IPL 2020: Teams with Best Bowling Options for the Super Over

It is often considered in cricket that batsmen might strengthen the team but it's the bowlers that win matches. This has been the trend in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well where the most successful teams have relied on their bowlers for success in the long run.

Coming to the super over, batsmen might give you a decent score on the board but it is the grit of the bowlers that decides the fate of the game. It is accepted fact now that cricket has become a batsmen's game and the bowlers are under enormous pressure, especially when a tie-breaker is required for a result.

Here are the four teams that have the strongest bunch of bowlers who can be utilised in a super over.

Also see – Under 19 world cup points table

#4 Kings XI Punjab

Mohammed Shami has come a long way since his comeback after knee surgery

First Choice - Mohammed Shami

Other Options - Sheldon Cottrell and Chris Jordan

Mohammed Shami has displayed one of the greatest transformations one can witness for a fast bowler in international cricket, both, concerning form and fitness. The 29-year-old had been ordinary in the IPL until 2019, where he showed his class and ended up as the leading wicket-taker for Kings XI Punjab.

Shami has a deadly yorker, which was evident in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia and batsmen found it hard to get under it. Whenever there will be a scenario of a tie-breaker, KXIP will put the onus on him to get them over the line.

KXIP has the West Indian left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell and the English T20 specialist Chris Jordan in their arsenal in absence of their spearhead. Cottrell has been sensational with slower ball variations up his sleeves which can be useful in a super over. On the other hand, Chris Jordan is one of the most accurate bowlers of the yorker, which is still the best ball to bowl to contain the batsmen.

#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore

Dale Steyn returns to RCB after a short stint last year

First Choice - Dale Steyn

Other Options - Chris Morris, Kane Richardson, and Navdeep Saini

Though Dale Steyn has gone past his prime, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) might still bank on him to bowl the super over when required. The South African fast bowler has an economy rate of under 7 in his IPL career even when he bowls the most difficult overs for his team - in the powerplay and at the death. The 36-year old is in decent touch in the ongoing Big Bash League where his experience turned out to be valuable for Melbourne Stars.

The other options for RCB are Chris Morris, Kane Richardson, and Navdeep Saini. Chris Morris is a no-brainer as he has bowled at the death all his life for his country and various franchises around the globe.

Kane Richardson has hit a purple patch recently and has been the most successful bowler for Melbourne Renegades in the ongoing edition of BBL, post which he got a national call-up for the India ODI series.

Navdeep Saini is on a steep rise in his career and has adapted to the limited-overs set-up quite well from being a specialist red-ball bowler. The yorkers that he bowls clicking high 140s can be worth for RCB to use him in case of a super over.

#2 Rajasthan Royals

Jofra Archer will be key to Royals' success in the super over

First Choice - Jofra Archer

Other Options - Tom Curran and Andrew Tye

Rajasthan Royals (RR) were very sharp when they roped-in Jofra Archer ahead of the IPL 2018 auctions, who was an unknown commodity at that time. Having risen from the Big Bash League, the English seamer went on to play in the Indian Premier League and later the World Cup and the Ashes for England. Considering the best death bowlers going into IPL 2020, Jofra Archer is in the top tier and will be the go-to man for RR in a super-over situation.

RR is the second strongest team as far as super over bowling options are concerned with Tom Curran and Andrew Tye being their back-up options. Tom Curran has been sensational for Sydney Sixers in BBL 2019-20 and has led their attack by picking 17 wickets from 12 games. He has taken the responsibility of bowling at the death in every game.

Andrew Tye is without a doubt an important option for RR in case of a tie-breaker. He is known as a death-over specialist and has a couple of hat-tricks to his name in T20s. The Aussie bowler won the purple cap in IPL 2018 for KXIP.

#1 Mumbai Indians

Jasprit Bumrah is currently the best bowler to bowl a super over

First Choice - Jasprit Bumrah

Other Options - Lasith Malinga, Trent Boult, and Nathan Coulter-Nile

Mumbai Indians (MI) have the best death over bowlers of three different countries in their arsenal and Jasprit Bumrah will be their first choice to bowl in the super over. The 26-year-old has done it in the past for the 4-time champs in 2017, where he restricted Gujarat Lions' batters, Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch to just 6 runs while defending 11 runs in the super over.

MI's back-up options consist of one of the greats in the game - Lasith Malinga, New Zealand star Trent Boult, and Nathan Coulter-Nile. Lasith Malinga played a crucial role in the last year's final where he defended 9 runs in the last over to help MI clinch their 4th title and showed everyone that he still possesses the sharpness he had years ago.

Trent Boult is a specialist bowler at the crux who has stepped up for New Zealand on numerous occasions. If a rare situation arises, they also have Coulter-Nile who can be useful in the absence of the above three.