While T20 is predominantly perceived as the game of batsmen for etching pacey strike rates, some bowlers have defied the odds to grab wickets in the lowest number of games
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is in progress, and as always, batsmen are hitting vast numbers of runs in a minimal number of deliveries. In short, the IPL or T20, in general, has always been perceived as the game of batters who are all about hitting the ball out of the boundary to score quick runs with a smaller number of deliveries. However, some bowlers have defied the odds and racked up wickets at a much greater pace in a very limited number of deliveries.
In the following paragraphs, let’s recall the fastest five bowlers who took 50 IPL wickets in the least number of IPL matches.
Now playing for the Punjab Kings, back in 2020, the South African bowler was with the Delhi Capitals. Playing only his 27th IPL match, Rabada created history when he dismissed Chennai Super Kings’ Faf du Plessis on the fourth ball of the 15th over in the 31st match of the Indian Premier League 2020. He picked up his 50th wicket in 27 games.
Rabada may still be holding the record, but before him, the record belonged to West Indies mystery bowler Sunil Narine, who achieved the feat in 2014. However, Narine needed 32 games to reach his 50 wickets—five more games than Rabada.
Narine celebrating a wicket
One of the greatest bowlers in the history of cricket, Lasith Malinga, pledged loyalty to the Mumbai Indians and remained with the team till the end of his career. Despite his growing age, Malinga did his magic with the ball and, therefore, stands third on this list with 50 wickets in 33 deliveries. Malinga also picked up six 4-wicket hauls in his IPL career and one 5-er with the best of 5/13. In 122 IPL matches, he picked up 170 wickets, maintaining an average of 19.80 and an economy of 7.14.
South African stalwart Imran Tahir is the next name on this list. He made his IPL debut in 2014 and played for multiple IPL franchises, such as Dare Daredevils, the Rising Pune Supergiants, and the Chennai Super Kings. To reach 50 wickets, Tahir required 35 games. In 59 IPL matches, Tahir has picked up 82 wickets, out of which 26 wickets in 2019 and 18 wickets in 2017 were his best seasons.
Imran Tahir’s iconic running-around-field celebration after grabbing a crucial wicket for CSK
After Tahir, Mitchell McClenaghan took 36 matches to reach 50 wickets, and below him is Amit Mishra, who needed 37 games to reach 50 IPL wickets. After Amit, it is Mitchell Johnson and Mohit Sharma who jointly share the space, reaching 50 IPL wickets in 38 games. Finally, the tenth position is shared by Chahal, Sandeep Sharma, and RP Singh, all of whom needed 40 matches to reach the milestone.
Will KagisoRabada’s record stay intact in the ongoing IPL season, or will it be shattered by the end of May? We certainly wish to see a new record-holder!
