Bhuvneshwar Kumar makes history, becomes first bowler in IPL to...

Rajat Patidar's Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced defeat in their IPL 2026 clash against Gujarat Titans (GT), as they failed to defend 156 runs against the Shubman Gill-led side on Thursday, April 30 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Despite the loss, RCB's star pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar managed to achieve a big feat.

Big feat for Bhuvneshwar Kumar in IPL

The 36-year-old pacer became the only bowler to pick 200 IPL wickets in India. The former SRH bowler needed only two wickets to complete the milestone in the second innings, and he achieved the target in the first five overs by removing Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill.

Also Read: Gill-Buttler-Arshad's exploits help GT record 5th win after condemning RCB to 4-wicket defeat

After reaching the historic milestone, Bhuvneshwar dismissed Jos Buttler on the third delivery of the eighth over while defending 156 runs. The star Indian speedster finished the game with the figures of 3/28 in four overs. Now, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is leading the Purple Cap race in IPL 2026.

Gill-Buttler's batting blitz in GT's win

GT captain Gill ignited the chase with an explosive start, immediately targeting Josh Hazlewood to put the opposition on the back foot. The Indian Test and ODI skipper showcased his dominance by racing to a rapid 43 runs off only 18 deliveries, a fiery knock highlighted by four boundaries and three sixes. Operating at a strike rate exceeding 238, Gill’s aggressive intent set a high-octane tone for the Titans' pursuit of the RCB total.

Following Gill's departure, Jos Buttler maintained the momentum with a brisk 39-run cameo off 19 balls, ensuring the run rate remained well under control. The finishing touches were applied by Jason Holder and Rahul Tewatia, who navigated the closing stages with composure. Tewatia remained unbeaten on 27 from 17 balls, while Rashid Khan struck the winning runs, contributing an undefeated 7 to secure another vital victory for the Gujarat franchise.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's red-hot form in IPL 2026

The star RCB pacer has managed to bring back his best form in the IPL 2026, picking up 17 wickets in just nine matches at an economy rate of 7.54 and a bowling average of 15.52. His best figures of 3/5 came against Delhi Capitals. The Rajat Patidar-led side will look for more impactful performances from Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the later stages of the tournament to successfully defend the title.

Currently, RCB sit at the second place in the table with 12 points in hand after playing nine matches in the tournament, at a net run rate of  +1.420.