Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowling spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar has achieved a unique all-time Indian Premier League (IPL) record. Bhuvneshwar has become the highest wicket-taker in powerplay overs of IPL history. He achieved the feat with the wicket of Punjab Kings (PBKS) stand-in skipper Shikhar Dhawan in the third over of the innings.
Bhuvneshwar went past former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan and his former SRH teammate Sandeep Sharma’s tally of 52 wickets to get the record in his name.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 53 wickets in powerplay overs in the IPL are the most for any bowler, going past Zaheer Khan and Sandeep Sharma who have 52 each. While Zaheer hanged his boots after the 2017 season, Sandeep is a part of PBKS’ squad. However, he has got just one chance in the season so far.
Later in the innings, Bhuvneshwar took the wickets of Shahrukh Khan and Liam Livingstone in the slog overs. On both occasions, skipper Kane Williamson took the catch. Livingstone got out after scoring 60 runs from 33 deliveries whereas Shahrukh scored a 28-ball 26.
With three wickets against PBKS at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai, he completed 150 IPL wickets in his 138th game. He is now the joint fifth-highest wicket-taker in IPL. He equalled former Indian Harbhajan Singh’s tally of 150 wickets and surpassed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mystery spinner Sunil Narine’s tally of 147 wickets.
He did not just take three wickets against PBKS but was economical too. He conceded just 22 runs from his quota of four overs and helped SRH restrict the opposition to 151 after Williamson won the toss and opted to field first. He also had help from SRH pace sensation Umran Malik, who took four wickets from his four overs while conceding 28 runs.
