Who is the RCB pacer who took 2 wickets on the opening day of SMAT 2025?

Ahead of IPL 2026, cricketers who are out of Team India are trying to do their best in the 2025 season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT 2025). On the opening day of the T20 tournament, the experienced pacer of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made a huge impact for Uttar Pradesh. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with his controlled bowling and swing, took a couple of wickets on Wednesday (November 26) for Uttar Pradesh against Goa. Along with taking those wickets, he proved to be the most successful bowler of his team in terms of conceding the least number of runs. In his 4-over spell, the seamer got 2 wickets at an economy rate of 5.75. 

Goa went to bat first at Jadavpur University Campus 2nd Ground in Kolkata and lost Ishaan Gadekar, one of their openers, early in the innings. Kumar bowled him out cleanly. Next, the pacer took on Rajashekhar Harikant at the moment when the keeper-batter was about to accelerate the run rate. 

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RCB star Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked-up brace for UP in SMAT 2025

Batting first, Goa registered 172 runs in exchange for 9 wickets in 20 overs. Uttar Pradesh did not face too much trouble chasing down the competitive total. With 10 balls and 6 wickets in hand, they successfully chased down the target and won the match with ease. Aryan Juyal, opener of Uttar Pradesh, remained unbeaten for 93 off 57 as he smashed eleven boundaries and three over boundaries effortlessly. 

RCB Retained Players: 

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma.