Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium witnessed a stunning display of skill as Bhuvneshwar Kumar clinched a sensational hat-trick in a must-win Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy clash between Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The veteran pacer’s brilliant spell secured a narrow 10-run victory for Uttar Pradesh, keeping their tournament hopes alive.
Bhuvneshwar’s heroics came in the final over of his spell. He dismissed Robin Minz, Bal Krishna, and Vivek Anand Tiwari in successive deliveries to register a hat-trick that shattered Jharkhand’s chase. Ending with figures of 4-1-6-3, Bhuvneshwar not only restricted the opposition but also bowled a maiden over to decisively tilt the game in his team’s favour.
Speaking after the game, Bhuvneshwar said, “It was a crucial game for us, and I am glad I could deliver for my team. The hat-trick was special, but more important was the win.” His standout performance earned him the Player of the Match award, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru management likely thrilled after investing significantly in the pacer during the IPL 2025 auction.
The match began with Jharkhand opting to bowl first. Uttar Pradesh posted a competitive total of 160/8, bolstered by Rinku Singh’s aggressive 45-run knock. Priyam Garg (31) and Sameer Rizvi (24) provided vital contributions, while Bal Krishna (3/25) and Vivekanand Tiwari (2/33) shone with the ball for Jharkhand.
Chasing 161, Jharkhand’s innings faltered early as they lost three wickets in the powerplay. However, Anukul Roy mounted a valiant fightback, smashing a blistering 91 off just 44 balls, including eight boundaries and seven sixes. His stunning innings, supported briefly by Virat Singh’s 23, kept Jharkhand in contention.
Despite Roy’s heroics, Jharkhand’s batting faltered in the closing stages. The lack of substantial contributions from other batters proved costly, and they fell short by 10 runs.
Uttar Pradesh’s captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar was instrumental in defending the total, leading his team with discipline and experience. The win keeps Uttar Pradesh alive in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, showing their determination to fight until the end.
