The 10 Best Bowlers in IPL History

The Indian Premier League (IPL), over the years has seen may bowlers who left their mark on this incredible league. They have shown remarkable consistency in delivering one performance after another that eventually made IPL great and what IPL is today. 

In this article, we will discuss the top 10 bowlers of IPL by highlighting their exceptional skills and performances throughout the course of history. Join us in celebrating the cricketing legends will be part of the IPL folklore forever.

1. Lasith Malinga – The Yorker King

If we are talking about the best bowlers of all time in IPL, there is looking far from the certain speedster from Sri Lanka who represented Mumbai Indians. Retired after the 2019 season, Malinga was instrumental in Mumbai winning 4 IPL titles and sits at the 8^th in the all-time wicket takers list in IPL with 170 scalps from 122 games.

Though he isn’t the highest wicket-taker in the tournament, the sheer impact Malinga has created makes him arguably the best bowler of all time in the IPL. The pacer was known for his pinpoint and accurate yorkers and remains an inspiration to many upcoming bowlers.

2. Yuzvendra Chahal – The Wrist Wizard

The only bowler to cross the 200-wicket landmark is the wily leg-spinner from India, Yuzvendra Chahal. He is among the most successful leg-spinners in the T20 formats, and his fearless attitude makes him one. Chahal, for most part of his career operated at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru which is known as heaven for batters. 

Yet Chahal picked most of his wickets in Bengaluru (52) and what is more impressive is his ER (7.72) at that venue. He has has won games for sides he has played, RCB & RR and is undoubtedly a legend of IPL. 

3. Dwayne Bravo – The Champion

A match on his day, Dwayne Bravo makes it to the list as one of the best bowlers IPL has ever seen. Like Malinga, Bravo was a highly successful pacer in IPL back in his day and much of the appreciation should go on how he has bowled at the death overs. He is known for his fantastic slower deliveries.

His bowling spells coupled with some fantastic fielding and useful batting prowess has helped the sides he played (CSK and MI) win a lot of games. Overall, Bravo had taken 183 wickets in 158 games when he hung up his boots post 2022. He was instrumental in CSK winning the championship thrice and is a sure shot legend of IPL.

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – The Swing Master

One of the finest exponents of swing bowling, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has etched a mark in IPL with his skillful bowling and match-winning capabilities. He has time and again given his teams a great start with the ball by picking early wickets with the new ball. 

He proved to be highly effective in the death overs as well and had good variations at his disposal. Still playing for SRH, Bhuvneshwar has taken 181 wickets in the IPL and occupies the 4^th spot in all-time wicket-takers list.

5. Sunil Narine – The Magician

Burst in the scene as a mystery spinner, Narine has left many of the batters bamboozled through his spin bowling and he is highly effective even after a decade. In 173 innings he has bowled in the IPL, his ER is just 6.67 which is simply magical and amazing. 

Though his batting capabilities has improved, his bowling still remains world-class, and batters are trying hard to dominate him. This makes him a special player in the IPL and could very well be the next bowler to breach the 200 wicket (178) landmark.

6. Piyush Chawla – The Old War Horse

Another leggie who has had a hall of fame career in the IPL has to Piyush Chawla. The veteran has been part of this tournament since 2008 and has represented various teams. His hunger to succeed has never eased and remains a consistent performer.

With 189 wickets, only Chahal is ahead of him in the pecking order. But with the age catching up, we must wait and watch how much farther the latter will go in the IPL. 

7. Amit Mishra – The Master Leggie

At one point of time, Mishra topped the wicket charts of IPL but in the last few seasons, he hasn’t played that regularly which pushed him down to 7^th in the list with 174 wickets. He has played for many teams and proved his worth in all those teams and Mishra is one of the players who has been around forever. 

He has shown his match-winning skills many times in the past and his accomplishments make him one of the complete bowlers in the IPL.

8. Jasprit Bumrah – The No.1 Bowler

He is someone who will end up in the top 3 of the IPL bowlers in the next few seasons. Bumrah has been always a force to reckon with for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and specially after Malinga’s exit, the pacer has donned role of pace spearhead.

For many seasons now, Bumrah has been the shining list for MI in bowling departments and at times, he is only one performing for them. Overall, he has picked 165 wickets in just 133 games. 

9. Harbhajan Singh – The Passionate Turbanator

The former Indian spin bowling legend was a match-winner during his days for both CSK and MI. Harbhajan had won championships with both these sides and played a key role in them attaining success. The off spinner may have taken 150 wickets in the IPL but the highlight of his career has to be his ER (7.07). Having such an economy after playing 163 games is a testament to his consistency in bowling great lengths as a spinner.

10. Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja – The Spin Duo

In the same vein as Harbhajan, the duo of Jadeja and Ashwin are among the least expensive spinners in the IPL. Jadeja’s ER reads at 7.59 after 210 innings while Ashwin’s even less at 7.11 and to maintain after having played 200 plus games each is simply amazing.

Also, they have contributed significantly to their team’s cause in each of its title triumphs. Coincidentally both featured for CSK when they won in 2011.