Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: It was a night to remember for Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who etched his name alongside Jasprit Bumrah in the IPL record books during a sensational spell against Delhi Capitals on Monday.The veteran seamer picked up figures of 3 for 5, registering his 20th three-wicket haul in the IPL — becoming only the second pacer in tournament history to reach the landmark 20 or more times. Bumrah leads the list with 25 such hauls, followed by Bhuvneshwar (20), while Lasith Malinga (19) and Harshal Patel (17) trail behind.Live Score: DC vs RCB, IPL 2026
Powerplay carnage leaves DC stunnedThe milestone came on a night of sheer destruction as RCB pacers tore through DC’s batting line-up in a brutal powerplay assault. Alongside Bhuvneshwar, Josh Hazlewood produced a devastating spell, finishing with 4 for 12, as the duo combined to leave DC in complete disarray.The mayhem began as early as the second ball of the innings when Bhuvneshwar uprooted debutant Sahil Parakh with a searing inswinging yorker. Hazlewood then struck twice in successive deliveries, dismissing KL Rahul and Sameer Rizvi to trigger a collapse of epic proportions.
Most 3-wicket hauls among pacers in IPL
- 25 – Jasprit Bumrah
- 20 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar*
- 19 – Lasith Malinga
- 17 – Harshal Patel
Collapse of historic proportionsBhuvneshwar continued to torment the batters, removing Tristan Stubbs and skipper Axar Patel in quick succession, while Hazlewood added Nitish Rana to the list. In the blink of an eye, DC were reduced to an unbelievable 8 for 6, with just one boundary coming in the powerplay as they limped to 13 for 6 after six overs — one of the worst starts in IPL history.Eventually, DC were bowled out for 75 in 16.3 overs, narrowly avoiding the lowest-ever IPL total — a record held by RCB (49 in 2017). Only Abhishek Porel (30), David Miller (19) and Kyle Jamieson (12) managed to reach double figures in an otherwise forgettable outing.Hazlewood fittingly wrapped up the innings by castling Porel, capping off one of the most ruthless new-ball spells seen in the league. On a night dominated by pace and precision, it was Bhuvneshwar’s milestone that stood out — a testament to his longevity and consistency in the IPL, as he joined the elite alongside Bumrah in an exclusive list.
