Maharaja Trophy T20: Shubhang Hegde's all-round show powers Bengaluru Blasters past Gulbarga Mystics
Synopsis
Shubhang Hegde took 2 wickets and then scored a match-steadying 36 to help Bengaluru Blasters overhaul a 202-run target off the last ball in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 opener at Mysore — a result built on a blazing 56 by Bhuvan Mohan Raju and sealed by Praveen Dubey's 32 off 17 balls.
Key Takeaways
Bengaluru Blasters defeated Gulbarga Mystics by six wickets in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 opener at Mysore on 20 June .
Gulbarga Mystics posted 201/5 in 20 overs, powered by Prakhar Chaturvedi's 64 and Aarav Mahesh's 63 .
Bhuvan Mohan Raju blazed 56 off 29 balls (SR 193.10) to anchor the Bengaluru chase.
Shubhang Hegde claimed 2/44 and scored 36 off 26 balls , earning the all-rounder-of-the-match spotlight.
Praveen Dubey's unbeaten 32 off 17 balls sealed victory off the final delivery .
Paras Gurbax Arya was Gulbarga's best bowler with 2/34 .
Bengaluru Blasters launched their Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 campaign with a pulsating six-wicket win over Gulbarga Mystics in the tournament opener at Mysore on 20 June. All-rounder Shubhang Hegde stood out with both ball and bat, anchoring a chase of 202 that went down to the final delivery.
Gulbarga Post Imposing 201
Gulbarga Mystics set a formidable target after Prakhar Chaturvedi blazed 64 off 38 balls — including 6 fours and 4 sixes — and Aarav Mahesh contributed a near-identical 63 off 41 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes). Captain Manish Pandey chipped in with 19, while Thippa Reddy provided late acceleration with a brisk 20 off 12 balls, helping the Mystics finish at 201/5 in 20 overs.
For the Blasters with the ball, Shubhang Hegde and Shreevathsa Acharya each claimed 2 wickets, conceding 44 and 36 runs respectively.
Blasters' Blazing Start Sets the Platform
Bengaluru's reply began at a furious pace. Openers Bhuvan Mohan Raju and Rohan Patil put on 88 runs in just 7.1 overs, rotating strike smartly while keeping the asking rate in check. Bhuvan Mohan Raju's knock of 56 off 29 balls — laced with 3 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 193.10 — proved the cornerstone of the Blasters' chase.
Gulbarga clawed back briefly, reducing Bengaluru to 122/3 in 11.3 overs with a pair of quick strikes, threatening a dramatic turnaround.
Hegde and Shrijith Steady the Chase
With the match in the balance, Krishnan Shrijith (22 off 15 balls, 3 fours) and Shubhang Hegde (36 off 26 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) forged a decisive partnership that steered the Blasters back on course. Hegde's composed innings, coming on the back of his two-wicket haul, underlined his value as a genuine all-round asset.
Praveen Dubey provided the finishing flourish, smashing an unbeaten 32 off 17 balls (2 fours, 1 six) to seal the win off the last ball of the innings.
Gulbarga Bowling Figures
Paras Gurbax Arya was the pick of Gulbarga's bowlers with figures of 2/34. Macneil Noronha and Dhruv Prabhakar each took a wicket, conceding 27 and 29 runs respectively. Despite a competitive total, the Mystics could not defend it against a Blasters side that never let the required rate spiral out of control.
Brief Scores
Gulbarga Mystics 201/5 in 20 overs (Chaturvedi 64, Mahesh 63; Hegde 2-44, Acharya 2-36) lost to Bengaluru Blasters 202/4 in 20 overs (Bhuvan Mohan Raju 56, Patil 31, Hegde 36, Dubey 32*; Arya 2-34, Noronha 1-27, Prabhakar 1-29) by six wickets.
With this opening victory, Bengaluru Blasters will look to build momentum as the Maharaja Trophy group stage unfolds over the coming days.
Point of View
An all-rounder who can bowl two tight overs and then bat at No. 4 under pressure is a rare commodity. Bengaluru's top-order firepower, however, will need more than one reliable middle-order anchor if they are to go deep into the tournament; the middle-overs wobble at 122/3 exposed a vulnerability that sharper bowling attacks will target.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 opening match?
Bengaluru Blasters won the opening match of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 by six wickets against Gulbarga Mystics in Mysore on 20 June. They chased down a target of 202 off the final ball of their innings.
What did Shubhang Hegde do in this match?
Shubhang Hegde delivered an all-round performance, taking 2 wickets for 44 runs with the ball and then scoring 36 off 26 balls to help Bengaluru Blasters navigate a tricky middle phase of the chase.
How did Gulbarga Mystics score 201?
Gulbarga Mystics reached 201/5 in 20 overs thanks to half-centuries from Prakhar Chaturvedi (64 off 38 balls) and Aarav Mahesh (63 off 41 balls), with captain Manish Pandey (19) and Thippa Reddy (20 off 12 balls) boosting the total past 200.
Who was the top scorer for Bengaluru Blasters in the chase?
Bhuvan Mohan Raju top-scored with 56 off 29 balls at a strike rate of 193.10, sharing an 88-run opening stand with Rohan Patil that laid the foundation for Bengaluru's successful chase.
How did Bengaluru Blasters seal the win in the final over?
Praveen Dubey hit an unbeaten 32 off 17 balls, including 2 fours and a six, to take Bengaluru Blasters over the line off the last delivery of the innings.
