshwar Kumar; 33 — Yuzvendra Chahal; 25 — Jasprit Bumrah; 25 — Ravindra Jadeja; 24 — Ravichandran Ashwin.
Bhuvneshwar reached the landmark by dismissing Finn Allen early in the innings. The New Zealand batter had started with intent, clubbing 14 runs in Jacob Duffy’s over after Ajinkya Rahane survived a testing first spell. Yet the bowler soon delivered again from the powerplay, producing movement away from Allen and getting him caught behind, which handed RCB the breakthrough they needed while also tying his personal record with Chahal.
RCB’s powerplay impact and KKR’s fightback
The wicket underlined why Bhuvneshwar remains among the most threatening powerplay bowlers in IPL history. It also fed into his ongoing form for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he has developed a potent new-ball combination with Josh Hazlewood. Together, the pair has consistently challenged opposition batters early in innings and played a significant role in RCB’s strong campaign this season.
Kolkata Knight Riders, however, showed resilience after the early jolts. Angkrish Raghuvanshi produced the best knock of his IPL career, smashing 71 off 46 deliveries. His innings included seven boundaries and three maximums, and it came at a time when KKR were struggling at 56 for two by the close of the powerplay.
Raghuvanshi then built momentum through key partnerships. He and Cameron Green added 68 runs together, with Green contributing 32 from 24 balls. After that, Raghuvanshi continued his climb, putting on another 76 runs alongside the in-form Rinku Singh.
Rinku looked on course for a big score but narrowly missed a fifty, finishing unbeaten on 49 off 29 balls. His knock featured three fours and two sixes. The left-hander also extended a purple patch of recent form, following two consecutive unbeaten fifties in his previous four matches.
Rain delay, RCB’s decision, and KKR’s total
The match began after a delay of more than an hour, with rain and a damp outfield in Raipur affecting conditions. RCB captain Rajat Patidar opted to bowl first, banking on assistance for the seamers. However, the conditions did not deliver the same level of movement as seen during the prior game at the same venue.
Even so, KKR managed to post a competitive total of 192 for four. For RCB, the night’s major talking point was Bhuvneshwar Kumar adding yet another milestone to his decorated IPL career by joining Chahal at the top of the wicket-taking list against Kolkata Knight Riders.
