The 5 worst bowling figures in the IPL – nightmare performances from Jofra Archer and others
IPL 2025 has only just begun, with Wednesday seeing the sixth game of the latest iteration of franchise cricket’s premier competition taking place. Despite the freshness of the new season, we have already seen records fall — in this case, we are talking about the unwanted record for the most expensive spell in IPL history.
The unfortunate bowler who got taken to all parts of Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was Jofra Archer, who went for an incredible 76 runs in his four overs.
It was brutal stuff as Sunrisers Hyderabad put Archer’s Rajasthan Royals to the sword, amassing a mammoth 286 for six — one of the highest scores in IPL history.
While Jofra grabbed the headlines by adding his name to the top of the list of most expensive spells in IPL history, let’s take a look at who else features in this unwanted record book.
5. Luke Wood (Mumbai Indians) – 1 for 68 vs Delhi Capitals, 2024
English left-arm seamer Luke Wood makes the list thanks to a forgettable outing in the 2024 season. Playing for the Mumbai Indians, Wood found himself under relentless assault from the Delhi Capitals’ top order.
Wood’s four overs were dispatched to all corners as David Warner and Prithvi Shaw cut loose, exploiting his lengths and variations with ease. Though he managed a solitary wicket, it was scant consolation as he finished with figures of 1 for 68 — a day to forget for the Englishman.
4. Yash Dayal (Gujarat Titans) – 0 for 69 vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2023
The 2023 season saw one of the most memorable chases in IPL history — for all the wrong reasons if you’re Yash Dayal. Bowling for the Gujarat Titans against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Dayal became the face of KKR’s miraculous finish when Rinku Singh smashed him for five consecutive sixes in the final over.
Dayal’s figures — 0 for 69 — summed up a night of horror where nothing went right. The infamous last over cost 31 runs, cementing Dayal’s place in this list. The match became IPL folklore, but for Dayal, it was a nightmare he’ll need therapy to erase.
Also read: Most runs by overseas players in the IPL
3. Basil Thampi (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 0 for 70 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2018
Back in 2018, Basil Thampi etched his name in the record books, but not in the way he’d have wanted. Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Thampi was taken apart by a ferocious Royal Challengers Bangalore batting lineup.
With AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali on the rampage, Thampi simply had no answers. His four overs went for 70 runs, making him the first bowler in IPL history to concede 70 or more in a match. RCB piled on the runs, and Thampi’s nightmare outing stood as the benchmark for costly spells — until others came along.
2. Mohit Sharma (Gujarat Titans) – 0 for 73 vs Delhi Capitals, 2024
Veteran pacer Mohit Sharma had enjoyed a career resurgence with the Gujarat Titans, but the 2024 season delivered a humbling reminder of how brutal the IPL can be. Facing the Delhi Capitals, Mohit endured a torrid time as the Capitals’ batters went after him relentlessly.
Whether it was Prithvi Shaw’s aggression or Rishabh Pant’s finishing touch, Mohit had nowhere to hide. By the end of his spell, his figures read a staggering 0 for 73, setting a new benchmark for the most expensive spell in IPL history at the time — though it would last less than a year.
1. Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals) – 0 for 76 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2025
And now, Jofra Archer sits atop the list with the worst-ever figures in IPL history — 0 for 76 from four overs. Returning to the IPL with Rajasthan Royals, Archer’s comeback game against Sunrisers Hyderabad became one he’ll be desperate to forget. SRH, led by a blistering opening stand and sustained middle-order fireworks, targeted Archer from the get-go.
Every attempt at a slower ball or yorker was picked apart as the Englishman’s pace became cannon fodder on a flat Hyderabad track. By the time his final over mercifully ended, Archer had broken Mohit Sharma’s short-lived record, conceding 76 runs — a mark that could stand for some time given the sheer scale and brutality of the punishment.