Last Updated on April 16, 2021 by Avik Das
IPL is the biggest T20 extravaganza in the Cricket world, which is played by some best active players in the world. IPL 2021 has already begun and it is scheduled to be a hectic season of six weeks like any other year. Like the previous year, eight teams are participating in IPL this year.
Indian Premier League has been around for over a decade, starting the first IPL season in 2008. With the start of the tournament, IPL revolutionized the T20 format and the shortest format of the game started to get more recognition than before. After thirteen successful seasons of IPL, it is set to host the fourteenth season of the league this year in India.
Since the league has been around for years, many legendary bowlers of the game have participated in it, playing multiple seasons for a franchise or different franchises. Several great bowlers of the shortest format of the game have entrenched their names in the history book of most number of wickets in the history.
Let’s take a look at the IPL table of the top seven bowlers, who have the most number of wickets in the league.
#7 Bhuvenshwar Kumar (136 Wickets)
The Indian International pacer has been in sublime form in recent years, but he has been playing IPL for ten years. He is one of the most influential pacers for Sunrisers Hyderabad, leading them to a title victory once. Besides the Hyderabad-based franchise, Bhuvi earlier played for Pune Supergiants.
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Similar to Malinga, Bhuvenshwar Kumar has a remarkable bowling average of 19, as he has also picked five wickets once. Before the beginning of IPL 2021, he has captured 136 wickets in 121 matches. His tally should go up after this season.
#6 Ravichandran Ashwin (138 Wickets)
Ravichandran Ashwin’s achievements are next to none in International Cricket in every format. He also has an imposing record in the Indian Premier League, commencing his journey back in 2009. The Indian all-rounder is now part of Delhi Capitals, but he previously represented the likes of Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiants, and Punjab Kings.
The off-spinner has played a total of 154 matches and has 138 wickets. If he ends up having a good season this year, he might enter the top five wicket-takers in IPL.
#5 Harbhajan Singh (150 Wickets)
Harbhajan Singh was India’s one of the primary strike bowlers until Ravi Ashwin replaced him. However, the Turbanetor has been playing IPL since the debut season, and he is set to be part of IPL 2021 for KKR, making it his fourteenth season. Before Kolkata Knight Riders, he was also part of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
In his IPL career, Harbhajan has amassed 150 wickets in 160 matches at a bowling average of 26. He also has a five-wicket haul.
#4 Dwayne Bravo (153 Wickets)
Dwayne Bravo, the Caribbean all-rounder, is one of the finest players of the shortest format of the game. Bravo has been part of Chennai Super Kings for a while, and he has played a crucial role to make the MS Dhoni-led side champions.
Before CSK, Bravo wore the jerseys of Mumbai Indians as well as Gujrat Lions. He is a death bowling specialist, and his slower balls not only help to keep the run flow in control but also pick regular wickets. Playing 140 IPL games, he has 153 wickets. He could go up the ladder after playing this season.
#3 Piyush Chawla (156 Wickets)
Piyush Chawla hasn’t had much success in International Cricket, yet his track record is impressive in IPL. Chawla has been part of the league since the beginning, playing for Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders.
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Playing 164 IPL matches, which is the most by anyone on this list, Chawla has scalped 156 wickets. He holds a bowling average of 27, while his bowling economy is nearly 8.
#2 Amit Mishra ( 160 Wickets)
Amit Mishra is another leg spinner, who might not have reached the desired height in International Cricket, but he has become a bowling legend in IPL. From two Delhi franchises to two Hyderabad franchises, Mishra has played thirteen seasons in IPL. He is the only bowler, who holds the extraordinary record of having three hat tricks in IPL.
In Mishra’s IPL career, he has played 150 IPL matches, and he has grabbed 160 wickets, putting him in the second spot in the list of most wicket-takers. Mishra also has a five-wicket haul in the league.
#1 Lasith Malinga (170 Wickets)
Well, it’s no surprise that Lasith Malinga holds the top spot of all-time highest wickets takers. From 2009 to 2019, the legendary Sri Lankan bowler played for Mumbai Indians, and he was a pioneer to the success of the franchise, helping them to win the IPL trophy a couple of times. Whether his pace, accuracy or the toe-crushing Yorkers, he troubled the batsmen at any stage of a game.
Compared to others, the right-handed pacer has played way fewer IPL games. After featuring in 122 games, he has picked 170 wickets in his career, including a fifer. He maintains an astonishing bowling average of 19 and his economy rate is just over 7.
Avik Das is the founder of Sportsheed. He is a sports lover with broad knowledge of Professional Wrestling, MMA, Football, and Cricket. He has an English major and has previously written articles for various sports and entertainment websites
