What excites more than a bowler scaring batters with his sheer raw pace? It’s eye-pleasing to watch a ball travel at an unimaginable speed.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen some of the fastest bowlers, who have bowled deliveries at mind-boggling pace.
This article lists the 5 bowlers who have bowled the fastest deliveries in IPL history.
5. Anrich Nortje | 156.22 kmph
The South African pacer, Anrich Nortje, came in as an injury replacement for Chris Woakes in the Delhi Capitals squad ahead of the IPL 2020. But he left everyone in awe with his sheer pace.
The Proteas bowler consistently clocked over 150 kmph deliveries in that season, with 4 going past 153. And then Nortje unleashed his peak speed of 156.22 against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on October 14, 2020, in Dubai.
It was the fifth ball of the third over of RR’s innings, and Jos Buttler ramped it for four. Then Nortje followed it up with 155.4 kmph delivery, cleaning up Buttler’s stumps.
4. Mayank Yadav | 156.7 kmph
It’s quite rare to see an Indian bowler notch over 150 kmph deliveries in cricket. But in the last few years, we have seen a rise in the number of fast bowlers who can constantly churn out 150+ kmph balls.
Mayank Yadav is one of them, having sent numerous thunderbolts in his debut IPL season in 2024.
IPL’s new entrant, the Lucknow Super Giants, bought Mayank in the 2022 auction. But he didn’t feature in any games in 2022 and missed the entire 2023 season due to an injury.
Mayank got his first chance in the 2024 IPL and sent batters scratching their minds with his accurate pace. In his debut match against Punjab Kings, he sent down a 155.8 kmph delivery. But in his next match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mayank went further by bowling at a pace of 156.7 kmph.
Also Read | Complete List of All IPL Team Owners
3. Umran Malik | 157 kmph
The Jammu & Kashmir pacer propped up in the IPL in 2021 but got limited opportunities. However, he showed his flair with the ball, leaving everyone impressed with the fast pace.
Come the 2022 season, Umran Malik was the leading wicket-taker for Sunrisers Hyderabad with 22 scalps. But what set him apart was his efficiency in bowling 150+ kmph deliveries.
During the match against the Delhi Capitals on May 5, Umran breathed fire, sending down a 157 kmph delivery to Rovman Powell. However, that delivery was dealt with equally, as Powell smashed it for a boundary.
With that, Umran became only the second bowler to breach the 157 kmph speed barrier in the IPL. And he is the fastest Indian bowler in the T20 league.
2. Lockie Ferguson | 157.3 kmph
Umran’s 157 kmph delivery was the fastest of the 2022 season until Lockie Ferguson took him down with a mind-blowing 157.3 kmph delivery.
This extraordinary display of sheer pace unfolded in the 2022 final between the Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals. The Kiwi pacer has a penchant for taking on batters with his serious pace.
In this match, Jos Buttler was in the line of fire when Ferguson bowled a fiery yorker clocking at 157.3 kmph. This is the second-fastest ball in IPL history.
You can watch the thunderous bowling display by Lockie Ferguson here.
1. Shaun Tait | 157.71 kmph
Shaun Tait holds the unanimous record for registering the fastest delivery in IPL history. The Australian pacer bowled fire bolts throughout his international and IPL career.
Tait showcased his ability to rattle the batters with his quick-fire deliveries in the IPL while representing the Rajasthan Royals. One such instance happened against the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the 2011 IPL.
Tait bowled an absolute cracker of delivery to Aaron Finch, which touched the mark of 157.71 kmph on the speed gun.
