IPL History: Ten dream bowling combinations we never got to see

Indian Premier League has been renowned as the most prestigious league in the history of cricket as all the players of the world dream to play in the tourney. It has also fulfilled the dreams of many cricketing fans who wished to witness their dream players from all the countries playing together for 1 franchise. This has been the main thing which has kept the fans connected to the IPL as the league has moved onto its 12th edition in 2019.

The concept of IPL became a huge hit in its inaugural edition itself as it was a new concept then. The world has witnessed some dream bowling combinations of world-class players like Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga, Shaun Pollock and Ashish Nehra, Farveez Maharoof and Glenn McGrath playing for the same franchise in the IPL.

But somehow there are still many dream bowling combinations which the world never got to see in IPL. It would have been a once in a lifetime moment if these dream combinations came to fruition in IPL.

Such ten dream bowling combination which we never got to see in IPL are as follows.

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#10 Brett Lee and Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah and Brett Lee (Image Courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

It has become a dream for today’s world to witness some real pace bowling at the speed of 145 kph plus deliveries in IPL. Only some extra-ordinary bowlers could reach this level as it demands huge dedication and passion. Brett Lee and Jasprit Bumrah are two of the greatest fast bowlers to have played in the league.

Lee was one of the best Australia’s all-time fast bowler who changed the entire scenario of fast bowling in the world. The fastest ball bowled by him in the history of cricket clocked the speed of 161.8 which itself shows his class.

In the same way, Bumrah is the current best pacer of the world who has been carrying the legacy of the fast pacers. He is the real gem of the Indian pace bowling attack who would prove to be the Crown Jewel as his career progresses.

However, we never got to see this dream Indo-Aussie dream bowling combo in the IPL.

#9 Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult

Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult (Image Courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

The number of left-handed fast bowlers in cricket has increased to a huge extent now as compared to the number in the past. Left-handed pacers had the upper hand during the 1990s and the 2000s because of the better angle they got. There was a time when the fast bowling department was completely dominated by left-handed bowlers like Zaheer Khan, Mitchell Starc, Chaminda Vaas and Mitchell Johnson.

Speaking of modern day cricket, the dream left-arm combination of Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult has never played together in the history of IPL so far. This pace duo can break any of the strongest batting order of the world. The Starc-Boult combo could become the game-changing combination of the tournament if it gets the chance to feature in IPL.

It has been a bit of bad luck for the fans as this duo has not played together in the 12 editions of the league.

#8 Shane Warne and Yuzvendra Chahal

Shane Warne and Yuzvendra Chahal (Image Courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

The present scenario of the bowling department in cricket has been completely dominated by the wrist spinners. The wrist spinners are the ones who can scalp wickets at any moment pertaining to their flight and turn. They play a major role of partnership breakers irrespective of the format they play.

Shane Warne was one of the best wrist spinners during his era. He was considered as the god of wrist spin during the 90s as his deliveries were completely unplayable. He could easily outwit any of the greatest batsmen of the world with his magical turn and bounce.

In the same way, Yuzvendra Chahal is the current best wrist spinner who is dominating world cricket. He has been the main wrist spinner for India as well as RCB and he can turn the game with his leggies. It would be a dream moment if the world could witness the Warne-Chahal duo in the IPL which just seems to be impossible now.

#7 Mitchell Johnson and Zaheer Khan

Mitchell Johnson and Zaheer Khan (Image Courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

Indian Premier League has been lucky to have the best fast bowlers take part in the tournament. There are some top left-handed fast bowling pairs who were just unlucky not to play together in the IPL. Mitchell Johnson and Zaheer Khan are the two best examples of the left-arm pacers who never played together in IPL.

Both were the top class bowlers of their nation in their prime and they had even helped their teams win the ICC World Cup. The Johnson-Zaheer combination could have proven to be worthy for any IPL franchise in the tourney.

The key reason why we never saw these two legends play together was that the IPL teams do not want to have two left-arm fast bowlers in their playing XI. In Indian conditions, it is preferable to have 2 main pacers in a playing XI and 9 out of 10 times the teams want a right-left combination.

#6 Dale Steyn and Mohammed Shami

Dale Steyn and Mohammed Shami (Image Courtesy - IPLT20/BCCI)

To bowl in-swinging deliveries at a speed of 145 kilometers per hour is not an easy task for all the bowlers. It is not so easy as the bowlers who bowl those speedy deliveries make it look. It requires huge dedication and strength to bowl so.

The batsmen find it extremely difficult to tackle the in-swinging balls irrespective of the format they are playing.

Dale Steyn and Mohammed Shami are two of the best fast bowlers of present times who could easily bowl such in-swinging pace deliveries. Both the pacers have remained as the main cornerstone for their respective nations in the majority of the matches.

They have also continued to showcase their talent in IPL also as it provides a huge boost for them. However, they haven’t played a single IPL season for the same franchise which has been a hard moment for their fans.

#5 Sunil Narine and Ravichandran Ashwin

Sunil Narine and Ravichandran Ashwin

Cricket has been more of a mind game rather than playing simply with the bat and bowl. Those cricketers who play cricket with their mind have attained a whole new level of supremacy in the history of cricket as their success rate is very high. Sunil Narine and Ravichandran Ashwin are the two best examples of bowlers who make the most use of their brains on the field.

The combination of Narine and Ashwin could be a magical one in the IPL. Both of them have mastered their art of outwitting even the greatest batsmen with their mind. Both have been in their top class form in the Indian Premier League as both are the same kind of bowlers.

It would be very devastating for the batsmen if they both get the chance to play for the same franchise in IPL. However, this has not happened in the history of IPL so far.

#4 Lasith Malinga and Shaun Tait

Shaun Tait and Lasith Malinga

The late 90s and early 20s was the main time period of fast bowling area in the history of cricket. A plethora of top-class bowlers achieved a huge amount of name and fame during this era. Lasith Malinga and Shaun Tait are the two best examples of it who proved their worth during this phase.

Both the stars had a very bright career when it comes to the Indian Premier League. Malinga and Tait have a unique slinging action as well.

Tait played the most of his IPL career for Rajasthan Royals who bought him in the year 2009. Whereas Malinga has remained as the main front-line bowler for Mumbai Indians in this league.

Both of them have been the best one when it comes to bowling yorkers at the death. Thus, they would have complimented each other well.

#3 Rashid Khan and Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav and Rashid Khan

As mentioned ahead, the present scenario in the world of cricket is completely owned by the wrist spinners. They are the ones who have the upper hand in the bowling department with their variable spin and bounce regardless of the pace and ground. Wrist spinners can create a huge impact in the batsmen’s mind by playing mind games with them.

Rashid Khan and Kuldeep Yadav are the two of the best wrist spinners in the present scenario of the cricketing world. Both of them are like the trump cards for their side and they can change the game on their own. They have been constantly proving their worth at the international level as well.

Rashid has played only for Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise whereas Kuldeep has represented Kolkata Knight Riders. They have played against each other many times but not even once together.

#2 Muttiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh

Muttiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh

The number of off-spinners has gradually decreased to a large extent as compared to past years in the history of cricket. One of the main reasons behind this is the fear of getting slogged by the batsmen on every ball as the incoming deliveries are relatively easier for them to hit big shots. But once upon a time, there was a phase when the off-spinners ruled the cricket with their mystery spin.

Muttiah Muralitharan is the best possible example of this. He was the one who hyped the craze of off-spin in this world. He could simply outwit even the classiest batsmen with his majestic spin.

The combination of Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh could be the best possible off-spin duo in terms of IPL. Both of them are the best in their spinning department and could have created havoc if they had played together for the same franchise in IPL.

#1 Glenn McGrath and Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Glenn McGrath and Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The last dream bowling combination we never got to see in IPL features the two main fast bowlers, Glenn McGrath and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. McGrath is a former Australian cricketer who was the main go-to bowler of his nation for a long period of time. He was mostly known for his medium pace bowling and the tremendous swing he generated.

Kumar was considered by many as the second version of McGrath when the Meerut lad made his international debut. Though Kumar has made a lot of changes in his bowling, no one can forget the way he bowled versus Pakistan in his first ever ODI match.

This swing-duo could break through the mightiest top orders in IPL if they had gotten a chance to feature in the same team. McGrath made his IPL debut for Delhi Daredevils in the year 2008 but only played for 3 years. Bhuvi bounced into the limelight after McGrath left.

Thus, these were the 10 dream bowling combinations that the world never got to see.

Which dream bowling combo would you love to see once in the IPL? Share your views in the comments box below.