Top 5 bowlers in IPL 2014

Twenty20 cricket is mostly advertised as a batsmansgame and even if the curator provides a track slightly in favour of bowlers, ironically,the match will be referredas boring by the modern youth who demand the ball racing towards the fence atleast onceevery over.In this context, how a bowler fares against the shorter boundaries, modern strong bats with extra wood behind the sweet spot and even at the edges that now looklike sides not edges anymore (according to a well known cricket analyst), will be crucial for their side to chase a decent total or defend a low score.In this IPL, the UAE leg of the tournament offered an equal balance between bat and ball. Sunil Narine, when asked about the large boundaries on one side and the track that gave equal chance for both the batsmen and bowlers, he claimed T20 as a batsmansgame and it is time they get something back.These words when coming from the leading T20 bowler in the world, tells stories about their sufferings. Here we take a look at the bowlers who have managed to get through all the obstacles and fox the batsmen with their skills in this IPL 2014.Normally the Orange Cap isdominated by India and Purple Cap by the foreigners, but notably there was a good number of Indians who made it to the list of Purple Cap something that is a rarity at the IPL.Bowlers who narrowly missed out on this list: Varun Aaron andPravin Tambe.Special mention: Harbhajan Singh the only bowler to go at less than run-a-ball in IPL 2014 so far.

#5 Lasith Malinga

The Sri Lankan ‘slinger’ has been the pick of the Mumbai Indian bowlers and the partnership breaker who bowls yorkers at will. With the round-arm action that is unique to this man, he lands the deliveries on the toes to cramp the batsmen for room and enjoys significant success with his tight line.

Going under 7 runs an over, he strikes at a healthy average of 15.81 – the second best among the bowlers who have bowled 10 or more overs.

#4 Sunil Narine

The mystery spinner from West Indies, who sports a calm look without considering what happens in the field has been an asset for Kolkata Knight Riders.

‘Play him out and go after the other bowlers’, will be the strategy for the majority of the opposition batsmen who have struggling everytime when facing his variations. At 6.08 runs per over he has taken 20 wickets for the Knight Riders. It should be noted that he is the one in-charge of bowling at he death and still goes for just about a run a ball.

#3 Sandeep Sharma

The bowler who has to be the find of the tournament and tends to provide a break-through early in the innings. He has an incredible strike rate of 13.11 so far. It is the best strike rate for bowlers who have bowled a minimum of 10 overs in the IPL. In just 10 matches, he has claimed 17 wickets for Kings XI Punjab.

At just 21 years of age, the former Under-19 player has plenty to offer for his franchise and his country with his swing. He is capable of bowling both the in-swingers and out-swingers at a decent pace.

#2 Mohit Sharma

The ‘Chennai Super King,’ who took charge of bowling the death overs in the absence of Dwayne Bravo has delivered more than what was expected. The Haryana bowler also relies on swing as his strength and has developed a good slower ball to deceive the batsmen.

At 18 wickets from 12 matches so far, he has been the go-to-bowler for Mahendra Singh Dhoni when things go bad. The bowler who was picked again by the franchise at the auction has proved that it was a good move.

#1 Bhuvaneshwar Kumar

No prizes for guessing who’s at the top.

The lad from Uttar Pradesh impressed everyone with his swing when he debuted for India against Pakistan in a T20 match. After ythat, there was turning back for this 23-year-old who has cemented his place in both the limited over formats of the game. In this IPL, playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad alongside Dale Steyn, he is enjoying tremendous success with his line and length. The right-arm swing bowler has scalped 20 wickets in 12 matches.

He’s never shy to mention swing as his strength and has grown in confidence while bowling the death overs which is a good news for the national side. With the best average of all the bowlers in this IPL – 14.8 runs per wicket, courtesy his accurate spells he conceds at just 6.32 runs per over. Among the bowlers who have bowled more than 40 overs, his economy rate is next only to Sunil Narine and Harbhajan Singh.

Dale Steyn has mentioned that Bhuvaneshwar Kumar will be an ‘asset’ for India in away tours.