Ishant Sharma, Lasith Malinga and Amit Mishra
As per the common saying goes - 'Bowlers win you matches'. Over the ten years in the Indian Premier League, bowlers have a major responsibility in restricting the opposition from scoring big in the shortest format which is known to assist the batters. During the process, the bowlers end up creating various records that remain etched in the memory of every cricket lover. With the 11th edition dawning upon us, let's take a walk down memory lane and relive a bowler's best day at the office with their respective best figures established in the IPL history books.
Let's take a look at the Top 5 Best Bowling Figures
5. Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)
One of Sri Lanka's greatest exponents, the pacer has set a lot of records in the past decade while playing for Mumbai Indians. The bowler has been instrumental in MI victories and has been a part of the setup for the franchise which have won the coveted trophy thrice. Malinga is also the top wicket-taker in the IPL with 154 wickets to his name, however, unfortunately, season 10 was the Sri Lankan pacer's last with MI and will be working with the staff off-field as a mentor to the upcoming squad. The 34-year old has cemented his names in the IPL history books and has been inducted in the top five best bowling figures.
BBF: Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians) 5/13 vs Delhi Daredevils on April 10, 2011 at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi.
4. Ishant Sharma (Deccan Chargers)
Team India Test bowler Ishant Sharma has always had a knack for collecting wickets when it's highly unexpected from him and the right-arm pacer has never failed to impress. During his stint with Deccan Chargers, the Team India pacer had only played 12 matches for the Hyderabad team in 2009, but surely made his presence a memorable one. Ishant has played fro the Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad as well, but his BBF with the Chargers will always be his best. The pacer was left out of the IPL 2018 and will be a part of County Cricket in England, but the bowler can always look back and smile with a record which can be unachievable in today's time.
BBF: Ishant Sharma (Deccan Chargers) 5/12 vs Kochi Tuskers on April 27, 2011 at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Kochi.
3. Anil Kumble (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
This feat is near to impossible and can be the only accomplishment which can never be broken. Former Team India skipper and coach, Anil Kumble created history by taking one of the best five-wicket hauls ever in the history of cricket during his stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Kumble has always been sensational with his bowling as the right-arm leg break spinner always sent the batsman back to the hut within minutes of coming on. This particular feat spells history as it is a feat that is absurd, unsurmountable and an accomplishment which may never be repeated again.
BBF: Anil Kumble (Royal Challengers Bangalore) 5/5 vs Rajasthan Royals on April 18, 2009 at Newlands, Cape Town
2. Adam Zampa (Rising Pune Supergiants)
One of Australia's rising talents has already inducted his name in the history book on his first season in the IPL and the 25-year old bowled a magical spell that stunned the cricket fans. The right-arm leg break spinner had an unforgettable day at the office when he claimed six-wickets in a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016. The Australian spinner has a long way to go but apparently went unsold in the 11th edition of the IPL. Zampa stint with the Rising Pune Supergiants was for two years and had only played 11 matches. However, a spell which has been scripted in the history books of the IPL will surely be memorable for the fans and Zampa himself.
BBF: Adam Zampa (Rising Pune Supergiants) 6/19 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 10, 2016 at the ACA-VDCA in Hyderabad.
1. Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan Royals)
The top haul which has remained constantly on top since the inception of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and no bowler except Adam Zampa has been close to such a feat. Anil Kumble's 5/5 is an entirely different spell in the T20 league but it was Pakistan's Sohail Tanvir who stunned the world with his BBF has been the IPL's best figure so far. Tanvir collected six wickets in a match against Chennai Super Kings in 2008 and since then, only Zampa has been able to come close. Pakistan has been banned from playing in India and vice versa since 2009, however, Tanvir's feat remains on top of the IPL charts as the Best Bowling Figure.
BBF: Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan Royals) 6/14 vs Chennai Super Kings on May 4, 2008 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Rajasthan.
Most Hat-tricks in IPL
Collecting a hat-trick is never easy especially when one is under pressure in a T20 game. In the IPL over the 10 years, there has only been 14 bowlers who have been able to collect hat-tricks. However, the question arises, as to who has the most number of hat-tricks in the IPL over the ten seasons that have been played. Only two bowlers have managed to claim more than one. Take a look.
2. Yuvraj Singh
Unimaginable to think that one of India's most aggressive batsman can be as deadly with the ball and it is none other than the Punjabi all-rounder, Yuvraj Singh. The Team India batsman has always been the player to depend on with the bat as he has smashed and slammed rockets outside the stadium, however, Yuvraj has two hat-tricks to his name, the second player to have more than one in the ten seasons so far. The 'Punjabi Munda' is back with the Kings XI Punjab and we may get to see a more hungry Yuvraj in the 11th edition of the season.
Stats: In the 120 matches that Yuvraj has played so far, the left-arm orthodox spinner has collected 36 wickets, which contains two 4-wicket hauls. His best bowling figure has been 4/29.
1st Hat-trick: Yuvraj Singh (Kings XI Punjab) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (2009)
2nd Hat-trick: Yuvraj Singh (Kings XI Punjab) vs Deccan Chargers (2009)
1. Amit Mishra
A leg-spinner who has sharp skills has always been underestimated. The spinner has three hat-tricks to his name, a feat which has never been accomplished and the Haryana bowler is nowhere near slowing down. Mishra is the second highest wicket-taker in the IPL with 134 wickets, 20 behind Malinga who is the top wicket-taker in the IPL. Mishra has three four-wicket hauls and hat-tricks as well and the spinner maybe en route to becoming the IPL's all-time highest wicket-taker and may even collect a few more hat-tricks on the way.
1st Hat-trick: Amit Mishra (Delhi Daredevils) vs Deccan Chargers (2008)
2nd Hat-trick: Amit Mishra (Deccan Chargers) vs Kings XI Punjab (2011)
3rd Hat-trick: Amit Mishra (Sunrisers Hyderabad) vs Pune Warriors (2013)
