Bowling plays an important role in a team’s result in the IPL. In the league, the teams that have a strong bowling lineup tend to have a better advantage as they can use them during crucial overs of an innings. Going back to the history of T20 cricket, the format began back in 2004 after the ECB introduced it with the intention of providing fans with a shorter, more exciting format of the sport. For many years, it has been more of a batter’s game, but all that has now changed. Presently, many good bowlers have been bought by their respective franchises in the IPL. Now, the league has seen that without good bowlers, the chances of winning a match are low. On that note, many cricket fans may be wondering what are the best bowling figures in IPL history.
This article provides a list of the top 10 best bowling figures in IPL history along with other relevant information related to the topic.
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Let’s look at the best bowling figures in IPL. This list includes all bowlers who have taken at least five or more wickets in a match until IPL 2024:
Player |
Overs |
Runs |
Wkts |
Team |
AS Joseph |
3.4 |
12 |
6 |
Mumbai |
Sohail Tanvir |
4.0 |
14 |
6 |
Royals |
A Zampa |
4.0 |
19 |
6 |
Supergiants |
A Kumble |
3.1 |
5 |
5 |
RCB |
A Madhwal |
3.3 |
5 |
5 |
Mumbai |
JJ Bumrah |
4.0 |
10 |
5 |
Mumbai |
MM Sharma |
2.2 |
10 |
5 |
Titans |
I Sharma |
3.0 |
12 |
5 |
Chargers |
SL Malinga |
3.4 |
13 |
5 |
Mumbai |
AS Rajpoot |
4.0 |
14 |
5 |
Kings XI |
MA Wood |
4.0 |
14 |
5 |
Super Giants |
AD Russell |
2.0 |
15 |
5 |
KKR |
RA Jadeja |
4.0 |
16 |
5 |
Super Kings |
JP Faulkner |
4.0 |
16 |
5 |
Royals |
A Mishra |
4.0 |
17 |
5 |
Daredevils |
AJ Tye |
4.0 |
17 |
5 |
Guj Lions |
Harbhajan Singh |
4.0 |
18 |
5 |
Mumbai |
PW Hasaranga |
4.0 |
18 |
5 |
RCB |
SP Narine |
4.0 |
19 |
5 |
KKR |
B Kumar |
4.0 |
19 |
5 |
Sunrisers |
JP Faulkner |
4.0 |
20 |
5 |
Royals |
CV Varun |
4.0 |
20 |
5 |
KKR |
MM Patel |
4.0 |
21 |
5 |
Mumbai |
L Balaji |
4.0 |
24 |
5 |
Super Kings |
AD Mascarenhas |
4.0 |
25 |
5 |
Kings XI |
JD Unadkat |
4.0 |
25 |
5 |
RCB |
Umran Malik |
4.0 |
25 |
5 |
Sunrisers |
HV Patel |
4.0 |
27 |
5 |
RCB |
JD Unadkat |
4.0 |
30 |
5 |
Supergiant |
B Kumar |
4.0 |
30 |
5 |
Sunrisers |
Arshdeep Singh |
4.0 |
32 |
5 |
Punjab Kings |
YS Chahal |
4.0 |
40 |
5 |
Royals |
Best Bowling Figures in IPL
Over the years, the IPL has produced some amazing bowling talent. The Indian cricket team has produced a lot of raw talent through the league. In the T20 cricket format, bowlers only have four overs each to bowl. They need to ensure they pick up wickets and slow down the scoring rate in these 24 balls. While it may sound easy, facing the best batters in the world and delivering a match-winning performance requires another level of skill and experience.
The best bowling figure in IPL is still held by Alzarri Joseph who demolished Sunrisers Hyderabad in a low-scoring match. The Mumbai Indians pacer picked up 6-12 back in 2019. His team set a small target of 137 for SRH to chase. However, SRH struggled to cope with Alzarri’s bowling and were dismissed for a paltry 96 runs, as Mumbai Indians scripted a fairly comfortable 40-run victory. He still holds the record for the best bowling figures in IPL debut.
Best Bowling Figures in IPL history 2024-2008
The IPl has a long-standing history. First introduced in 2008, expectations by fans was mixed. Some believed that it would kill the ODI format while others believed that it would do a lot of good for the sport. The reason for this is that ODI matches are played for 50 overs which can be quite a long duration for some enthusiasts. However, T20 cricket has not become one of the most popular formats, and since it is fast-paced, fans invest more time watching it. The best bowling figures in T20 IPL feature a list of some of the best bowlers that the league has seen over the years.
On that note, let us look at the best bowling figures in IPL history. This list only features bowlers who have taken five wickets more in a single innings of the league:
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Top 10 best bowling figures in IPL
Let’s look at the top 10 best bowling figures in IPL:
Player |
Overs |
Mdns |
Runs |
Wkts |
Team |
Opposition |
AS Joseph |
3.4 |
1 |
12 |
6 |
MI |
v SRH |
Sohail Tanvir |
4.0 |
– |
14 |
6 |
RR |
v CSK |
A Zampa |
4.0 |
– |
19 |
6 |
LSG |
v SRH |
A Kumble |
3.1 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
RCB |
v RR |
A Madhwal |
3.3 |
– |
5 |
5 |
MI |
v LSG |
JJ Bumrah |
4.0 |
1 |
10 |
5 |
MI |
v KKR |
MM Sharma |
2.2 |
– |
10 |
5 |
GT |
v MI |
I Sharma |
3.0 |
– |
12 |
5 |
Chargers |
v Kochi |
SL Malinga |
3.4 |
1 |
13 |
5 |
MI |
v Daredevils |
AS Rajpoot |
4.0 |
– |
14 |
5 |
Kings XI |
v SRH |
Here are the top 10 best bowling figures in IPL:
- Alzarri Joseph’s exceptional performance (6-12) is the best bowling figures in IPL history. He achieved this milestone during the 19th game between MI and SRH at Hyderabad in IPL 2019. Despite Pollard’s 46(26), MI could only manage 136-7 in their 20 overs. Kaul was SRH’s standout bowler with figures of 2-34.
- Sohail Tanvir bowled an exceptional spell, taking 6-14 for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural IPL 2008 edition. The former Pakistan bowler bowled exceptionally well to lead his side to a comfortable victory in that match.
- Andrew Tye’s performance (5-17) is also noteworthy, achieved during the 13th game between RPS and GL at Rajkot in IPL 2017. RPS set a competitive total of 171-8, thanks to Smith’s 43(28) and Tripathi’s 33(17). Tye’s fifer, with an economy rate of 4.25, restricted RPS.
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- Shoaib Akhtar’s exceptional spell (4-11) came in the 35th game between KKR and DC at Kolkata in IPL 2008. Despite steady innings from Butt (48(44)) and Hussey (31(31)), KKR could only manage 133-6. Akhtar’s spell, conceding just 3.66 runs per over, made the chase challenging for DC. Despite a late effort by Shukla (3-6), DC fell short by 23 runs.
- Kevon Cooper’s performance (4-26) during the 4th game between RR and PBKS at Jaipur in IPL 2012 is also memorable. RR posted 191-4, thanks to Rahane’s 98(66). Faulkner’s 2-41 couldn’t stop RR’s total. In response, PBKS could only manage 160-9, with Cooper’s spell at an economy rate of 6.50 ensuring RR’s 31-run victory.
- David Wiese’s figures (4-33) best bowling figures in IPL debut came in the 16th game between MI and RCB at Bengaluru in IPL 2015. Despite Mumbai’s massive total of 209-7, Wiese’s 4 wickets at 8.25 runs per over kept RCB in the game. RCB eventually fell short at 191-7, losing by 18 runs despite de Villiers’ 41(11) and Wiese’s 47(25).
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Best Bowling Figures in IPL 2024
Currently, as of April 17, the record for the best bowling figures in IPL 2024 is held by Mumbai Indians pace ace Jasprit Bumrah, who finished with figures of 5-21 against RCB at the Wankhede Stadium. Meanwhile, in second place is Yash Thakur who took 5-30 for Lucknow Super Giants in their match against rivals Gujarat Titans in Lucknow.