IPL History: Bowlers who have bowled the most number of dot balls

Indian Premier League has revolutionized the way T20 cricket is played and spectated all over the world. Since its inception in 2008, IPL has set a benchmark for all the other domestic T20 leagues to follow.

Brendon McCullum started the carnage in the inaugural match by scoring an unbeaten knock of 158 runs off just 73 deliveries. It was just the perfect start, an innings full of intention that unfolded the future of cricket for us. IPL has never looked back since then, and that innings was only bettered by Chris Gayle’s 175*(66) in 2013.

With just seven days left for the opening match between the reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, the excitement and anticipation for the IPL have been sky-high this year.

The significance of a dot ball in the shortest format of cricket is no less than a boundary scored for any team. Especially in the batting powerplay, when the onus is on bowlers to deliver, it becomes all the more critical as the bowling side looks to contain runs. The Indian Premier League has seen many world-class bowlers ripping their opponents apart with their lethal and accurate bowling attack. Apart from some match-winners who find themselves in the wicket-taking column, the unsung heroes are the ones who bowl dot balls to mount pressure on the batting side.

Now let’s take a look at the bowlers with the maximum number of dot balls bowled in the history of the Indian Premier League.

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#5 Piyush Chawla - 1020 dot balls

Piyush Chawla

Piyush Chawla is a seasoned campaigner who has represented Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. A witty leg-spinner, who can be used in all the conditions to torment the opposition batting lineups, Chawla is also a handy batsman down the order who can hit some crucial runs down in the slog overs. Chawla broke into the scene in 2008, where he finished the campaign with 17 wickets.

In his 143 IPL innings, he has taken 140 wickets at an average of 26.23. He has a knack of picking up wickets at crucial times for his team which makes him a valuable asset for any T20 franchise. Chawla finds himself in the fifth position with 1,020 dot balls in his IPL career.

#4 Amit Mishra - 1027 dot balls

Amit Mishra

A veteran leggie with a golden arm, Amit Mishra will be considered as one of the best leg-spinners of his generation. The T20 format always favors the brave, and Mishra is always brave enough to toss the ball up even after getting tonked for a six. This quality of his is what makes him unique, a rigid character who is unapologetically himself and no matter how much you score off him, he’s going to get you eventually.

He has 146 scalps against his name in 136 IPL innings at an impressive average of 24.14, playing for three franchises. The 36-year-old has a career economy rate of 7.39 with a strike rate of 19.59. He has bowled 1,027 dot balls so far in his IP career. Mishra also has two IPL hattricks to his name.

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#3 Lasith Malinga - 1060 dot balls

Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga is often hailed as one of the best bowlers in the history of T20 cricket. He is a phenomenal player who could destroy any batting lineup with his toe-crushing yorkers and unorthodox slower balls. Malinga was as effective in the batting powerplay as he was in the back end of the innings with his specific slinging action. Since the inaugural edition of the IPL, Malinga’s performance was pivotal to Mumbai Indians' success.

The ace Sri Lankan has taken 154 IPL wickets in only 110 outings at a staggering bowling average of 19.01. Despite bowling majority of his overs in the slog overs, he has an economy rate of 6.86 which is impressive. His incredible strike rate of 16.61 also proves why he is arguably the best bowler in the history of the IPL. 'Slinga' Malinga has 1,060 dot balls to his name which helps him grab the third position in the list.

#2 Praveen Kumar - 1075 dot balls

Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar was often renowned as the "King of Swing" by the cricketing world as he possessed a rare talent of swinging the ball both the ways. The UP lad was one of the very few bowlers who could consistently bowl out-swingers as well as the in-swingers and trouble the batsmen.

Although he was not as quick, his accurate and precise line always kept the batsmen skeptical and in two frames of mind. In 2008, he made his IPL debut for the Royal Challengers Bangalore before joining the Kings XI Punjab in 2011 where he made his presence felt. Kumar played his final IPL game for the Gujarat Lions in 2017.

The 32-year-old made 119 IPL appearances in which he managed to pick 90 with a reasonable economy rate of 7.72. With his natural swinging skill, Kumar bowled 1,075 dot balls in his IPL career.

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#1 Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh has been most consistent bowler since the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. An off-spinner who can bowl in the powerplay along with some essential spells in the middle overs is always a vital element of any T20 side. The 'Turbanator' had an illustrious career with Mumbai Indians before he moved to Chennai Super Kings last year. He is one of the few players who have lifted the IPL trophy four times.

Harbhajan has 134 dismissals to his name in 145 IPL innings. His economy rate of 7.05 shows his skills and temperament with the ball. The 38-year-old is a wily fox who can outsmart any batsmen with his accurate line and length. He also holds the record of bowling the most number of dot balls (1,128) in the history of the IPL.