Indian Premier League has seen some of the best bowlings. Be it in terms of wickets or economy rate or dot balls. However when you look out for the most successful bowlers in IPL then the first thing that you want to consider is the number of wickets they have grabbed and secondly the bowler who has proved to be most economical in this format of the game. So, here is a list of best bowlers in IPL in terms of both these parameters.

Most Successful Bowlers in IPL History a Complete Analysis

In this list we’ll go step by step checking out stats for bowlers in each phase of the game namely – First Six Overs, Middle Overs and the Death Overs. You’ll also see two separate statistics  – one based on wickets and other based on economy rate. I hope this will help you decide on the most successful bowlers in IPL history. So, without much ado, let’s get started.

First Six Overs (1-6 overs) Powerplay Phase

The first six overs or the powerplay phase is incredibly crucial in this format of the game as this is what decides the course of the match. If a bowler is able to send back the openers along with some of the most powerful batsman back to the pavilion in just first six overs then it becomes pretty easy to hold a grasp over the course of the game. In the recent past Umesh Yadav from Royal Challengers Bangalore has proved his metal.

Highest wicket-takers in the first six overs in IPL History

Image Source – IPLT20

• Zaheer Khan – 52 wickets in 215.2 overs with an economy rate of 6.74 while giving only 1452 runs.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 43 wickets in 200.5 overs with an economy rate of 6.03 while giving just 1212 runs.
• Sandeep Sharma – 43 wickets in 157.5 overs with an economy rate of 6.91 while giving away just 1085 runs.
• Dhawal Kulkarni – 41 wickets in 141.4 overs with an economy rate of 7.93 while giving away just 1045 runs.
• Umesh Yadav  – 41 wickets in 154.0 overs with an economy rate of 7.56  while giving away only 1165.

Lowest Economy Rate in the First Six Overs in IPL History

Image Source – IPLT20

• Anil Kumble – With an economy rate of 4.89 in 18 overs while giving away just 88 runs and picking up 03 wickets, Kumble tops the list.
• Sachithra Senanayake  – With an economy rate of 5.24 in 21 overs while giving away just 110 runs and picking up 04 wickets, sachithra senanayake finishes of as the first runner up.
• Andrew Symonds – This Off-spinner and Medium pacer from Australia finishes of in the second runner up spot with an economy rate of 5.58 in 19 overs while giving away just 106 runs and picking up 04 wickets.
• Lungi Ngidi – At an economy rate of 5.60 in 15 overs while giving away just 84 runs and picking up 05 wickets, this players finishes of at the fourth spot.
• Glenn McGrath – At an economy rate of 5.70 in 37 overs while giving away just 211 runs and picking up 08 wickets, this excellent bowler also makes his spot in the list.

Middle Overs (7-15 Overs)

The Middle Overs are another important phase in this format of the game. It is the spinners who rule these overs. Therefore it is Amit Mishra  – the leg-spinner from Delhi Capitals who tops the list with 103 wickets in middle overs in the history of IPL, followed by Harbhajan Singh from Chennai Super Kings & Piyush Chawla from Kolkata Knight Riders both with 89 wickets. As far as economy rate is concerned, Jayant Yadav from the Mumbai Indians who has proved with metal with an economy of just 5.40.

Highest wicket-takers in the Middle overs in IPL History

Image Source – IPLT20

• Amit Mishra – 103 wickets in 377.0 overs with an economy rate of 6.97 while giving only 2628 runs.
• Harbhajan Singh – 89 wickets in 378.0 overs with an economy rate of 6.93 while giving only 2621 runs.
• Piyush Chawla – 89 wickets in 367.5 overs with an economy rate of 7.62 while giving only 2803 runs.
• Ravindra Jadeja – 66 wickets in 274.5 overs with an economy rate of 7.44 while giving only 2044 runs.
• Pragyan Ojha – 63 wickets in 228.5 overs with an economy rate of 6.85 while giving only 1567 runs.

Lowest Economy Rate in the Middle Overs in IPL History

Image Source – IPLT20

• Jayant Yadav – Economy of 5.40  in 15 Overs, gave away 81 runs and picked up 3 wickets.
• Wayne Parnell – Economy of 5.69 in 16 Overs, gave away 91 runs and picked up 2 wickets.
• Dimitri Mascarenhas – Economy of 5.79  in 19 Overs, gave away 110 runs and picked up 5 wickets.
• Munaf Patel – Economy of 6.02  in 66 overs, gave away 397 runs and picked up 22 wickets.
• Ish Sodhi – Economy of 6.05  in 22 overs, gave away 133 runs and picked up 5 wickets.

Death Overs (16-20 Overs)

The death overs has to be the most entertaining part of IPL matches. This is the time when the batsman are all set to go for those big shots and bowlers try hard to keep them in check. It is Lasith Malinga from Mumbai Indians who is the king of death overs. His attacking bowling style and precise bowling deliveries have made him the highest wicket taker in the death overs in IPL History. He has taken 96 wickets so far. Other names in the list inculde Dwayne Bravo from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and etc. In terms of economy, it is the left-handed Pakistani pacer, Sohail Tanvir who makes it to the top with an economy rate of 6.82 in death overs.

Highest wicket-takers in the Death overs (16-20 overs) in IPL History

Image Source – IPLT20

• Lasith Malinga – 96 wickets in 166.2 overs with an economy rate of 7.50 while giving only 1247 runs.
• Dwayne Bravo – 80 wickets in 168.4 overs with an economy rate of 9.50 while giving only 1603 runs.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 69 wickets in 130.1 overs with an economy rate of 8.66 while giving only 1127 runs.
• Sunil Narine – 55 wickets in 123.5 overs with an economy rate of 7.36 while giving only 912 runs.
• Ashish Nehra – 54 wickets in 87.5 overs with an economy rate of 8.86 while giving only 778 runs.

Lowest Economy Rate in the Death Overs in IPL History

Image Source – The Hindu

• Sohail Tanvir – Economy of 6.82  in 17.1 Overs, gave away 117 runs and picked up 16 wickets.
• Sunil Narine – Economy of 7.36  in 123.5 Overs, gave away 81 runs and picked up 55 wickets.
• Doug Bollinger – Economy of 7.49  in 39.0 Overs, gave away 292 runs and picked up 23 wickets.
• Lasith Malinga – Economy of 7.50  in 166.2 Overs, gave away 1247 runs and picked up 96 wickets.
• Mitchel Starc – Economy of 7.57  in 33.4 Overs, gave away 255 runs and picked up 17 wickets.

So, this was the complete analysis of best bowling figures in IPL history. Hope you liked this list of Most Successful bowlers in IPL History.

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