The Indian Premier League has given the world some incredible batsmen and bowlers. Read on to find out about the best bowler in IPL history.
The IPL is a tournament where cricket players from all over the world come to India to display their cricketing prowess. The league is almost like a cricket festival for cricket lovers where they get to watch their favourite cricketers play alongside each other.
Several international players have created records on Indian soil, making India the world’s cricket hotbed.
While batsmen often steal the show with their dramatic sixes and fours, the league has seen some incredible bowlers rise to the occasion. These players have etched their names in history as the best.
Let’s take a closer look at the all-time best bowler in IPL history, a player celebrated for his skill, consistency, and match-winning performances.
Alzarri Joseph’s Unmatched Precision
Alzarri Shaheim Joseph is an Antiguan cricketer who plays for the West Indies Cricket team. Clad in Mumbai Indians’ blue jersey, he played in the Indian Premier League for the first time in 2019.
Joseph’s IPL journey reached its peak right after his arrival on April 6, 2019, when he destroyed and dismantled Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting lineup in his debut match.
It was the second innings and Mumbai Indians were defending a total of just 137 runs. He began by dismissing David Warner and Vijay Shankar in the first two overs. Successively, in the next over, he got Deepak Hooda and Rashid Khan out. Finally, in his last over, he balled out Siddharth Kaul and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar.
With his last move, Joseph became the best bowler in IPL history, by taking 6 wickets for 12 runs. He shattered the IPL record for the best bowling figures previously held by Sohail Tanvir’s 6/14.
The young West Indies pacer’s incredible performance led to Mumbai Indians winning the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad with 40 runs.
This win significantly contributed towards Mumbai Indians taking the IPL 2019 trophy home.
Alzarri is a fine example of how a bowler can dominate and change the course of a match in just a few overs. His 6/12 remains a standout moment in the tournament’s rich history.
In the world of IPL, where heroes are made every season, Alzarri Joseph’s name will forever be etched in gold. His win as a bowler is not just a personal achievement but a moment of athletic excellence and inspiration.
The Magic of Lasith Malinga
Malings’s name inevitably pops up when people talk about smashing deliveries and wicket-hitting balls. The curly-haired bowler has become a household name in India owing to his incredible performance in the IPL.
With 170 wickets in just 122 matches, he is one of the highest wicket-takers in IPL history.
Although, it is not just wickets that make him stand out. Malinga’s impeccable timing led him to single-handedly turn around games when least expected. For this reason, he’s referred to as a death bowler.
In 2011, he played for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Daredevils and scored his best figure of 5 wickets in 13 overs. Malings’s magical performance led to Mumbai Indians winning the match with 8 wickets and 19 balls remaining.
Remember the 2019 IPL final? With just 9 runs needed off the last over, CSK was inching closer to victory. Just then entered Malinga, delivering a phenomenal example in pressure bowling. His last ball to dismiss Shardul Thakur won the IPL trophy for Mumbai Indians.
Next Best Bowlers in IPL History
Jasprit Bumrah: The Modern-Day Maestro
With his unorthodox action and speed bowling, Jasprit Bumrah has become one of the most feared bowlers globally.
Bumrah’s IPL journey has been nothing short of phenomenal. He is the fastest Indian pacer to take 150 wickets in Test cricket and the second-fastest Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in One Day International (ODI) cricket.
When it comes to IPL, this brilliant bowler has taken 165 wickets in 133 matches, with an average of 22.51 and an economy rate of 7.30, making him the second-highest wicket-taker for the team after Lasith Malinga.
Yuzvendra Chahal: The Future of IPL Bowling
Yuzvendra Chahal AKA Yuzi made his IPL debut in 2013, with Mumbai Indians. He has since established himself as one of the best spinners in the international arena. His specialisation is a deadly combination of flight, dip, spin and guile.
Yuzi played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015 and found the bulk of his success. He was the team’s highest wicket-taker for two years and as a result, earned his first India caps in ODIs and T20.
In the 2024 season of the IPL, Chahal was taken over by Rajasthan Royals and became the first bowler in the history of IPL to achieve 200 wickets. The player achieved this tremendous feat by bowling out Mumbai Indians’ Mohammad Nabi.
Looking at his overall performance and recent record, Yuzi is undoubtedly one of the best bowlers in IPL history.
The Bowler’s Legacy in IPL
While it’s challenging to crown just one bowler as the best in IPL history, these legends have certainly left an indelible mark on the league. Alzarri’s precision, Malinga’s death play, Bumrah’s action, and Chahal’s spinning skills make these players the crème de la crème of IPL bowling.
While Alzarri holds the record for the most sixes in an IPL innings, Chahal proudly carries the brand-new record for most all-time wickets in the league.
Yet, their stories are hardly about numbers. Instead, these bowling legends are the sorcerers of unforgettable moments, match-winning spells, and the cheers of millions of cricket lovers and fans of IPL teams around the world.
The debate continues, but one thing is for sure—these bowlers have made the IPL a spectacle worth watching! So, who’s your pick for the all-time best bowler in IPL history?
