IPL 2023: Top 5 fastest deliveries from league stage

Anrich Nortje. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

The 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is heading towards its conclusion, with the final game just left as it got shifted to the reserve day due to endless rain. In the league round, some remarkable bowling performances were witnessed by fans and experts. The table-toppers, Gujarat Titans (GT), looked exceptional in the league stage, and in their success, their fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Alazari Joseph played a crucial role.

In this IPL edition, a top-tier group of pacers has taken part in the competition, and so far, some of them have also bowled the fastest deliveries. All these speed guns created records with their respective fastest balls but couldn’t shatter Australia’s Shaun Tait’s record of the fastest IPL delivery (157.7 km/h) for the 2008 IPL champions Rajasthan Royals (RR), bowled in 2011.

Here are the fastest five deliveries bowled in IPL 2023

5. Anrich Nortje vs Gujarat Titans, match 7- 148.8 km/h

Anrich Nortje is known for destroying batters with his lethal pace. With his cutters and knuckle balls, he possesses the ability to hoax batters easily. Back in his IPL debut season in 2020, he bowled his fastest delivery of the league, against Rajasthan Royals’ batting stalwart Jos Buttler. 

This year, the Protea quick again made it to the list of bowlers who bowled the fastest deliveries in the competition. In match seven between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Nortje outfoxed Shubman Gill on the first delivery of the fifth over in the second innings with his delivery that clocked 148.8 km/h. 

Defending a score of 162 for DC, Nortje delivered a record-breaking ball for his team. However, despite his performance, Delhi couldn’t extract desired results as the visitors pull off the match comfortably by six wickets and 11 balls remaining. This year, the speedster featured in 10 IPL matches for Delhi, in which he hunted 10 batters at an economy of 9.10.

4. Mark Wood vs Chennai Super Kings, match 6- 151.2 km/h

Mark Wood looked sensational for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in this year’s IPL edition. Picking up 11 wickets in just four matches at an economy of 8.12, he served his IPL team efficiently with the ball. Donning LSG jersey for the first time, he grabbed the best bowling figures (5/14) of his IPL career against Delhi Capitals (DC) in match three at the Ekana Stadium.

Following his stupendous performance against DC, emboldened Wood made it to the record books in the next game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. Showing up against his former IPL side, he exuded confidence with the ball, dismissing Devon Conway and Ravindra Jadeja. 

Along with the two CSK stalwarts, he also removed Chennai’s captain, MS Dhoni from the crease on the fourth delivery of his last over. The speedster’s ball that dismissed the CSK skipper touched 151.2 km/h and became the quickest delivery of his IPL career. 

3. Matheesha Pathirana vs Rajasthan Royals, match 37- 151.4 km/h

Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana has delivered an impressive show with the ball for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). So far, the young pacer has fetched 17 wickets in 11 games at an economy of 7.72, with the best bowling numbers of 3/15 against Mumbai Indians (MI) in match 49 held at the Chepauk Stadium.

In CSK’s jersey, the Sri Lanka stalwart has provided a lot of cheerful moments to Chennai’s fans thus far, in the season. However, in one of the league games, he failed to scalp any wicket with the ball but hit headlines for his outstanding speed. Bowling the third over of his spell against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 37, Pathirana bowled a delivery to Devdutt Padikkal that registered a speed of 151.4 km/h.

His fastest ball went for a four as Padikkal’s bat got a thick outside edge that went past MS Dhoni. His 150+ delivery got a lot of appreciation as followers of the sport didn’t hesitate to shower praises on the Sri Lanka speedster. 

2. Umran Malik vs Rajasthan Royals, match 4- 152.1 km/h

Back in 2021, when Umran Malik broke into IPL, he stunned many former cricketing legends and supporters of the game with his spectacular pace bowling. Witnessing his potential and talent, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) retained him for the 2022 season. This year, he didn’t live up to the expectations with his dismal bowling performance but in his team’s first IPL 2023 match, he again grabbed eyeballs for something special.

During his team’s clash with Rajasthan Royals (RR), Malik castled Devdutt Padikkal’s stumps. His stupendous wicket-taking ball reached the speed of 152.1 km/h. With this amazing delivery, he kept his reputation of bowling the fastest deliveries in the cash-rich league intact.

In the previous IPL Season, the pacer registered an unprecedented record to his name. Playing all 14 games for SRH in IPL 2022, he won the fastest delivery of the match award for consecutive 14 appearances. This year, he couldn’t repeat that sensational record but in a few games, he used his raw pace to outclass batters.

1. Lockie Ferguson vs Gujarat Titans, match 13- 154.1 km/h

Lockie Ferguson has astounded batters several times with his awesome velocity. The Kiwi veteran attracted attention for his 157.3 km/h delivery for Gujarat Titans (GT) against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the final game of the 2022 IPL installment. This year, he appeared for the two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Playing his maiden IPL 2023 match, Ferguson faced his former IPL team, Gujarat, at the Narendra Modi Stadium. On the second delivery of the fourth over of GT’s innings, New Zealand quick bowled a delivery to GT opener, Shubman Gill, which clocked 154.1 km/h. Replying to his delivery, the GT stalwart directed it towards the deep backward point for stealing a single.

In KKR’s unsuccessful IPL 2022 campaign, Ferguson got only three games due to his indisciplined bowling. However, interestingly, the 31-year-old is set to register the record for bowling the fastest delivery in the tournament, for consecutive two seasons.