It won’t be inappropriate to say the Indian Premier League (IPL) is batter’s paradise. The things have been largely tilted in their favour. And the recent seasons prove it.
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But despite that, a few bowlers overcame the odds and delivered some sensational spells. They weren’t any ordinary spells but simply the best the league has seen thus far.
And here we’ll list the top 10 best bowling figures registered in IPL history.
Best Bowling Figures in IPL
| Bowler | Bowling Figures | Against | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alazarri Joseph (MI) | 6/12 | SRH | Hyderabad | 2019 |
| Sohail Tanvir (RR) | 6/14 | CSK | Jaipur | 2008 |
| Adam Zampa (RPSG) | 6/19 | SRH | Visakhapatnam | 2016 |
| Anil Kumble (RCB) | 5/5 | RR | Cape Town | 2009 |
| Akash Madhwal (MI) | 5/5 | LSG | Chennai | 2023 |
| Jasprit Bumrah (MI) | 5/10 | KKR | Navi Mumbai | 2022 |
| Mohit Sharma (GT) | 5/10 | MI | Ahmedabad | 2023 |
| Ishant Sharma (Deccan Chargers) | 5/12 | Kochi Tuskers | Kochi | 2011 |
| Lasith Malinga (MI) | 5/13 | DC | Delhi | 2011 |
| Ankit Rajpoot (PBKS) | 5/14 | SRH | Hyderabad | 2018 |
10. Ankit Rajpoot (PBKS): 5/14 vs SRH | 2018
Ankit Rajpoot had a pretty short and average career in the IPL. But he had a memorable outing against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2018.
The right-arm medium pacer turned up Punjab Kings and razed SRH’s top order. Rajpoot’s three early breakthroughs slowed down SRH, and they couldn’t recover from it.
Rajpoot then added two wickets in the last over to finish with 5 for 14. But his efforts went in vain as Punjab couldn’t chase the 133-run target.
9. Lasith Malinga (MI): 5/13 vs DC | 2011
Lasith Malinga was Mumbai Indians (MI) lead pacer for nine seasons. And he hardly failed to pick up wickets!
The Sri Lankan delivered his best season in 2011. And it all started with the match against Delhi Capitals (then Daredevils).
Malinga came hard against the Delhi batters with his yorkers. He clean bowled four batters and got one caught out to end Delhi’s innings on 95. Malinga returned with figures of 5 for 13 to set up an easy chase for MI.
8. Ishant Sharma (Deccan Chargers): 5/12 vs Kochi Tuskers | 2011
The 2011 season saw another brilliant spell from a pacer. This time, it was by an Indian bowler, Ishant Sharma.
The tall pacer bowled a dream spell against Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Deccan Chargers were defending 130 runs, and they needed early wickets. And that’s what Sharma did.
After Dale Steyn opened the wicket count in the first over, Sharma added five before the fourth over ended. Four of the five batters he dismissed were out for a duck!
Sharma’s 5 for 12 helped the Chargers defend their total by 55 runs while he bagged the Player of the Match award.
7. Mohit Sharma (GT): 5/10 vs MI | 2023
After not getting a match for two seasons, Mohit Sharma had a stellar outing in 2023. He proved vital for Gujarat Titans (GT) as they entered the IPL final twice in a row.
And his performance against MI in Qualifier 2 was the point of difference. MI were cruising at 155 for 4 in pursuit of the 234-run target.
It looked like MI’s game from here. But Sharma changed the momentum with Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal.
It opened the doors for MI’s fall as Sharma quickly wrapped up their lower order. He ended up with figures of 5 for 10, while GT won by 62 runs.
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6. Jasprit Bumrah (MI): 5/10 vs KKR | 2022
Jasprit Bumrah has been Mumbai’s bowling mainstay for over a decade now. And the reason is quite simple, as he makes things happen.
That’s what happened against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2022. KKR were perhaps looking for a 180 finish, but Bumrah turned things around.
Bumrah struck five wickets at crucial points in the second half to leave KKR at 165 for 9. The Indian pacer conceded only 10 runs for five wickets, though his performance ended on the losing side.
5. Akash Madhwal (MI): 5/5 vs LSG | 2023
Before Mohit Sharma’s performance in Qualifier 2, it was Akash Madhwal who lit up the 2023 IPL playoffs. Madhwal, who was the find of the season, delivered a match-winning performance in the Eliminator.
Defending a 183-run target, Madhwal gave an early breakthrough to MI. Then he picked up two wickets in the 10th over before wrapping up LSG’s innings with two more scalps.
Madhwal registered figures of 5 for 5, which are the best by a bowler in the IPL playoffs.
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4. Anil Kumble (RCB): 5/5 vs RR | 2009
Anil Kumble also logged the figures of 5 for 5. But it came back in IPL 2009.
The legendary Indian leg spinner turned up for RCB against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in South Africa’s Cape Town. RCB had put up 133 runs and needed something magical to turn the tide in their favour.
After pacers rocked RR in the first half, Kumble did the rest in the second. He strangled RR’s middle and lower order to finish with 5 for 5.
3. Adam Zampa (RPSG): 6/19 vs SRH | 2016
Playing in his second IPL match, Adam Zampa left everyone stunned. The Australian leg spinner ran through SRH’s middle order to have the third-best IPL bowling figures.
SRH were at 96 for 2 on a slow Vizag pitch. Then Zampa came into the attack and fetched six wickets for 19 runs in the death overs to restrict SRH to 137.
But Zampa’s bowling performance wasn’t enough to secure a win for Rising Pune Supergiant (RPSG). They lost the match by four runs.
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2. Sohail Tanvir (RR): 6/14 vs CSK | 2008
Sohail Tanvir was the standout performer in IPL 2008. And his six-wicket haul against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was the silver lining on it.
Tanvir was all over CSK’s lineup as they struggled against his pace and variations. He started with three early wickets before adding another three late in the innings.
Tanvir’s 6 for 14 were the best figures in the IPL for almost 12 seasons. Now he sits in the second spot.
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1. Alazarri Joseph (MI): 6/12 vs SRH | 2019
Alzarri Joseph sits at the top with the best bowling figures in the IPL. And he pulled off the feat on his IPL debut for MI!
Joseph wasn’t initially part of the season, but he came in as an injury replacement to have an immediate impact. He pierced through SRH’s batting lineup to bundle them for 96 runs.
Joseph ended up with 6 for 12 to surpass Tanvir’s previous record and helped MI defend 136 runs.
