IPL : Top 5 Expensive Spells in 11 years of IPL History

T20 cricket has been considered to be a batsman's paradise and we have witnessed several bowlers getting smashed all over the park. Hence, the significance of economical bowlers and death-over specialists has become a major factor in a team's success in T20 format. With heavier bats, dew factor and smaller grounds, the situation of bowlers in T20 has turned from bad to worse.

Wickets are the key to victory in T20 format and hence the bowlers have started to be far more aggressive with varying lengths, lines, slower balls and off-cutters. The knuckle-ball, carrom-ball have been the latest addition to their weapons.

At times, the batsmen tend to target few bowlers from 'Ball 1' and the bowlers end up with expensive figures. Here is the list of top 5 expensive spells in 11 years of IPL history and a closer look at the overall performance of these bowlers.

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#5 Ashok Dinda - Pune Warriors India

Figures: 4 - 0 - 63 - 0

Ashok Dinda has played for KKR, DD, PWI, RCB and RPS and has been one of the most expensive bowlers in IPL. He has picked up 68 wickets from 78 IPL matches, with an unimpressive economy of 8.22.

In IPL 2013, Dinda delivered his most expensive spell while playing for Pune Warriors against Mumbai Indians. He conceded 63 runs from 4 overs, which included 5 fours and 4 sixes. Pune went on to lose the match and eventually ended up 8th in the points table.

Apart from this spell, Dinda had a decent IPL 2013 with 16 wickets from 13 matches and was the leading wicket-taker for Pune Warriors.

#4 Sandeep Sharma - Kings XI Punjab

Figures : 4 - 0 - 65 - 1

Sandeep Sharma

Sandeep Sharma has been considered as one of the future stars of Indian Cricket, who can swing the ball both ways consistently. He stands fourth in the most number of maiden overs bowled in IPL history.

On the contrary, he also stands fourth in the most expensive spell by a bowler in IPL. He has represented Kings XI Punjab for 5 years and has been associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2018

His expensive figures of 4 - 0 - 65 - 0 came in IPL 2014 when he played for Kings XI Punjab against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where the SRH duo of Naman Ojha and David Warner smashed him for 8 fours and 3 sixes. Despite this onslaught, KXIP went on to win the match comprehensively by 6 wickets.

This particular match was the only expensive outing for the KXIP pacer, who enjoyed a tremendous IPL 2014 with an impressive stats of 18 wickets from just 11 matches.

#3 Umesh Yadav - Delhi Daredevils

Figures : 4 - 0 - 65 - 0

Umesh Yadav

Umesh has represented DD, KKR, RCB so far in IPL and has picked up 108 wickets from 107 matches. Though his economy has been little above 8 runs per over, he has been instrumental in breaking partnerships with his raw pace and bounce.

His registered his worst IPL figures in IPL in 2013 while representing Delhi Daredevils against Royal Challengers Bangalore. He conceded 65 runs in 4 overs, after being smashed by the deadly duo of Virat Kohli and AB de Villers of RCB. Eventually, Delhi lost the match by a small difference of 4 runs.

Overall in 2013, Umesh had an average IPL season with 13 wickets from 13 matches and an expensive economy of 8.78 runs per over.

In IPL 2018, he has been in tremendous form for RCB with 17 wickets from 13 matches and has rattled batsmen with his pace and bounce.

#2 Ishant Sharma - Sunrisers Hyderabad

Figures : 4 - 0 - 66 - 0

Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma made a grand entry into the Indian cricket team with some stellar performances during India's tour of Australia in 2007 - 08. He was picked by KKR in the inaugural edition of IPL and later went on to represent DC, KXIP and SRH. He was not picked in the IPL 2018 auctions, owing to his poor IPL record with 59 wickets from 76 matches.

He delivered his worst ever spell of 66 runs in 4 overs for SRH against CSK in 2013. CSK scored 223 runs in the match and eventually won the match by a huge margin of 77 runs. CSK's Suresh Raina was awarded the man of the match for his unbeaten 99.

Apart from this match, Ishant registered few other expensive spells in 2013 and picked 15 wickets from 16 matches at an average of 31.06.

Currently, he has been playing County cricket for Surrey and has been impressive with the ball so far.

#1 Basil Thampi - Sunrisers Hyderabad

Figures : 4 - 0 - 70 - 0

Basil Thampi

The young pacer from Kerala was a sensation for Gujarat Lions in IPL 2017, where he troubled opponent batsmen with his fiery yorkers and well-directed bouncers. He ended up as Gujarat's second highest wicket-taker in 2017 with 11 wickets. He was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2018 auctions to add firepower to their bowling arsenal.

In the recently concluded game of SRH vs RCB, he was smashed all over the park by RCB duo of AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali and ended up with an unwanted record of the most expensive spell in IPL. In his spell of four overs, he conceded 70 runs that included 5 fours and 6 sixes. Overall, he has been quite expensive in IPL 2018, picking up 11 wickets from 12 IPL matches at an awful economy of 9.49 runs per over.

One can hope that the youngster will overcome these spells and show the might of his fiery yorkers and make the opponent batsmen dance to his tunes.