The Indian Premier League has been one of the finest tournaments in the world. And what makes this one of the best in business? Indeed, the level-headed competition between batters and bowlers adds to the game’s intrigue. The strategic bowlers who reduced the game with explosive hitters deserve credit.
In this article regarding the most wickets in IPL, we will look at ten of the most successful bowlers who have shone with the ball and helped their respective franchises win from the brink of defeat.
Most Wickets In IPL | Full List
Player | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy Rate |
Yuzvendra Chahal | 160 | 205 | 5/40 | 22.45 | 7.84 |
Piyush Chawla | 192 | 192 | 4/17 | 26.6 | 7.96 |
Dwayne Bravo | 161 | 183 | 4/22 | 23.82 | 8.38 |
Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 176 | 181 | 5/19 | 27.23 | 7.56 |
Sunil Narine | 177 | 180 | 5/19 | 25.39 | 6.73 |
Ravichandran Ashwin | 212 | 180 | 4/34 | 29.83 | 7.12 |
Amit Mishra | 162 | 174 | 5/17 | 23.84 | 7.38 |
Lasith Malinga | 122 | 170 | 5/13 | 19.8 | 7.14 |
Jasprit Bumrah | 133 | 165 | 5/10 | 22.51 | 7.3 |
Ravindra Jadeja | 240 | 160 | 5/16 | 30.4 | 7.62 |
Yuzvendra Chahal
One of the wiliest spinners available right now, Chahal made a sublime comeback in the 2022 IPL, where he went on to get the Purple Cap for having accounted for the most number of wickets. And this was not an aberration, as he has remained consistent throughout the years, accounting for 205 wickets in 160 matches, making him the all-time top wicket-taker in IPL history.
Piyush Chawla
Known for his googlies, Chawla is an orthodox spinner who initially allows the batters to take the initiative. However, once the assault is over, he pulls back his lengths and traps them effortlessly. Having made his debut for Kings XI Punjab in 2008, he has been an idol for the next generation of Indian spinners. And why wouldn’t he be? His tally of 192 wickets with a personal best of 4/17 makes him the second bowler with the most wickets in IPL.
Dwayne Bravo
The West Indies all-rounder has no competition when it comes to the execution of the slower ball. He has been excellent with these slower yorkers that made him win the purple cap twice in the history of IPL. When it comes to his overall record, it is even better as he went on to pick 183 wickets in 161 matches with a personal best of 4/22.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
An excellent seamer of the ball, this fast bowler from Meerut served Sunrisers Hyderabad wholeheartedly. He has posed a significant threat to the opposition with the new ball. And his overall wicket tally of 181 wickets at a strike rate of 7.56 makes him one of the lethal bowlers that the league has ever produced.
Sunil Narine
Not only in name, Narine remains a mystery in the field as well, where his unorthodox spin has turned the game for KKR since 2011. Since his debut in 2011, the Kolkata franchise has never let go of Narine due to his exceptional impact. Besides his batting, Narine has managed to topple some of the top batters in the IPL. His overall wicket tally of 180 with a personal best of 5/19 is a testament to this fact.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Another unorthodox spinner, Ashwin is a thinking bowler. Ashwin’s signature delivery, the Carrom Ball, has consistently deceived batters in the IPL. A veteran of more than 200 games, Ashwin had a brilliant time at CSK and RR, where he went on to become the mainstay of spin bowling. With 180 wickets to his name, he is the third-best Indian spinner with the most wickets in the IPL.
Amit Mishra
One of the foremost Indian leg spinners in the IPL, Mishra has taken several hat tricks. His ability to flight the ball and invite the batters on the offensive has been the key to his success. He went on to play 162 matches and picked 174 wickets with a personal best of 5/17.
Lasith Malinga
Known as the ‘Slinger Malinga,’ this Sri Lankan pacer has redefined IPL bowling. His low angle allowed him to execute some of the best deliveries of the tournament, disrupting the rhythm of many batters. Such was his talent that his franchise, the Mumbai Indians, never allowed him to let go since his debut in 2009. He went on to pick 170 wickets in 122 matches with a personal best of 5/13.
Jasprit Bumrah
India’s pace sensation, Bumrah, was able to make a debut for the Mumbai Indians in 2013 and has never looked back ever since. He remained one of the top wicket-takers among his contemporaries. His ability to target the stumps in the death overs makes him a dangerous bowler to possess. That’s the reason Mumbai never let him go and continued to retain him with a contract that is worth more crores. He has accounted for 170 wickets in 122 matches with a personal best of 5/10.
Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja’s off-spin made a lot of noise since his debut in 2008 for Rajasthan Royals. But since then, he moved to Chennai Super Kings and never looked back. Besides his ability to bowl and field extremely well, he was able to pick regular wickets with his flat and quick trajectory. He went on to pick 160 wickets in 240 matches with a personal best of 5/16.
Yuzvendra Chahal holds the record for the most wickets in IPL history, with 205 wickets in 160 matches.
James Faulkner, Jaydev Unadkat, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar jointly hold the record for the most five-wicket hauls in IPL history, with two each. While five-wicket hauls are rare in T20 cricket, these bowlers have managed to achieve this feat multiple times.
Lasith Malinga has the best bowling average among the top wicket-takers, with an incredible average of 19.80 in 122 matches. His ability to take crucial wickets while maintaining an exceptional economy made him a legend in the IPL.