IPL 2018: Top 5 Magical spells in the league stages

T20 cricket has always posed forward the debate over the cruciality index of batsmen and bowlers. The modern-day cricket has inculcated innovation and edge in all aspects of the game but the bowling department has shown better adaptation than other aspects.

Take for instance the rise of wrist spin bowling in the last 5 years. Even the veteran off-spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin have added leg spin to their arsenal because of the very nature of the modern-day cricket that demands variations and tough mind-games between the bowler and the batsman.

IPL history has always shown the significance of bowlers towards winning matches. This IPL season is no different as fans witnessed the bowlers crush the myth and shatter the glass ceilings. From pacers like Andrew Tye to young leg spinners like Mujeeb Ur Rahman, bowlers have risen to the occasion and provided their respectiv

e teams with some incredible spells to break down the opposition.

Using variations and situational awareness, some bowlers have stolen the show and helped their respective teams avoid the hot water on numerous occasions. Let us take a look at 5 best bowling spells in the league stage of the ongoing IPL season.

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#1 Kuldeep Yadav: KKR vs RR (Match 49): 4-0-20-4

Kuldeep Yadav wreaked havoc with the ball

Kuldeep Yadav was having a tough tournament before this match and he utilized this opportunity to the full swing. RR team looked in great touch having scored 59 runs in 4 overs when Kuldeep was called up to bowl by Dinesh Karthik. The chinaman bowler proved his mettle by scalping 4 wickets for 20 runs to help his side restrict the Royals to 142.

This was a must-win situation for the men in purple. Kuldeep deceived the batsmen with finesse. He put up a clinic of spin bowling and dismissed dangerous batsmen like Ajinkya Rahane and Jos Buttler. The way he dismissed Ajinkya Rahane and Ben Stokes, in particular, reflect why he is one of the best wrist spinners today.

#2 Andrew Tye: KXIP vs MI (Match 50): 4-0-16-4

Tye celebrating with his team-mates after picking up a wicket

The Australian pacer displayed a world-class example of the art of fast bowling in IPL 2018. With some exceptional performances, he made a lot of fans this season. He was lethal with the ball throughout the tournament as reflected by the Purple Cap that he still holds. Tye became the 1st player to pick up three 4-wicket hauls in an IPL season.

Match no. 50 saw the third 4-wicket haul where he decimated the Mumbai Indians' batting lineup by dismissing Kevin Lewis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya. He bowled a magical spell of full quota and scalped 4 wickets by conceding only 16 runs. This performance was a display of absolute pace, precision and length variations.

#3 Ankit Rajpoot: KXIP vs SRH (Match 25): 4-0-15-4

The underdog proved his mettle against the Sunrisers

There was a lot of buzz regarding the young pacer as many believed him to be the dark horse for KXIP. The uncapped Indian bowler proved the speculation true by picking up a fifer against the dangerous SRH squad. After warming up the bench for the first few games, he rose to the occasion when an opportunity presented.

He received a lot of praises from experts regarding his cricketing understanding and control over the ball. He constantly troubled the batsmen with pace and length variations that rewarded him with crucial wickets like Kane Williamson, Shikhar Dhawan and Manish Pandey. He bowled 17 dot balls in 4 overs and conceded only 14 runs.

#4 Rashid Khan: SRH vs MI (Match 23 ): 4-1-11-2

Rashid has been phenomenal with the ball

The young Afghan leg-spinner has impressed the cricketing community by putting up some exquisite performances. SRH squad has defended low totals on numerous occasions this IPL season but when they were bowled out for 118 against the Mumbai Indians, very few people thought SRH could avoid defeat. But then, the competent Rashid Khan stepped up with fellow bowlers to register a win for the Sunrisers by delivering a magical spell.

He picked up the crucial wickets of Hardik Pandya and Kieran Pollard, bowled 16 dot balls and gave away only 11 runs as the MI maxed out for 87. He bowled with an eye-widening economy rate of 2.75. What a tremendous performance!

#5 Lungi Ngidi: CSK vs KXIP (Match 56): 4-1-10-4

Ngidi bowled a sensational spell against KXIP

The young South African speedster made a name for himself in the last league match of the tournament by putting up a performance of a lifetime. With great precision and pace, Lungi put a full stop to the KXIP's campaign.

He delivered the best bowling performance of the VIVO IPL 2018 so far by adding 4 wickets to his account. He conceded only 10 runs in 4 overs which implies that he bowled with an economy rate of 2.5- the best of the ongoing season. He sent the dangerous duo of KL Rahul and Chris Gayle to the dugout and choked the opposition all the way by bowling 16 dot balls.