Kumar Kartikeya delivered a stunning 6/24 spell — including a hattrick — as Royal Nimar Eagles crushed Bhopal Leopards by eight wickets in the MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026 at Holkar Stadium, Indore, on 22 June. The rain-curtailed contest, reduced to 13 overs per side, saw the Eagles seal a top-two finish in the league stage with a commanding all-round display.

Kartikeya Runs Through Leopards

Bhopal Leopards were bowled out for 107 in their 13 allotted overs, with the IPL-experienced left-arm spinner Kartikeya proving unplayable from the outset. He returned figures of 6/24 from just three overs, dismantling the middle and lower order in a spell of rare precision.

The hattrick unfolded in dramatic fashion. Kartikeya had Pawan Nirwani stumped for 5 off 6 balls, then clean-bowled Pranjul Puri with the very next delivery. He completed the milestone by trapping Anurag Malviya lbw — but only after a successful DRS review. 'When the umpire initially gave the batter not out, I was quite confident it was out because I felt the ball had struck him right in front. After discussing it with my teammates, we decided to take the review and fortunately it went our way,' Kartikeya said. This was the third hattrick of MPL 2026.

Leopards' Collapse After a Promising Partnership

The Leopards had made a dismal start, losing Tanishq Yadav and skipper Aniket Verma cheaply to slump to 15/2 in 2.3 overs. Rahul Chandrol and Ansh Bagadia steadied the innings with a 45-run third-wicket partnership, offering a brief revival. Chandrol top-scored with 39 off 23 deliveries before falling, while Bagadia contributed 24 off 18. Once that stand was broken, the lower order capitulated rapidly.

Parush Mandal supported Kartikeya effectively, picking up 2/12 from three overs, while Dharmesh Patel chipped in with 1 wicket at an economy of 19 runs in two overs.

Eagles Chase Down Target in 9.2 Overs

The Royal Nimar Eagles made light work of the 108-run target, wrapping up the chase in just 9.2 overs. Openers Dharmesh Patel and Himanshu Mantri provided a 29-run platform before Patel departed for 15 off 13.

Mantri then combined with Kanishk Dubey for a blistering 53-run second-wicket stand. Mantri fell for 31 off 17, but Dubey continued to punish the bowling, remaining unbeaten on a scintillating 51 off 19 deliveries — an innings studded with six sixes. Anand Bais provided calm support with an unbeaten 12 off 8 balls as the Eagles crossed the line in emphatic style.

Kartikeya on the Team's Mindset

'The atmosphere in the team has been very positive throughout the competition. We are approaching every game with the mindset of playing a knockout match. That mindset has helped us stay focused and motivated. We knew that if we could restrict the opposition to a manageable total, we would put ourselves in a strong position,' Kartikeya said after the match.

The result confirms Royal Nimar Eagles' place in the top two of the MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026 league stage, setting up what promises to be a high-stakes knockout phase.