In a historic moment during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Bhuvneshwar Kumar etched his name alongside the legends by becoming the joint-highest wicket-taker among pace bowlers. This remarkable feat was achieved during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) match against Gujarat Titans at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Despite his commendable performance of 1/23, RCB faced an eight-wicket defeat as Gujarat Titans chased down the target of 170 runs with ease. Kumar’s milestone saw him equal Dwayne Bravo’s record of 183 wickets in IPL history. While Bravo reached this figure in 161 appearances, Kumar achieved it in 178 matches, showcasing his consistency and skill over the years.
The Indian pacer, affectionately known as the “Prince of Swing,” delivered an economical spell, conceding runs at just 5.80 per over. His early breakthrough came with the dismissal of GT captain Shubman Gill, although his efforts were not enough to secure a victory for his team.
Gujarat Titans executed a flawless chase on RCB’s home turf. After Kumar’s initial success, a crucial 75-run partnership between Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler for the second wicket significantly dented RCB’s hopes of defending their total. Josh Hazlewood managed to break the partnership by dismissing Sudharsan, but the damage was already done.
Gujarat Titans then introduced Sherfane Rutherford as an impact substitute, who played a pivotal role in completing the chase. The match concluded in the 18th over with a flurry of boundaries. Buttler struck two consecutive sixes, followed by Rutherford’s decisive hit over deep backward square, securing Gujarat Titans’ victory with eight wickets in hand.
The defeat marked Rajat Patidar’s first loss as RCB captain, yet Kumar’s record-equalling performance remained a silver lining for the team. Bhuvneshwar Kumar now shares the third position on the all-time IPL wicket-takers list, behind only Yuzvendra Chahal with 206 wickets and Piyush Chawla with 192 wickets.
Most wickets in IPL history:
Yuzvendra Chahal – 206 wickets
Piyush Chawla – 192 wickets
Dwayne Bravo – 183 wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 183 wickets
R Ashwin – 183 wickets
Sunil Narine – 183 wickets