The Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketing extravaganza unfolds each season, and the emphasis always falls on the remarkable bowlers who etch their names in the record books. These bowling maestros, with their devastating deliveries and strategic prowess, have ascended to become the IPL’s leading wicket-takers for their respective franchises.
Bowlers have carved out a niche for themselves in the thrilling world of T20 cricket, where boundaries rule and sixes colour the sky. These ball maestros are responsible for their team’s successes. They have demonstrated a variety of skills and guile, regularly dismantling batting lineups. Let’s have a look at the teamwise highest wicket-taker in IPL history.
Here is the team-wise highest wicket-taker in IPL history:
1. Mohammad Shami- (Gujarat Titans/GT)
Mohammed Shami. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Mohammad Shami has been the leading pacer for the Gujarat Titans since IPL 2022. Shami was the backbone of the Punjab Kings lineup but was released ahead of the IPL 2022 auction when the new franchise GT grabbed him. He had an excellent season with 20 wickets at an economy of 8.00 and a best of 3/25. However, his best came in IPL 2023, when he earned the Purple Cap with 28 scalps at an economy of 8.03 and a best of 4/11.
This means the pacer has taken 48 wickets for GT in 33 matches at an economy of 8.01 and best bowling of 4/11. He has averaged 21.04 and the wicket in Ahmedabad suits him perfectly. He has been effective both with the new ball in the powerplays, getting early wickets and then comes back in death with deadly yorkers.
2. Ravi Bishnoi- (Lucknow Super Giants/LSG)
Ravi Bishnoi. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Ravi Bishnoi has been terrific for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) since they decided to invest in him and drafted him in the squad ahead of the IPL 2022 auction. He has 29 wickets in 29 matches for LSG at an economy of 8.10. His best bowling figure for LSG in IPL is 3/28. He has been a plentiful for batters on the slow pitches of the Ekana stadium in Lucknow and expect more wickets for him in the coming IPL 2024.
3. Piyush Chawla- (Punjab Kings/PBKS)
Piyush Chawla (Photo Source: Twitter)
Piyush Chawla was the leading spinner for Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) as he was with them from 2008 to 2013. He played 87 matches for the Punjab-based outfit and picked 84 wickets. His economy was 7.52, pretty good for a surface like in Mohali, which aids pacers more than spinners. His best bowling was 4/17. He had a gala time in the Punjab team before moving to Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2014 and winning the IPL title.
4. Amit Mishra- (Delhi Capitals/DC)
Amit Mishra (Photo Source: Twitter)
Amit Mishra has had three different stints with Delhi Daredevils/ Delhi Capitals as he began his IPL career with them in 2008 and then moved to Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad. From IPL 2015-2021, he was with the Delhi franchise. He has played a total of 99 games for Delhi-based franchises.
In those 99 games, he has taken a hat-trick in IPL 2008 and a total of 106 wickets. His economy has been 7.35 and his best bowling was 5/17. Amit Mishra has since then moved to Lucknow Super Giants and with a spin-friendly track in Ekana Stadium, expect the 41-year-old to conjure up more magic in the upcoming IPL 2024.
5. Bhuvneshwar Kumar- (Sunrisers Hyderabad/SRH)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar joined the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2014 and has been with them since then. It has been quite a journey for the Uttar Pradesh pacer as he made his India debut a year before joining SRH and has been with them even captaining the franchise a couple of times.
He has played 129 games and has taken 146 wickets with 10 maiden overs. His economy has been 7.53. His best bowling is 5/19 with a strike rate of 20.0. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been one of the best death overs bowlers in IPL history with several wickets coming in the last few overs. He has also swung the new ball well and has often bowled on unhelpful pitches.
Also Check: Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s: 6-Wicket Feat at Lord’s – 2014 Flashback
6. Siddharth Trivedi- (Rajasthan Royals/RR)
Siddharth-Trivedi. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Siddharth Trivedi might be a forgotten name in Indian cricket annals now, but he was one of the best young pacers unearthed by Rajasthan Royals. An unassuming pacer, Trivedi was very good with the new ball and he was nippy off the pitch and could also swing the ball a bit. This was enough for the batters to get bowled or nick it behind the stumps.
Trivedi played 76 games for RR from 2008-2013 and picked 65 wickets with a best of 4/25. His economy was 7.58 and Trivedi is considered to be one of the best talents and earned plenty of praise from Shane Warne, the Royals’ first captain.
7. Sunil Narine- (Kolkata Knight Riders/KKR)
Sunil Narine (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sunil Narine has been with the KR franchise since 2012 and the franchise even retained him when he was banned for his bowling action. In return, Narine has been the go-to guy for every KKR captain when it comes to taking wickets. Narine has played his heart out for the franchise.
In 162 matches, Narine has taken 163 wickets at an economy of 6.73. He has bowled with both the new ball and even in the death overs. His average has been 25.78 and his strike rate is 22.9. His best bowling performance in the IPL is 5/19 and he has taken four wickets in an innings 7 times for KKR.
8. Yuzvendra Chahal- (Royal Challenges Bangalore/RCB)
Yuzi Chahal. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Yuzvendra Chahal made his name in the Indian Premier League when he joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2014. He was with the Mumbai Indians first but didn’t get many chances due to Harbhajan Singh’s presence. However, under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, Chahal devised a plan to be effective even on a small ground like the Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru, which is a batting paradise.
Meanwhile, from IPL 2014-2021, Chahal played 113 matches for RCB and picked 139 wickets. He averaged 22.03 and had a strike rate of 17.4 with an economy of 7.58, despite bowling majorly on Chinnaswamy’s pitch. His best bowling was 4/25 and it was quite a controversial move by RCB to let go of Chahal ahead of the IPL 2022 auction and then not even try to buy him back in the auction.
9. Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians/MI)
Lasith Malinga (Photo Source: Twitter)
Mumbai Indians legend Lasith Malinga sits pretty at the top of most wickets for the franchise in IPL history. He has 170 wickets in 122 matches at an average of 19.79 and a strike rate of 16.6. He had an economy of just 7.14 and best bowling of 5/13. He held the record for most wickets in all IPL until Yuzvendra Chahal broke the record a couple of seasons back.
10. Dwayne Bravo- (Chennai Super Kings/CSK)
Dwayne Bravo (Photo Source: Twitter)
Dwayne Bravo was the lead bowler in crisis for Chennai Super Kings and MS Dhoni. Dhoni had always used Bravo in the death overs, thanks to the West Indian’s brilliant use of slow balls cutters, and yorkers. It helped Dhoni control the run flow in the last few overs and helped CSK win lots of matches.
Bravo ended his career with 140 wickets for CSK, the most in IPL. His best bowling was 4/22 and economy was 8.36 and average of 22.47 and his strike rate of 16.1. He was the first player to win the Purple Cap two times in IPL in 2013 and 2015 and has the record for most wickets in one IPL season- 32, a record later equalled by Harshal Patel.