In a game dominated by batters, it takes a lot of courage and talent to carve a place as a bowler. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen many bowlers grind on the field, churning out outstanding performances.
However, a few among them shine brighter for their persistence with the ball, troubling batters like anything match after match. Having such bowlers in the side is a sure-shot way of inching closer to the title victory.
On that note, let’s look at the 5 greatest IPL bowlers of all time.
5. Jasprit Bumrah
A 19-year-old bowler burst onto the IPL scene in 2013 and took everyone by storm. A decade later, he rose to be among the greatest bowlers in the IPL with his sheer accuracy and consistency. This is Jasprit Bumrah for you.
The Indian pacer took some time to get the hang of things in the league, but he was destined to achieve big in the coming days.
Bumrah started his IPL journey by scalping Virat Kohli as his first wicket and sharing the dressing room with the likes of Lasith Malinga and Mitchell Johnson.
He proved his worth in 2016, picking up 15 wickets in 14 matches. Since then, Bumrah has been the backbone of the Mumbai Indians bowling attack. Moreover, he filled the void left by Malinga’s retirement, not giving batters a chance to miss the toe-crushing yorkers.
Bumrah has excelled at bowling in every phase of the game, be it powerplay, middle, or death overs. And his ability to get breakthroughs at crucial junctures makes him a go-to bowler for any captain.
4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
If there’s one name that will feature among the greatest T20 bowlers, it has to be Bhuvneshwar Kumar. In the current generation, there’s no better operator of the new white ball than Bhuvi.
The Indian medium pacer can swing the new ball both ways in the powerplay phase, leaving batters and fans awestruck. His powerplay bowling mastery has fetched him bucketloads of wickets.
He is also effective in the slog overs, having great control over the ball. That makes him a first-choice bowler to keep things under control.
Bhuvi started with the Pune Warriors in 2011 before joining the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014, becoming a mainstay of their bowling attack. In the 2016 season, he was crucial to SRH winning the trophy, picking up 23 wickets and claiming the Purple Cap.
Also Read | What are the Death Overs in Cricket?
3. Yuzvendra Chahal
A few spinners have excelled in the IPL where pacers have ruled the roost. But Yuzvendra Chahal cuts above them, leading the all-time wicket chart of the league.
The wrist spinner has used his craft to the fullest, grabbing wickets on some of the flattest pitches and smallest grounds in India. His bowling stats at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium are a testament to his spin wizardry.
Chahal began his career with the Mumbai Indians, but it was at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru he came into the limelight. Yuzi was their leading spinner for 9 seasons, bagging 139 wickets.
Chahal’s career bowling average and strike rate are only bettered by a handful of bowlers, which speaks volumes about his bowling skills.
Also Read | The Powerplay Overs Rule in T20I Cricket – Explained
2. Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo, the champion all-rounder, is a modern-day T20 legend, having played in almost every T20 league across the globe. But his presence in the IPL will be cherished for a longer time, thanks to the all-round skills he brought to the table.
However, Bravo’s medium-pace bowling stands apart, with 183 scalps in 161 matches to his name. He alone has 102 wickets in the death overs, which paints a picture of his death-bowling proficiency. And no wonder, MS Dhoni turned to him as the slog overs kicked in.
Bravo was an essential cog of the Chennai Super Kings bowling attack, which complemented well with their batting lineup.
The Caribbean all-rounder was on a roll in 2013 and 2015 as he picked up 32 and 26 wickets, respectively, to win the Purple Cap twice. Bravo was the leading wicket-taker in the IPL until Chahal surpassed him.
1. Lasith Malinga
It’s been a few years since Lasith Malinga retired from the IPL, but there will be no one like him. The Sri Lankan pacer terrified batters with his destructive yorkers that rattled them.
Malinga made his debut for the Mumbai Indians in 2009 and became their bowling spearhead in the years to come. His bowling exploits were crucial to MI winning their 4 titles between 2013 and 2019, as he pocketed 71 wickets in those 4 seasons.
The speedster used his variations cleverly to outfox the batters, providing major breakthroughs for his side. Coupled with that, his ability to thrive under pressure brought him laurels. Who can forget the nerve-wracking 2019 IPL Final?
Malinga bowed out of the IPL with 170 wickets in his kitty in 122 appearances for the Mumbai Indians. And without a doubt, Malinga is the greatest-ever bowler in IPL history.
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