Ranking the top 10 greatest Indian IPL bowlers of all time ft. Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is becoming a batters' tournament with each passing edition, but history is a proof that it is the bowlers who have guided teams to titles. With only four overseas players allowed in the playing XI, and star batters often being the attraction, it is the Indian bowlers who comprise the bulk of any bowling attack in the competition.
There have been some incredible overseas bowlers in the competition, but the surrounding act by the Indian bowlers who provide versatility and balance to the bowling attack is equally important. Over the years, there have been a handful of Indian bowlers who have played their role to perfection, and shown enough consistency and impact to be considered among the greatest players the competition has ever seen.
On that note, let us take a look at the top 10 greatest Indian IPL bowlers of all time.
#10 Harshal Patel
The 2021 IPL Purple Cap winner, and the best exponent of death bowling in recent times, Harshal Patel has bagged 135 wickets in just 106 matches. He had a regular start to his IPL career, where he was a backup bowler in the Bengaluru and Delhi setups.
A return to RCB in 2021 turned his fortunes around as he was able to get the most out of himself by bowling largely in the death overs. His ability on two-paced surfaces is matched only by a few bowlers in the competition, and it has rewarded him with some big paychecks in recent times as well.
#9 Harbhajan Singh
The champion off-spinner has a storied IPL career, which begins with a stint as a stand-in captain for the Mumbai Indians. He served his first franchise from 2008 to 2017, winning titles in the process, and spearheading the spin department. The second phase of his career was also eventful, as titles continued to find their way courtesy of a stint with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Harbhajan Singh is perhaps not the best advertisement when it comes to consistency in the IPL, but as low as his lows are, the highs are that high. Match-winning spells in the finals of the 2013 and 2015 editions, along with a memorable 2019 campaign in the twilight of his career are all feathers in his cap.
#8 Ravichandran Ashwin
Longevity, skill, and consistency all included in one, Ravichandran Ashwin is the owner of one prolific IPL career. Having the perfect start with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) under MS Dhoni, he made the most of it by showcasing his smart reading of the game and variations.
He evolved to eventually become the captain of the Kings XI Punjab (now renamed as Punjab Kings), and then went on to have impactful stints as a veteran with the Delhi Capitals, and the Rajasthan Royals.
The off-spinner has 180 wickets in 212 matches with an economy rate of 7.12.
#7 Sandeep Sharma
A bowler whose impact goes under the radar, but is shone through his consistency., Sandeep Sharma, has been one of the talents that IPL has nurtured. The right-arm medium pacer has donned several avatars over the years. In his early days and the peak of his career, he was a new ball specialist, getting the ball to move around with his gentle pace.
Over the years, he has evolved, and is now operating as a death overs specialist for the Rajasthan Royals (RR).
He has never bagged more than 20 wickets for the season, and his first five-wicket haul came in 2024, his 12th season in the league, but all of that is irrelevant considering what he brings to the table. He has 137 wickets in 127 matches with an economy of 7.88 in the IPL.
#6 Mohammed Shami
A late bloomer in the IPL, and in the T20 format in general, Shami's use of his red-ball skills into the shortest format has been wonderful to witness. The right-arm pacer struggled during his stints with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Delhi Daredevils (now renamed to Capitals), where he picked up only 21 wickets across his first five seasons.
However, a shift to the Punjab Kings turned things around. Since then, he has averaged 21.2 wickets per season, which is an incredible feat. Maintaining such a high level of consistency is something that only a few bowlers have been able to do it in the IPL. He even won the Purple Cap in the 2023 edition, with 28 scalps to his name.
Shami's primary wicket-taking route has been through the new ball, where he gets it to zip it under the lights, and trouble batters with the typical Test match length. He has been on and off in the death overs, but has delivered wickets despite at the expense of some runs.
#5 Amit Mishra
The veteran leg-spinner has been a reliable bowling option for teams over the years. He has represented four franchises across his IPL career, and has had a role to play in each stint, even as an ageing mentor/player with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) recently.
At the peak of his prowess, Mishra was a must-have in the playing XI. With teams realizing leg-spinners being non-negotiable with their genuine wicket-taking ability and variations, he profited from that, and made a lasting impact. He has taken 174 wickets in 162 appearances with an economy of 7.37.
While he was never involved in a neck-to-neck Purple Cap race, he assured consistency, and delivered accordingly.
#4 Piyush Chawla
The ever-experienced Piyush Chawla, who is still running strong, is the second leading wicket-taker in IPL history, narrowly behind the top spot. With 192 wickets in as many matches with an economy of 7.96, the leg-spinner has had quite a journey while representing four franchises.
Chawla recorded wickets in double figures in each of his nine seasons, and a second unprecedented peak ensured his maiden season with over 20 wickets in the 2023 season.
#3 Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The right-arm pacer has spearheaded SunRisers Hyderabad's (SRH) bowling attack for a decade, and has been a stellar all-round bowler. Whether it be his ability with the new ball, choke runs in the middle, or under-rated death bowling skills, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has stepped up on each occasion.
He won the Purple Cap award across consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, making him the only bowler to achieve the feat in a row. He is the leading wicket-taker among Indian pacers, and fourth overall, with 181 wickets in 176 matches at an economy rate of 7.56. He has taken more than 10 wickets in a season, a total of nine times.
#2 Jasprit Bumrah
There is a reason why Bumrah was the highest-paid bowler on the IPL retention list released recently. The pacer, possibly the greatest all-format bowler of the generation, has been proficient in T20 cricket right from the start. It was the shortest format that pushed him into the spotlight, and he has not turned back since.
Oppositions have been forced to take his four overs into account irrespective of whether they are batting or bowling first. Having Bumrah is that big of a luxury, and there have only been a handful of bowlers who strike fear into the hearts of the opposition like he does.
The right-arm pacer is the ninth leading wicket-taker with 165 scalps in 133 matches with an economy of 7.30.
#1 Yuzvendra Chahal
The leading wicket-taker in the history of the tournament, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been a born wicket-taker. After a forgettable stint with MI in the formative years of his career, he found his calling in Bengaluru. He cracked the code of bowling at the challenging M Chinnaswamy Stadium, and found a lot of success despite bowling with short boundaries and a flat pitch.
A switch to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in 2022, did not impact his wicket-taking abilities by any means. He won the Purple Cap in his first season with the new franchise, and became the first player to reach the 200-wicket mark in the 2024 edition.