Top 5 Bowlers with most wickets in IPL history

The biggest cricket funfair will resume in less than 96 hours, and fans can’t wait to see their favourite players in action. The first match of the tournament will be played on Friday, with MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings taking on last year’s champion Gujarat Titans.

Despite the absence of some key players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Jhye Richardson, Jonny Bairstow, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer from this edition, the tournament’s popularity has not waned. As the tournament approaches, Sports Digest News looks back at the top wicket takers in the history of the IPL. Here’s the rundown:

5. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (154 wickets)

With 154 wickets, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, one of the top Indian pacers, has become a legend in this league. Bhuvi has been a regular member of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team since its inception, though he previously played for the Pune Warriors.

The right-arm medium-fast bowler has been outstanding in the tournament so far, with an economy of 7.30 and an average of around 25. His fifer against Kings XI Punjab in 2017 remains one of the best spells in IPL history. The 33-year-old is preparing to give his all in the 2023 IPL.

4. Piyush Chawla and Ravichandran Ashwin (157 wickets)

Piyush Chawla is undoubtedly one of the most underrated spinners in the country. In the world’s largest T20 league, the right-arm leggie has 157 wickets to his name. Chawla has previously played for Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, and Chennai Super Kings, but his time with Kolkata Knight Riders is what made him famous.

Chawla’s best bowling performance came in 2011 when he dismantled the Royal Challengers Bangalore line-up with 4 for 17 and he will look to replicate that feat as the most experienced spinner in the current Mumbai Indians squad.

Legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, on the other hand, has 157 wickets to his name. He began his IPL career in 2009 and has given the tournament everything he has.

Ashwin has also played for the Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, and the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants over the years. The off-best spinner’s league performance came in 2016, when he took four wickets for 34 runs.

3. Amit Mishra and Yuzvendra Chahal (166 wickets)

One of the legends of the league, Amit Mishra has become better over the years in the tournament. His googlies have relegated several top players to the pavilion. With 166 wickets in the league, Mishra stands at the third position in the list.

He has previously played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Delhi Daredevils, and Deccan Chargers. Now, the experienced bowler is set to make a comeback in the league after three years.

The Lucknow Super Giants decided to sign the leg-spinner in the 2023 IPL auction and will draught him as an Impact Substitute on spin-friendly tracks. His economy of 7.35 in a tournament like IPL is quite good and with age being a factor for him, Mishra would like to end his IPL stint on a high note.

Yuzvendra Chahal has also taken 166 wickets in the Indian Premier League. He is an excellent T20 bowler who has helped both his IPL team and the national team win numerous matches over the years.

Chahal has been a top contender for becoming the highest wicket taker in the IPL going forward. The former RCB bowler also has an IPL fifer to his name, which he added to his confidence in last year’s edition when his spell helped Rajasthan Royals defeat Kolkata Knight Riders in a thriller.

2. Lasith Malinga (170 wickets)

When it comes to the best pacer in tournament history, this man is right at the top with so many great memories. Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka is one of the few players who has only played for one franchise over the years. He truly belonged to the ‘Paltan Family,’ and he was instrumental in Mumbai Indians winning multiple IPL titles.

Malinga took 170 wickets in the tournament and has made significant contributions to the franchise over the years. His yorkers and how he used to dismantle batsmen are still fresh in the minds of his fans. The veteran is currently the bowling coach for the Rajasthan Royals and is eager to help them add another trophy to their collection.

1. Dwayne Bravo (183 wickets)

If there is one cricketer who has thoroughly enjoyed the IPL, it has to be Dwayne Bravo. With 183 wickets, the West Indian is the league’s leading wicket-taker. During his time in the league, his sensational slower deliveries and accurate yorkers were a sight to behold. His best performance came against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2016, when he took four wickets for 22 runs while playing for Gujarat Lions.

Last year, the medium pacer announced his retirement from the league after providing the Chennai Super Kings with hundreds of memories to cherish. Now, he works as a bowling coach for the Men in Yellow. It will be fascinating to see how he assists his teammates in this new role.