Indian Premier League is well known for high sixes and maximum runs scored per match, but few of the best bowling performances have been witnessed in this league where bowlers turned the tables completely in four overs. The best bowling figures in IPL history belong to Alzarri Joseph, who took 6 wickets for 12 runs for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2019. This spell stands to be the best individual bowling performance ever played in this league. Sohail Tanvir and Adam Zampa are the only two other bowlers who have taken six wickets in an IPL inning.
In this article, we discuss the best bowling figures in IPL history, the best six-wicket hauls in IPL, best figures by Indian bowlers and Bumrah’s best bowling figures in IPL.
What Are Bowling Figures in Cricket?
Bowling figures represent how many runs a bowler gives and also how many wickets he/she takes in his/her spell. For instance, 6/12 implies that a bowler took six wickets and gave 12 runs.
In Twenty20 cricket, a bowler can get to bowl for only four overs per inning. It thus becomes a fantastic achievement to claim five to six wickets within such limited overs. The lower number of runs given by a bowler in this process, the better the bowling figures.
Best Bowling Figures in IPL History
The best bowling figures in IPL history go to Alzarri Joseph with 6/12. Alzarri Joseph recorded this record-breaking performance for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2019.
Mumbai Indians managed to score 136/7 while batting first. However, Joseph’s bowling completely destroyed Sunrisers batting order where he took six wickets as Sunrisers Hyderabad got all out for 96 runs.
Top 10 Best Bowling Figures in IPL History
| Rank | Bowler | Figures | Team | Opposition | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alzarri Joseph | 6/12 | Mumbai Indians | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2019 |
| 2 | Sohail Tanvir | 6/14 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | 2008 |
| 3 | Adam Zampa | 6/19 | Rising Pune Supergiant | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2016 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | 5/5 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Rajasthan Royals | 2009 |
| 4 | Akash Madhwal | 5/5 | Mumbai Indians | Lucknow Super Giants | 2023 |
| 6 | Jasprit Bumrah | 5/10 | Mumbai Indians | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2022 |
| 6 | Mohit Sharma | 5/10 | Gujarat Titans | Mumbai Indians | 2023 |
| 8 | Ishant Sharma | 5/12 | Deccan Chargers | Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 2011 |
| 9 | Lasith Malinga | 5/13 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Daredevils | 2011 |
| 10 | Ankit Rajpoot | 5/14 | Kings XI Punjab | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2018 |
| 10 | Mark Wood | 5/14 | Lucknow Super Giants | Delhi Capitals | 2023 |
Ankit Rajpoot and Mark Wood share the same figures, so both are included at the same ranking.
The Three Six-Wicket Hauls in IPL History
Taking six wickets in an IPL innings is extremely rare. Only three bowlers have achieved the feat.
| Bowler | Figures | Team | Opposition | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alzarri Joseph | 6/12 | Mumbai Indians | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2019 |
| Sohail Tanvir | 6/14 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | 2008 |
| Adam Zampa | 6/19 | Rising Pune Supergiant | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2016 |
Alzarri Joseph
Out of all the performances, Joseph’s 6/12 is the best among the three. He managed to do that feat in his IPL debut, which made Mumbai Indians’ defense of their total of 136. He was exceptional in this performance because he allowed just 12 runs in the process of taking six wickets.
Sohail Tanvir
So far, Sohail Tanvir is the only bowler in the history of IPL who has taken six wickets in an inning. Tanvir managed 6/14 in 2008 for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings. This performance by Tanvir made him hold the record of IPL until Alzarri Joseph managed to surpass it in 2019.
Adam Zampa
Adam Zampa took 6/19 for Rising Pune Supergiant against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016. This bowler is the third in the list who managed to take six wickets in an IPL inning. Though this performance by Zampa was great, the team could not win the match.
Best Bowling Figures by an Indian Bowler
An Indian bowler’s best performance in the IPL has been 5/5. This has been achieved twice; firstly by Anil Kumble for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Rajasthan Royals in 2009 and then again by Akash Madhwal for Mumbai Indians against Lucknow Super Giants in 2023 Eliminator.
Best Figures by Indian Bowlers
| Bowler | Figures | Team | Opposition | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anil Kumble | 5/5 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Rajasthan Royals | 2009 |
| Akash Madhwal | 5/5 | Mumbai Indians | Lucknow Super Giants | 2023 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 5/10 | Mumbai Indians | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2022 |
| Mohit Sharma | 5/10 | Gujarat Titans | Mumbai Indians | 2023 |
| Ishant Sharma | 5/12 | Deccan Chargers | Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 2011 |
| Ankit Rajpoot | 5/14 | Kings XI Punjab | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2018 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 5/16 | Chennai Super Kings | Deccan Chargers | 2012 |
| Amit Mishra | 5/17 | Delhi Daredevils | Deccan Chargers | 2008 |
Kumble’s 5/5 came in a remarkable low-scoring match. Rajasthan Royals were bowled out for only 58 while chasing 134.
Madhwal’s 5/5 was similarly destructive. His spell helped Mumbai Indians dismiss Lucknow Super Giants for 101 in the 2023 Eliminator.
Bumrah Best Bowling Figures in IPL
Jasprit Bumrah’s best bowling figures in IPL have been 5/10. This has been achieved by Bumrah for Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022. In this innings, Bumrah bowled his four overs quota and took five wickets by giving away just 10 runs.
Bumrah’s Best IPL Bowling Figures
| Statistic | Details |
|---|---|
| Bowler | Jasprit Bumrah |
| Team | Mumbai Indians |
| Opposition | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Season | 2022 |
| Overs | 4 |
| Runs conceded | 10 |
| Wickets | 5 |
| Figures | 5/10 |
Bumrah has also produced another IPL five-wicket haul, taking 5/21 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024. However, 5/10 remains his best IPL bowling figures.
Why Are Five-Wicket Hauls So Difficult in IPL?
Normally, a bowler receives only four overs in T20 matches, limiting his chances to take wickets. At the same time, IPL players are required to be attacking from the very beginning of the game. In addition, any costly over may spoil the figures of the bowler in a blink of an eye.
In order to achieve five-wicket haul, a bowler requires to possess good control and variations as well as skills to take wickets at the right moment. Furthermore, when wickets are taken at minimum runs conceded, this achievement gets an extra value.
What Makes an IPL Bowling Spell Exceptional?
The number of wickets is only one part of a great bowling performance.
Wickets at Important Moments
Breaking partnerships or dismissing set batters can completely change an innings.
Low Run Rate
A bowler who controls the scoring while taking wickets creates enormous pressure on the opposition.
Strong Opposition
Taking wickets against a powerful batting line-up makes a spell more impressive.
Match Situation
A spell while defending a modest total can be especially valuable because every run saved matters.
Execution Under Pressure
T20 bowlers have very little margin for error. Accurate yorkers, slower balls and changes of pace can be crucial during the final overs.
Best Bowling Figures vs Most Career Wickets
Two of the records related to bowling are best bowling figures and the most career wickets. The former shows how the bowler performed during one match, while the latter reflects his success across many seasons of IPL.
It means that a bowler may have an extended and very successful IPL career but not be present on the list of best bowling figures, since one performance is needed in order to get into this list. Thus, the records show two various aspects of IPL bowling performances.
Key IPL Bowling Records
| Record | Player | Figures |
|---|---|---|
| Best bowling figures in IPL history | Alzarri Joseph | 6/12 |
| First IPL six-wicket haul | Sohail Tanvir | 6/14 |
| Third IPL six-wicket haul | Adam Zampa | 6/19 |
| Best figures by an Indian | Anil Kumble | 5/5 |
| Joint-best Indian figures | Akash Madhwal | 5/5 |
| Bumrah’s best IPL figures | Jasprit Bumrah | 5/10 |
| Most wickets in one IPL innings | Joseph, Tanvir & Zampa | 6 |
Conclusion
The best bowling figures in the history of IPL belong to Alzarri Joseph, who achieved 6/12 for Mumbai Indians in 2019. Only Sohail Tanvir and Adam Zampa were able to take six wickets in one IPL match besides him. Moreover, only Anil Kumble and Akash Madhwal achieved 5/5 as best figures of Indian bowlers. The best figures of Jasprit Bumrah are 5/10, which once again proves his skills of taking wickets in perfect conditions.
Thus, it is very hard for a bowler to achieve five-wicket haul due to only four overs in T20 innings. That is why best bowling figures have so much value for IPL.
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