Kumar Kartikeya delivered one of the greatest bowling spells in Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 history on June 22, 2026. Playing for the Royal Nimar Eagles, the talented mystery spinner took a mind-blowing 6 wickets for just 24 runs (6/24) against the Bhopal Leopards. Because the rain shortened the game to 13 overs per side, Kumar Kartikeya was only allowed to bowl a maximum of 3 overs instead of the usual 4.
Even with less time on the field, he completely tore apart the Bhopal Leopards' batting order. He ended his brilliant spell with 3 overs bowled, giving away 24 runs, and taking 6 massive wickets. This left him with an economy rate of 8.00 runs per over and put his team in a great position to win.
Kumar Kartikeya kept his cool even when Bhopal's opening batter, Rahul Chandrol, managed to score a quick 39 runs off just 23 balls. Instead of panicking under pressure, the crafty bowler cleverly focused his attack on the middle and lower batting order. He mixed traditional left-arm orthodox spin with tricky left-arm wrist spin, which is also known as chinaman bowling.
The Bhopal batsmen simply could not pick which way the cricket ball was turning off the grass. This total confusion sparked a massive batting collapse for the Leopards. Thanks to his relentless bowling, they lost wickets very fast and finished their innings at a struggling 107/9 within their restricted 13 overs.
Rain causes delay in Royal Nimar Eagles and Bhopal Leopards, shortens match duration
Rain caused a heavy delay during the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) 2026 clash between the Royal Nimar Eagles and Bhopal Leopards, forcing officials to shorten the match to just 13 overs per side.The game at Indore's Holkar Cricket Stadium was put on hold as heavy clouds and overcast weather rolled over the venue.
The long delay forced a significant cut from the standard 20 overs down to a fast-paced 13 overs per side. Because of the shorter game, individual bowlers were restricted to a maximum of 3 overs instead of their usual 4-over limit. Shortened formats force the batting team to take big risks and score quickly right from the very first ball.
The Bhopal Leopards struggled to score against the fierce Royal Nimar Eagles bowling attack, finishing their rain-shortened innings at 107/9 after 13 overs.The Leopards got off to a flying start thanks to their opening batsman, Rahul Chandrol. He played a quick and aggressive innings, smashing 39 runs off just 23 balls.
However, once Chandrol was dismissed, the rest of the batting order collapsed completely.The batsmen found it impossible to read the tricky spin variations of Kumar Kartikeya. He tore through the middle and lower order, taking a historic six-wicket haul. Unable to build any steady partnerships, the Leopards lost wickets rapidly and failed to set a highly competitive total.
