IPL 2022: 4 best death-overs bowlers in league's history
The IPL is all about intense action, breathtaking strokes, loads of wickets, and stunning fielding. With short boundaries and large bats, the bowlers have copped a lot of punishment over the years.
However, they too have evolved and now, with each passing IPL game, they come up with tactics and bowling changes to befuddle the batters.
Despite all this, the death overs have often proved to be game-changing owing to the fact that the batters go hell for leather at this stage. Bowling in death overs requires a lot of skill and a strong temperament, apart from the ability to always be a step ahead of the batters.
Let's take a look at four bowlers in IPL's history who have mastered the art of bowling in the slog overs of a match.
Jasprit Bumrah
Arguably the best bowler in such situations, across formats, is Jasprit Bumrah. He has the ability to pick up wickets with the new ball and then, come back to close out the innings as well.
Over the years, he has been a match-winner for Mumbai Indians in IPL and has been one of the biggest reasons for their consistent performances in the league.
As far as his numbers in the final overs are concerned, Bumrah has picked up 63 wickets in 97 innings. Whenever he has bowled in the last four overs, he has conceded runs at an economy rate of 8.73 with an average of 21.30.
Click here to view the IPL Winners List.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
If Jasprit Bumrah is pure talent and skills, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is all about grit and perseverance. Over the years, he has added a lot of new deliveries to his repertoire and, from being an expert in swing bowling, he is now one of the leading bowlers in the slog overs in IPL.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a star for Sunrisers Hyderabad and has, more often than not, got the job done for them when it comes to finishing a bowling innings well. He has picked up 68 wickets in 105 innings in the final four overs with an economy rate of 9.28 and an average of 20.11.
Lasith Malinga
Former Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga is perhaps the best bowler in the history of the shortest format, including IPL, when it comes to death-overs bowling. With his slingy action, raw pace, plethora of variations, and pin-point yorkers, he carved a niche for himself in the IPL.
Playing for the Mumbai Indians over the years, Malinga was the most effective bowler in the last four overs. In 109 innings where he bowled at this stage, the Lankan star picked up 90 wickets at an astounding economy rate of 7.82. His average in this phase is 13.28.
The action, those yorkers and that smile! 🔥😇
You'll always be an important member of #OneFamily, Mali! 💙
#MumbaiIndians @ninety9sl https://t.co/Qve5OL6Byf
Dwayne Bravo
One of the greatest all-rounders to have played franchise T20 cricket, Dwayne Bravo continues to impress in the IPL. This season, he will play for Chennai Super Kings again and is likely to be used, among other things, for bowling tightly in the las few overs of the innings.
Over the years, Bravo has picked up 91 wickets in 116 innings at an economy rate of 9.78. His average during the last fifth of a bowling innings in IPL matches is an impressive 18 and this speaks volumes of his ability.
🥳🕺🏻
🏏🎤🥳🕺🏻
The All rounder of EntertaINment is back in #Yellove!
@DJBravo47 #SuperAuction #WhistlePodu 🦁💛 https://t.co/AjWKI4gDcY