RCB Sets New IPL Record with Powerplay Wickets in 2026 Final

In the IPL 2026 final, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) set a new record by taking 35 powerplay wickets in a season. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood played pivotal roles in dismissing Gujarat Titans' openers early in the match. This achievement highlights RCB's dominance in the powerplay overs, as they aim to chase down a modest target of 156 runs to secure their second consecutive IPL title. The match showcased the intense competition and the potential for Gujarat Titans to surpass RCB's record in the future.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 31, 2026, 22:23 IST

Historic Powerplay Achievement by RCB

In a remarkable display during the IPL 2026 final, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made history by becoming the first team to secure 35 powerplay wickets in a single season. This achievement came after Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood successfully dismissed Gujarat Titans' (GT) openers, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, within the initial six overs. Previously, the record was jointly held by the Mumbai Indians (2013) and RCB (2023) at 33 wickets. The Gujarat Titans have the opportunity to break this record by claiming three more wickets in their second innings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, as they have already taken 33 powerplay wickets this season.

Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood Shine Against GT Openers

Gill and Sudharsan have been a formidable opening pair throughout the IPL 2026 season, having set a record for the most 100-plus partnerships in IPL history. They were also on the brink of becoming the first Indian duo to reach 3000 runs together. However, in the third over, Gill was the first to be dismissed. After hitting a short-arm jab for a four at mid-wicket from Hazlewood's short delivery, he fell to a faster bouncer that caught him off guard, resulting in a top-edge caught by Rajat Patidar at mid-off. Following suit, Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Sudharsan using a similar tactic, with two successive bouncers leading to an edge that was easily collected by wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma.

Notably, Gill and Sudharsan had only been dismissed four times during the powerplay, with three of those instances occurring against RCB. This early setback severely impacted the Ahmedabad-based team, which concluded their innings at 155/8. RCB managed to restrict GT to this total, setting the stage for a chase of 156 runs to secure their second consecutive IPL title and join the ranks of teams that have won the prestigious championship multiple times.