5 Top T20 bowlers of all time
Here, we will take a look at the five top t20 bowlers of all time. T-20 matches have been nothing short of pacey, exciting and entertaining due to the on-field and off-field antics that go with it. The glamour and splendour that go hand-in-hand with the competition is something to look forward to by every cricket fan in the world. Some people who don’t follow the sport take up the reigns of following it just so that they can support the place to which they belong to and enjoy the swashbuckling play that this game provides. The batting department is one area of the game which has enthralled many fans around the globe due to the aggresiveness with which these players let their bats talk. The fielding has been quick, with a certain doze of urgency in it. Some mind-blowing catches have been taken by these fielders in the past. Therefore, there’s little surprise that the batsmen and bowlers get to come in the limelight more often that not. But it’s the bowling department which has been largely undermined in the media, comparatively, even when it has shone on the cricket pitch. So, we will take a look at some of the best t20 bowlers of all-time who have been consistent and reliable for their teams over the years.
?5. Saeed Ajmal
The 36 year-old off-break bowler frrom Faisalabad has been a revelation in the T20 format since it’s inception. His ability to get repeated variations to his bowling has baffled many batsmen. His wicket-taking prowess has never hampered his economy rate much as he stands with a decent economy rate of 6.21 in 140 T20 matches, scalping 203 wickets on the way. His over-reliance on his doosra has been questioned by many but he never shies away from responsibility when bestowed upon him. A true team player.
4.Dale Steyn
A bowler who has come down the pecking order, Dale Steyn was one of the indomitable best in the business around the globe. But his recent showing for his IPL team, Sunrisers Hyderabad, has baffled many, especially the slaughtering by his teammate, AB De VIlliers, was too humbling for the pacer. With a blistering career-best performance of 4 for 9 against West Indies in 2007, Dale Steyn is an extreme speedster with paces ranging from 140-150 km/h. Due to his ability to swing the ball both ways, he has been vastly devastating in Tests too and is currently ranked no.1 in the ICC Test rankings. Barring two or three performances, Steyn has managed his reputation for being largely economical in this year’s edition and, due to his lethal consistency over the past few years, he has been included in this list. Everybody expects him to make a comeback next year due to his immense potential.
?3. R. Ashwin
Contracted to Chennai Super Kings, Ravichandran Aswin has been largely impressive in the IPL over the past few years. His “carrom ball” has proved to be a decisive factor between a win and a loss numerous times.This Chennai-based off-spinner had Ajantha Mendis as an inspiration for this mystery ball and , variating it, he made it his own. But these heavy variations proved to be too costly for him many times and therefore, he lightened down his dependency on these deliveries and brought forth his traditional off-spin bowling. His wit enhances his ability to read the game much better than his other counterparts and this shows in his bowling as he has taken 148 wickets in 142 matches with a decent economy rate of 6.75. A man on whom captain M.S. Dhoni can rely on both nationally as well as in the IPL.
2. Lasith Malinga
This curly-haired Sri Lankan pacer has been dreaded by many batsmen to be their biggest obstacle in getting a big score. In contrast, this bowler doesn’t concentrate much on economy rates but more on picking up wickets for his team. His toe-crushing deliveries have demolished even the best batsmen in the world. Reputed for his controversial round-arm action which deceives many, Malinga failed to impress his critics in this year’s IPL due to the minimal matches that he played. But his fabulous statistics of 262 wickets in 162 T20 matches, with a tight economy rate of 6.60, has made him a consistent selection for captains who need wickets or baffle those batsem who have a problem with Malinga’s mysterious ball trajectory. A gem of a player.
?1. Sunil Narine
This enigmatic off-spinner from Trinidad has gained fame with his unpredictable deliveries due to his unrelenting bowling action, which has been changed since doubts were cast over it during the Caribbean T20 in 2011. Being the first-choice spinner for West Indies, Narine has been the man to watch out for in the IPL over the years. Getting to bowl the key overs of the match, Narine rarely fails to disappoint as batsmen prefer to fend off his deliveries with delicacy rather than aggression. Hence, the brilliant economy rate of 5.52 in T20s. Also, he has tenacious bowling statistics of 215 wickets in just 128 T20s! This explains how Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for 700K and went on to win the IPL through the bowling skills of a certain Sunil Narine, the IPL Man of the Tournament,in 2012. Such is the influence of the diminuitive Trinidadian.
