The world’s best T20 league IPL is a game of batsmen. People love IPL because they get to see a lot of cricketing fireworks in the form of fours and sixes. But this doesn’t mean that bowling is completely ignored in IPL. In fact, IPL has seen some of the best bowling figures in T20 cricket. Here I am going to tell you about the top 10 best bowling figures in IPL history that made batting look like a secondary thing in the IPL.
Top 10 best bowling figures in IPL history
Here is a list of 10 best IPL bowling figures in IPL from 2008 to 2020.
| S. No | Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Team | Opposition | Year |
| 1 | AS Joseph | 3.4 | 12 | 6 | 3.27 | Mumbai Indians | SRH | 2019 |
| 2 | Sohail Tanvir | 4 | 14 | 6 | 3.5 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | 2008 |
| 3 | Adam Zampa | 4 | 19 | 6 | 4.75 | Rising Pune Supergiants | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2016 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | 3.1 | 5 | 5 | 1.57 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Rajasthan Royals | 2009 |
| 5 | Ishant Sharma | 3.0 | 12 | 5 | 4 | Deccan Chargers | Kochi Tuskers | 2011 |
| 6 | Lasith Malinga | 3.4 | 13 | 5 | 3.54 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals | 2011 |
| 7 | Ankit Rajpoot | 4 | 14 | 5 | 3.5 | Kings XI Punjab | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2018 |
| 8 | Ravindra Jadeja | 4 | 16 | 5 | 4 | Chennai Super Kings | Deccan Chargers | 2012 |
| 9 | James Faulkner | 4 | 16 | 5 | 4 | Rajasthan Royals | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2013 |
| 10 | Amit Mishra | 4 | 17 | 5 | 4.25 | Delhi Capitals | Deccan Chargers | 2008 |
Source: iplt20.com
1. Alzarri Joseph (3.4-12-6)
West Indian pace bowler Alzarri Joseph was included in the Mumbai Indian team in IPL 2019. This inclusion of him in the Mumbai Indians team worked like magic for them in a match against SRH.
Mumbai was defending a low total of just 136 runs and Alzarri came to their rescue and took 6 wickets which led to a 40 run victory for Mumbai.
His best bowling figure in IPL is 3.4-12-6.
2. Sohail Tanvir (4-14-6)
Sohail Tanvir was a Pakistani player who held the record of the best bowling figure in the IPL history for 10 years. Although Pakistani players are not allowed to play in the IPL today, they used to play in the initial year of IPL.
Sohail Tanvir used to play for Rajasthan Royals in the year 2008 when he took 6 wickets in a match against a CSK.
His best bowling figure in IPL is 4-14-6.
3. Adam Zampa (4-19-6)
Australian spin bowler Adam Zampa is the 3rd bowler in this list of the best bowling figures in IPL history.
Adam Zampa recorded his best bowling figure of IPL in IPL 2016.
Adam Zampa played for Rising Pune Supergiants in the year 2016 which was a new team included in the IPL replacing CSK that was banned for 2 years due to the match-fixing scandal.
His best bowling figure is 4-19-6.
4. Anil Kumble (3.1-5-5)
India’s most successful spin bowler Anil Kumble occupies the 4th spot in this list of top 10 best IPL bowling figures.
India’s former leg spinner registered his best bowling figure in the IPL against Rajasthan Royals.
Kumble played for RCB and took 5 wickets in a match against RR.
RCB was defending a low total of 133 runs and Kumble helped RCB to restrict RR on just 58 runs.
Kumble took 5 wickets in his spell of 3.1 overs and conceded just 5 runs which is also the most economical bowling figure in IPL history.
His best bowling figure in IPL is 3.1-5-5.
5. Ishant Sharma (3-12-5)
India’s one of the best fast bowlers Ishant Sharma occupies the 5th spot in this list of best bowling figures in IPL history.
Ishant Sharma recorded his best bowling figure in the IPL in the year 2011.
Ishant played for Deccan Chargers (now Sunrisers Hyderabad) and took 5 wickets in a match against Kochi Tuskers.
His best bowling figure in IPL is 3-12-5.
6. Lasith Malinga (3.4-13-5)
Srilankan pace legend Lasith Malinga is the 6th player to make his name among the players with the best bowling figures in IPL.
Lasith Malinga achieved this feat while playing for MI in a match against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2011. He bowled 3.4 overs and took 5 wickets with an economy rate of 3.54.
His best bowling figure in IPL is 3.4-13-5.
7. Ankit Rajpoot (4-14-5)
Young Indian pacer Ankit Rajpoot grabs 7th place in this list of best IPL bowling figures.
Ankit Rajpoot played for Kings XI Punjab and took 5 wickets in a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2018.
His best bowling figure is 4-14-5.
8. James Faulkner (4-16-5)
Australian all-rounder James Faulkner is the 1st all-rounder to be able to get a place on this list. He is a good batsman as well as a good bowler who becomes lethal with his slower balls.
His best performance came in a match between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013 where he took 5 wickets against Sunrisers while playing from Rajasthan Royals.
His best bowling figure in IPL is 4-16-5.
9. Ravindra Jadeja (4-16-5)
India’s current best all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is the number 9 bowler with the best bowling figures in IPL.
He started his IPL career with Rajasthan Royals and then he was taken by CSK which is his current team.
Jadeja’s best bowling spell in the IPL came against Deccan Chargers (now Sunrisers Hyderabad) in the 5th edition of IPL in 2012 where he took 5 wickets in his spell of 4 overs and conceded just 16 runs.
His best bowling figure in IPL is 4-16-5.
10. Amit Mishra (4-17-5)
Amit Mishra is the last bowler to sneak into this list of best bowling figures in IPL history.
Mishra is a right-arm leg-break bowler who has consistently performed in every IPL season. Mishra’s best performance came in the very 1st season of IPL in 2008 in a match between Delhi Capitals and Deccan Chargers where he dismissed 5 Deccan Chargers batsmen in his spell of 4 overs and conceded just 17 runs.
His best bowling figure in IPL is 4-17-5.
Also see: Top 10 highest scores in IPL history
