At the top of the list is Alzarri Joseph, who has the Best Bowling Figures in IPL History. His record has stayed unbeaten for years. Before that, the best spell belonged to Sohail Tanvir, who set the mark in the very first IPL season in 2008. Another name in the six-wicket group is Adam Zampa, a leg-spinner who showed that spin bowling can be just as dangerous as fast bowling.
Taking five wickets in a T20 match is not easy. And only a little over 70 bowlers have taken five wickets in an innings. Even more rare is taking six wickets in a match. Only three bowlers have managed that in IPL history, which makes their performances stand out even more.
The Indian Premier League is usually seen as a batsman’s game. Because of this, bowlers often have a tough job stopping runs. But every now and then, a bowler produces a spell that changes the whole match. One strong spell can break a powerful batting lineup and turn the game around. That is why the record for the best bowling figures in an IPL innings is so special. It shows how many wickets a bowler took while giving away the fewest runs.
List of the Top 5 Best Bowling Figures in IPL History
1. Alzarri Joseph – 6/12 (MI vs SRH, 2019)
On April 6, 2019, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Alzarri Joseph made his debut for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. Mumbai had scored only 136, so the Sunrisers Hyderabad looked set to chase it. Joseph changed the game. He took a wicket with his first IPL ball by dismissing David Warner and kept striking. He finished with 6 wickets for 12 runs in 3.4 overs, bowling SRH out for 96 and giving MI a 40-run win.
2. Sohail Tanvir – 6/14 (RR vs CSK, 2008)
During the first IPL season in 2008, Sohail Tanvir set the early record while playing for the Rajasthan Royals against the Chennai Super Kings at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. His unusual bowling action and swing made life difficult for the batsmen. He removed openers Parthiv Patel and Stephen Fleming early, then cleaned up the lower order. Tanvir ended with 6/14 in 4 overs as CSK were bowled out for 109. It helped RR win by eight wickets.
3. Adam Zampa – 6/19 (RPS vs SRH, 2016)
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa produced a brilliant spell for the Rising Pune Supergiant against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 10, 2016. He came in during the middle overs and started confusing the batsmen with flight and spin. Zampa dismissed big names like Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson, and Moises Henriques. He took 6 wickets and gave 19 runsin 4 overs.
4. Anil Kumble – 5/5 (RCB vs RR, 2009)
In the 2009 season at Cape Town, Anil Kumble, captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, produced a spell that shocked everyone. RCB had only 133 on the board against the Rajasthan Royals. Kumble dismissed players like Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shane Warne. His final figures were 5 wickets for just 5 runs in 3.1 overs. After this performance, RR were bowled out for 58.
5. Akash Madhwal – 5/5 (MI vs LSG, 2023)
For the Mumbai Indians, Akash Madhwal took five wickets against the Lucknow Super Giants. He removed key players like Marcus Stoinis, Ayush Badoni, and Nicholas Pooran. Madhwal ended with 5 wickets for just 5 runs in 3.3 overs. The LSG were out for 101 and MI won by 81 runs. This was an Eliminator match, which happened on May 24, 2023.
FAQs
Q. Who has the best bowling figures in IPL history?
A. Alzarri Joseph has the best bowling figures. He took 6 wickets and gave only 12 runs in 2019.
Q. Who had the record before Alzarri Joseph?
A. Sohail Tanvir had the record before him. He took 6 wickets and gave 14 runs in 2008.
Q. Which spinner took six wickets in an IPL match?
A. Adam Zampa took 6 wickets and gave 19 runs in 2016.
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