Hat-Trick Magic and Record-Breaking Century in SMAT

Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a jaw-dropping triple-wicket maiden to lead Uttar Pradesh to a thrilling 10-run victory over Jharkhand in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) group-stage match at Wankhede Stadium. Chasing a target of 161, Jharkhand showed moments of stability, but Bhuvneshwar’s impeccable swing bowling proved too much to handle.

Opening the attack with precision, the seasoned pacer gave away only six runs in his first three overs. Returning in the 17th over, he delivered a game-defining spell, removing Robin Minz, Bal Krishna, and Vivek Anand Tiwari in consecutive balls to complete a spectacular hat-trick. With outstanding figures of 4-1-6-3, Bhuvneshwar ensured Uttar Pradesh notched their fifth win in seven matches, leaving Jharkhand to suffer their second loss of the tournament.

This performance added another chapter to Bhuvneshwar’s remarkable SMAT season. In Uttar Pradesh’s opening match against Delhi, he became the first Indian pacer to surpass 300 T20 wickets, overtaking Jasprit Bumrah. Over his career, Bhuvneshwar has claimed 90 T20I wickets between 2012 and 2022, and 181 wickets in 176 SMAT matches, cementing his legacy as one of India’s finest pacers. His stellar form also earned him a lucrative Rs 10.75 crore contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru during the IPL 2025 Mega Auction.

On the same day, Punjab’s skipper Abhishek Sharma dazzled with an explosive performance in the SMAT match against Meghalaya at Niranjan Shah Stadium. Chasing a modest 143-run target, Abhishek equalled the record for the fastest T20 century by an Indian batter, smashing a 28-ball hundred to match Gujarat’s Urvil Patel, who achieved the same milestone earlier in the tournament.

Blasting 11 sixes and eight boundaries, Abhishek raced to his half-century in just 12 balls and finished unbeaten on 106 off 29 deliveries, steering Punjab to victory in just 9.3 overs. His knock also ended a lean streak, where he had managed just 149 runs in six matches, crossing fifty only once. Adding to his stellar day, Abhishek claimed two wickets for 24 runs in his four-over spell, restricting Meghalaya to 142-7 in 20 overs.

Globally, Abhishek’s blitz places him just behind Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who holds the record for the fastest T20 century with a 27-ball effort against Cyprus.

The day marked a celebration of exceptional individual brilliance in Indian domestic cricket, with both Bhuvneshwar and Abhishek etching their names in the history books.