5 highest wicket-takers in the IPL history

Since its origin in the year 2008, the Indian Premier League has always captured the imagination of cricket fans in India and around the world. IPL has brought about a revolution in the cricketing world. The followers of cricket multiplied with each passing year of the cash-rich league.

It has proved to be a launching platform for young talented Indian players to get an early ticket to represent the National team.. Talking about the league it has already completed 11 seasons and the world got a chance to witness the most destructive batsmen around the world play in the same league.

Even though the fans link up Twenty20 with big hitting and long sixes, it is the bowlers who are the real match-winners. The amount of runs put up on the board do not matter if the bowling unit cannot defend the target. While there have been several one season wonders, some bowlers have maintained their top performance in all the 11 seasons.

Here’s a countdown of the top 5 wicket takers in the IPL over the 11 years:

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#5 Harbhajan Singh

The Turbanator was the main spinner for MI

Harbhajan Singh is a legendary off-spinner hailing from Punjab, India. Singh is famous by the name ‘Bhajji’ and has played an important role in the fame of his ‘Doosra’ (the wrong one) delivery. He started his IPL career with MI and he played for them for a decade. His 10 seasons’ stay with the Mumbai Indians ended when he was picked by the Chennai Super Kings in the 2018 auction.

The off-spinner has scalped 134 wickets in 149 matches with an economy of 7.05. Apart from his bowling, Bhajji has been a great entertainer on the field with him mimicking the “Gangnam” dance being one of the iconic moments of his career.

#4 Dwayne Bravo

The "Champion" DJ Bravo played an important role in CSK's 2 title victories

Dwayne Bravo is a fast bowling all-rounder from West Indies. The West Indian was also the first bowler to reach 400 wickets across all formats of the T20s. He started his IPL career with Mumbai Indians. Then, he played for Chennai Super Kings and moved to the Gujarat Lions during CSK’s exile before coming back to the CSK squad.

He has taken 136 wickets in 122 matches with an economy of 8.40. Bravo is the best bowling all-rounder in the t20 format. The Champion recently announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket but will continue to take part in the T20 leagues.

#3 Piyush Chawla

The UP spinner was a part of the WC winning squad in 2011

The Indian discard leg-spinner Piyush Chawla stands third in the highest wicket-takers’ list. The batsmen find it hard to tackle Piyush Chawla‘s googly. Chawla started his IPL career with Kings XI Punjab before moving to the Shahrukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders a few seasons later.

He has taken 140 wickets in 144 IPL matches with an economy rate of 7.71. Chawla has proven to be a worth all-rounder with some match-winning innings in crucial matches for his team.

#2 Amit Mishra

Mishra has the record of most IPL hat-tricks to his name

Amit Mishra is a well-known leg-spinner from India. Mishra started his IPL career playing for the Delhi Daredevils. He then played for the Deccan Chargers before moving to the Sunrisers Hyderabad and returning to the DD squad again after a few seasons.

The spin wizard has taken 146 wickets in the 136 matches he has played with an economy of 7.39. Amit is also the man with most (3) hat-tricks in the IPL history. The right arm wrist spinner can be hailed as one pioneer of the leg-spinners’ revolution in the shortest format of the game.

#1 Lasith Malinga

Malinga had been MI's cornerstone for 10 seasons

Lasith Malinga is a right arm fast medium pacer from Sri Lanka. Due to his unique slinging bowling action, he’s also called ‘Slinga Malinga’. He has been playing for the Mumbai Indians since 2008. Because of his slinging action, it was very difficult for the batsmen to pick his deliveries. His yorkers and slower ones made him an unplayable bowler in IPL. He is the top wicket-taker in IPL with 154 wickets in 110 matches to his name at an economy rate of 6.86.

Malinga also had a mesmerizing strike rate of 16.61 in IPL history which says he scalps a wicket every 16th or 17th ball. Malinga was the backbone of the Mumbai bowling attack. But due to injuries and age not on his side, the franchises picked young talented bowlers ahead of him in the IPL Auction 2018.