3 bowlers with most wickets in death overs in IPL
Watching the death overs in cricket, especially in the Indian T20 leg is something that the spectators eagerly wait for. But as exciting as it may look for the spectators, it is one of the most high-pressure situations for the bowlers. Only a few bowlers can master the art of death bowling, and hold the ability to prevent hitters from going rampant. Here are three bowlers have led the charge brilliantly in the history of IPL:
Bhuvneshwar Kumar- 75 Wickets
In the IPL, the 32-year-old is most renowned for his swing deliveries, which have consistently kept opening batsmen on the ropes. Of his 151 total wickets in the IPL, 75 have come in the death overs. He registered his best bowling figures of 5/19 against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the year 2017 and has also won the Purple Cap twice in the league since its inception. He is the only player to have won the cap consecutively for two years.
Lasith Malinga- 90 Wickets
The first name that pops to mind when death overs bowling is mentioned in the IPL is that of the Sri Lankan veteran Lasith Malinga. In his 12-year stint with the five-time champions Mumbai Indians, the now-retired bowler was always spearhead of Mumbai’s pace attack, taking 170 wickets and a staggering 90 wickets at death. During his tenure in the lucrative league, he claimed four wickets for 15 runs in his final two overs against Bangalore in 2019, which is one of his best spells in IPL.
Dwayne Bravo- 100 Wickets
Dwayne Bravo is a renowned T20 player who is frequently referred to as the ‘death over wizards’ alongside Lasith Malinga. Bravo is one of just two bowlers to win the Purple Cap twice. In high-scoring matches, the Trinidadian is recognized for his unique blend of slow balls and accurate yorkers, which allows him to stockpile the most dot balls possible. In 159 IPL matches, he has 181 wickets under his belt, and most of them have come in the death overs.