Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Top five bowling performances from the group stage that turned matches and shaped results.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-2026 has entered the knockout stage after a group phase marked by several outstanding bowling displays from both pacers and spinners. From match-winning spells to game-changing bursts, bowlers played a defining role throughout the league stage.
Here are the top five bowling performances of the tournament so far:
Shivang Kumar’s 5-45 vs Karnataka
Karnataka’s six-match winning streak was snapped by Madhya Pradesh, thanks largely to a superb spell from left-arm wrist-spinner Shivang Kumar. His figures 5-45 helped bowl out Karnataka for 207, their lowest total of the tournament. The innings had begun steadily, with Karnataka cruising at 98 for 1 in the 18th over, before a dramatic collapse saw them lose four wickets for 27 runs.
Introduced as the sixth bowler, Shivang made an immediate impact, removing Krishnan Shrijith with the third ball of his first over, inducing an uppish drive that was safely taken at cover. He followed that up in his next over by having Ravichandran Smaran play on as the pressure mounted. The highlight of his spell came when a sharply turning googly completely beat Shreyas Gopal and rattled the stumps, underlining the quality of his variations.
With Karnataka already on the back foot, Shivang then ran through the lower order, his accuracy and control proving too much for the tail. The innings never recovered, and Karnataka were bundled out for a below-par total, which Madhya Pradesh went on to chase down comfortably. Shivang’s match-winning spell not only ended Karnataka’s unbeaten run but also played a decisive role in securing Madhya Pradesh’s place in the quarter-finals, making it one of the standout bowling performances of the Vijay Hazare trophy so far.
Read More: Meet Aman Rao, Rajasthan Royals new find who struck double hundred for Hyderabad in VHT 2025-26
Gurnoor Brar’s 4-57 vs Mumbai
Punjab appeared headed for a certain defeat against Mumbai before a dramatic collapse turned the match on its head. Chasing 217, Mumbai needed just five runs to win with four wickets in hand and 25 balls remaining, yet somehow fell one run short in a stunning finish.
At the heart of Punjab’s improbable turnaround was fast bowler Gurnoor Brar, whose figures of 4-57 proved decisive. He first broke the opening stand of 57 between Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Musheer Khan, before removing the second opener in the very next over. Even so, Mumbai were cruising at 169 for 3 when Brar returned to produce a game-changing spell.
In successive overs, he dismissed Suryakumar Yadav, caught behind, and then removed Shivam Dube, sending panic through Mumbai’s camp and swinging the momentum sharply in Punjab’s favour. With pressure mounting, wickets tumbled, and Punjab somehow clawed their way back to a remarkable one-run victory. Brar’s late burst transformed a lost cause into one of the tournament’s most extraordinary wins, earning him the Player of the Match award and securing his place among the standout bowling performances of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Read More:Â Who is Ramakrishna Ghosh, the Maharashtra pacer making heads turn in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26?
Ramakrishna Ghosh’s 7-42 vs Himachal Pradesh
Ramakrishna Ghosh produced a fiery new-ball spell for Maharashtra against Himachal Pradesh, tearing through the top order with pace and precision. Opening the bowling, he struck early by trapping Innesh Mahajan lbw, before having fellow opener Ankit Kalsi caught by Prithvi Shaw. He then removed Ekant Sen, leaving Himachal Pradesh three down with just 31 runs on the board.
As Himachal began to rebuild, Ghosh returned to break a dangerous 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket, once again swinging the momentum. His most prized scalp was that of centurion Pukhraj Mann, whose dismissal triggered a collapse. Ghosh went on to clean up the tail, finishing with outstanding figures of 7-42.
Despite his heroics, Himachal Pradesh were bowled out for 271, but Maharashtra fell agonisingly short in the chase, losing the match by seven runs. Even in defeat, Ghosh’s spell stood out as one of the finest individual bowling performances of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Read More: Wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma’s selection by CSK signals end of Dhoni era in near future?
Ankur Panwar’s 5-27 vs Andhra Pradesh
Defending a target of 255, Saurashtra needed an incisive spell to wrest back control, and Ankur Panwar delivered in style. Andhra were cruising at 70 for 2 when Panwar, introduced as the fourth bowler, ripped through the middle order, claiming four wickets in quick succession to leave the visitors reeling at 85 for 6.
The momentum never shifted back. Panwar later returned to dismiss the ninth batter and complete a five-wicket haul, effectively sealing the contest. Andhra were unable to recover from the collapse and were eventually bowled out for 180, handing Saurashtra a convincing 74-run victory.
Panwar’s match-winning spell proved the difference, powering Saurashtra to a crucial win and earning its place among the standout bowling performances of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Shubham Kumar Singh’s 6-50 vs Rajasthan
Jharkhand’s fast bowler Shubham Kumar Singh delivered a devastating spell in the defence of 302 against Rajasthan, setting the tone from the very first ball. He struck immediately by bowling Manender Singh, and followed it up in his next over by having fellow opener Sumit Godara edge behind, leaving Rajasthan in early trouble.
Shubham then claimed his most prized scalp when he dismissed Deepak Hooda, the IPL regular and former India limited-overs batter, for a golden duck, further tilting the contest in Jharkhand’s favour. Although Karan Lamba attempted a rescue act with a fighting century, Shubham returned at the right moment to have the centurion caught and bowled, effectively breaking the back of the chase.
He went on to clean up the tail to finish with superb figures of 6-50, a spell that powered Jharkhand to a commanding 73-run victory. Shubham’s match-winning performance earned him the Player of the Match award and stood out as one of the most impactful bowling displays of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Read More: Devdutt Padikkal has brought up 4 centuries in his last 5 List A innings; makes a strong candidature
