In the past, T20 cricket was ofte perceived as being dominated by batsmen, but this trend has gradually shifted, and now bowlers play a crucial role in a team’s success.
Since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, cricket enthusiasts have witnessed numerous matches where a bowler has taken more than four wickets, ultimately changing the game’s outcome.
Pos |
Player |
Matches |
Overs |
Runs |
Wickets |
Average |
Economy |
BBI |
1 |
Dwayne Bravo |
161 |
516 |
4359 |
183 |
23.82 |
8.38 |
4/22 |
2 |
Lasith Malinga |
122 |
471 |
3366 |
170 |
19.8 |
7.14 |
5/13 |
3 |
Amit Mishra |
154 |
540 |
3980 |
166 |
23.98 |
7.36 |
5/17 |
4 |
Yuzvendra Chahal |
131 |
475 |
3624 |
166 |
21.83 |
7.61 |
5/40 |
5 |
Piyush Chawla |
165 |
545 |
4301 |
157 |
27.39 |
7.88 |
4/17 |
6 |
Ravichandran Ashwin |
184 |
649 |
4535 |
157 |
28.89 |
6.98 |
4/34 |
7 |
Bhuvneshwar Kumar |
146 |
542 |
3971 |
154 |
25.79 |
7.3 |
5/19 |
8 |
Sunil Narine |
148 |
576 |
3820 |
152 |
25.13 |
6.63 |
5/19 |
9 |
Harbhajan Singh |
163 |
569 |
4030 |
150 |
26.87 |
7.08 |
5/18 |
10 |
Jasprit Bumrah |
120 |
455 |
3378 |
145 |
23.3 |
7.39 |
5/10 |
Interestingly, the list of the highest wicket-takers in IPL includes five Indian spinners in the top ten, and
three Indian spinners occupy the top five positions.
This suggests that Indian spinners have proven to be more effective than their pace-bowling counterparts in the history of IPL.
Noteworthy names who have achieved this feat in IPL include Lasith Malinga, Amit Mishra, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Currently, Dwayne Bravo holds the record for the highest wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League, having taken 183 wickets so far.
Dwayne Bravo
With an impressive record of 183 wickets in 161 appearances, Dwayne Bravo holds the coveted title of the IPL’s highest wicket-taker.
Known for his right-arm medium pace and ability to vary his pace, Bravo is considered to be a specialist in the death overs. He has previously played for the Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions before joining the
Chennai Super Kings.
Throughout his IPL career, Bravo has taken three or more wickets on 16 occasions, showcasing his talent and consistency as a bowler.
Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga, one of the most recognizable names in IPL history, currently occupies the second position in the list of the highest wicket-takers in the league.
Malinga’s slow-yorker balls in the death overs were feared by many opponents. He has an impressive
record of 170 wickets in 122 IPL matches, with an average of 19.80.
Amit Mishra
Amit Mishra, a talented right-arm leg break spinner for the Indian team, is currently ranked third in the list of the highest wicket-takers in the IPL. Mishra has taken an impressive 166 wickets in 154 IPL matches, with an average of 23.95.
Mishra’s skillful spin bowling and ability to deceive batsmen with his variations have been instrumental in his success as a bowler in the IPL. He has played for several teams throughout his IPL career, including Delhi Daredevils (now DelhiCapitals), Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Deccan Chargers.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal, a talented right-arm leg spinner, is currently ranked fourth in the list of the highest
wicket-takers in the IPL.
Chahal has played in 131 IPL matches and has taken an impressive 166 wickets, with an average of 21.83. Chahal’s ability to spin the ball sharply and deceive batsmen with his variations have been critical to his success in the IPL.
Piyush Chawla
Piyush Chawla, a talented right-arm leg spinner, is currently ranked fifth in the list of the highest wicket-takers in the IPL.
Chawla has played in 165 IPL matches and has taken an impressive 157 wickets, with an average of 27.39 and an economy rate of 7.88.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin, a talented right-arm leg spinner, currently holds the sixth position on the list of top wicket-takers in the Indian Premier League. Ashwin has impressively taken 157 wickets in 184 IPL matches, which is equivalent to the wicket tally of Piyush Chawla. Ashwin’s average ia 28.89 and economy rate is 6.99.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, known as India’s Swing King, is currently ranked seventh in the list of the highest
wicket-takers in the IPL.
Kumar is a talented right-arm swing bowler who has the ability to move the ball both ways and trouble batsmen with his swing and seam movement. In 146 IPL matches, he has taken an impressive 154 wickets, with an average of 25.79 and an economy rate of 7.30.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s ability to swing the ball in the early overs and deliver accurate yorkers in the death overs has been a vital factor in his success as a bowler in the IPL.
Sunil Narine
Sunil Narine, a highly talented cricketer, currently holds the eighth position on the list of top wicket-takers in the Indian Premier League. Known for his quick style of bowling in the death overs, Narine is also celebrated for his valuable batting contributions.
Throughout his IPL career, Narine has impressively taken 152 wickets in 148 matches, showcasing his exceptional skill and consistency on the cricket pitch.
With an impressive average of 25.13, Narine has proven himself to be an invaluable
asset for Kolkata Knight Riders.
Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh, also known as “the turbanator,” holds the ninth position on the list of top
wicket-takers in the Indian Premier League.
He has been a remarkable bowler for the Mumbai Indians throughout his IPL career. As a right-arm bowler, Singh has taken an impressive 150 wickets in 163 matches, with an average of 26.87 and a
strike rate of 7.08.
His consistent performance on the cricket pitch has made him a valuable asset for any team he plays for, and his nickname “the turbanator” is a testament to his outstanding skills and tenacity.
Jasprit Bumrah
Last but not least, we have Jasprit Bumrah, who is famously known as the “Yorker King” of the Mumbai
Indians. Bumrah is a highly skilled right-arm fast bowler who has made a name for himself with his exceptional yorkers and bouncers.
He has been a vital part of the Mumbai Indians bowling attack and has played a significant role in their IPL title wins. Bumrah has taken 145 wickets in 120 matches with an impressive average of 23.30 and a strike rate of 7.39.
He has been consistent in delivering breakthroughs for his team, especially in the death overs, where his yorkers and slower balls have been highly effective.