Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s dream IPL 2026 campaign reached another milestone on Sunday as the veteran fast bowler equaled a long-standing record during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s title clash against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.The RCB seamer took his 17th wicket in the Powerplay this season when he dismissed Sai Sudharsan in the fourth over of the IPL 2026 final. With this feat, Bhuvneshwar tied Mohammad Shami for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in 1-6 overs during a single IPL edition.Shami had set the standard in IPL 2023 by taking 17 powerplay wickets while playing for Gujarat Titans. Three years later, Bhuvneshwar accomplished the feat on the biggest stage.The wicket itself was an important one. Gujarat Titans desperately needed their brilliant opening pair. Shabman Gul And Sudharsan provided another strong start after both batsmen crossed the 700-run mark during the season. However, RCB’s experienced new ball attack had other ideas.Josh Hazlewood dismissed the first ball for 10, putting the Titans under pressure. Bhuvneshwar then came up with a brilliant short-ball plan against Sudharsan. The left-hander attempted a pull shot but failed to get on top of the bounce, with wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma completing the catch after running forward.The dismissal reduced GT to 45 for 2 in the powerplay and deepened their woes on a surface that offered little freedom for the strokeplay.Bhuvneshwar’s success underlines his immense importance for RCB this season. While much of the spotlight has been on the team’s explosive batting unit, the veteran pacer has consistently delivered early hits and set the tone with the new ball.His success has also put him firmly in the race for the Purple Cap. Sudharsan’s wicket took his tally for the season to 28, making him joint top of the wicket-taking charts with Kagiso Rabada.
Most Powerplay wickets in an IPL season
| the player | the weather | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Kagiso Rabada. | 2026 | 19 |
| Muhammad Shami | 2023 | 17 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 2026 | 17 |
| Mitchell Johnson | 2013 | 16 |
| Trent Bolt | 2020 | 16 |
The record may have been shared, but the timing made it special. On the night of the IPL final, with RCB chasing a second consecutive title, Bhuvneshwar once again struck early which has become his trademark throughout IPL 2026.
