Bhuvneshwar Kumar showcased his trademark swing and accuracy, delivering a disciplined bowling spell that dismantled the opposition in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Thursday (December 5).

Bhuvneshwar, who is captaining Uttar Pradesh, helped his team immensely to beat Jharkhand in the group stage match. He picked up a hat-trick as UP won the match by 10 runs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a sensational hat-trick, proving his mastery over the art of swing bowling. His spell began with Mumbai Indians player Robin Minz (11 off 11) falling to a sharp delivery, caught by Priyam Garg. The very next ball saw Bal Krishna caught at short leg without scoring.

Completing the hat-trick, Bhuvneshwar clean-bowled Vivek Anand Tiwari, sending the stumps cartwheeling. His clinical performance turned the game on its head, showcasing why he remains a force to reckon with in domestic cricket.

The Indian veteran's form will be an added boost for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who broke the bank to secure his services. Bhuvneshwar was bought by RCB for a whopping Rs 10.75 crore, and he is surely to play a key part for them in IPL 2025.

The 34-year-old has represented India in all three formats and has 294 international wickets across the formats.

He last represented India in 2022 and the upcoming IPL season can be a stepping stone for him to return to the Indian team.

Apart from Bhuvneshwar, Rajasthan Royals' Nitish Rana and Lucknow Super Giants' Mohsin Khan picked two wickets each in the match. Kolkata Knight Riders' all-rounder Anukul Roy played a valiant knock of 91 runs off 44 deliveries, but couldn't take Jharkhand home as they suffered a narrow defeat.

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy's group stage concludes on Thursday (Dec 5) and the knockout matches will be played in Bengaluru, with the Final set to be on December 15 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.