The 5 foreign bowlers with the best Indian Premier League records
The Indian Premier League has been a tournament dominated by the batters over the bowlers for many years.
What’s more, Indian bowlers have succeeded a lot more than those from abroad.
But there are five shining examples of bowlers from outside India who have done well in the IPL.
5. Trent Boult
The New Zealand pace ace has taken the fifth most wickets among overseas bowlers in the history of the Indian Premier League. Boult has played for five IPL franchises, including the Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals.
He as 121 IPL wickets in 103 innings and is the most prolific non-Indian left-arm seamer in IPL’s history.
4. Rashid Khan
Khan was a veritable SRH stalwart before moving to the Gujarat Titans and winning and IPL title with them. The Afghanistan all-rounder is effectively the face of his country’s cricketing growth – and has travelled the world with his unique brand of play.
Khan is one wicket away from his 150th in IPL cricket. That’s likely going to come in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League tournament.
3. Lasith Malinga
Malinga only ever played for one IPL franchise – the Mumbai Indians. This loyalty yielded 170 wickets in 122 matches. Malinga took six four-wicket hauls in the tournament and he has since mentored several IPL bowlers who have since gone on to international honours.
Nuwan Thushara and Matheesha Pathirana, in particular, have gained from Malinga’s tutelage.
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2. Sunil Narine
In recent years, Narine has become known for his pinch-hitting with the bat at the top of the order for the Kolkata Knight Riders. But don’t forget his primary role with the ball, which has made him the second most prolific non-Indian bowler in the Indian Premier League.
Narine has 180 wickets in 177 IPL matches. The tally includes seven four-fors and one five-for.
1. Dwayne Bravo
Bravo played in the IPL from the very start in 2008 and exited in 2022. Like Malinga, he has since become a bowling mentor to many big talents in the tournament.
With his nagging lines and lengths, trademark slower balls and other clever variations, the West Indies ace impressed for the Chennai Super Kings. He also played for the Gujarat Lions and Mumbai Indians. In total, Bravo gathered 183 wickets in 161 IPL matches.
He is third overall on the list of leading wicket-takers in the IPL. The list has Yuzvendra Chahal in first position and Piyush Chawla in second. Both, incidentally, are leg-spinners.
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