Trent Boult, Rashid Khan and others – most wickets by overseas players in the IPL

Trent Boults bowls in the IPL
Trent Boult is among the leading wicket-takers among bowlers from abroad in the Indian Premier League.

Excitement continues to mount with the IPL just around the corner. The auction has happened and the lay of the land for the tournament’s 2025 iteration is starting to take shape.

As we head towards the latest incarnation of the event, which runs from 21 March to 25 May, let’s look at the best bowlers over the years.

Quite obviously the list is both topped and dominated by Indian players – so, what makes for very interesting reading is not who’s on the list, but rather, who are the leading non-Indian wicket-takers over the course of the tournament’s history.

Let’s delve into the numbers to see who the top five non-Indian bowlers are in the history of the IPL. For the record, before we get started, the overall list is topped by Yuzvendra Chahal with 205 scalps and Piyush Chawla with 197.

5. Trent Boult (New Zealand) – 121 IPL wickets from 104 games at an average of 26.69

The veteran New Zealand campaigner will be back in the IPL in 2025 where he was acquired on action by the Mumbai Indians. In landing Boult MI have united him with Jasprit Bumrah in a what was a lethal partnership in the 2020 season.

As it stands Boult is 19th on the all-time list having played in the tournament from 2015 to present. Given that he is back for another season, he is certain to move up the list.

4. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 149 IPL wickets from 121 games at an average of 21.82

A sensational player and leader, Khan is one of the current standouts in the world of T20. Active in the IPL since 2017, Khan has played for the Gujarat Titans and the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Ranked 12th on the overall list Khan will be back in IPL 2025 once again after being retained by the Titans. With best figures of four for 24 and a big reputation, he looks certain to move up the list once the IPL action commences after the Champions Trophy.

Also read: Most runs by overseas players in the IPL

3. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) – 170 IPL wickets from 122 at an average of 19.79

The Sri Lanka phenomenon with the curious action, Malinga was a mainstay of IPL cricket between 2009 and 2019 where he played for the Mumbai Indians.

While Malinga may not top the list of IPL wicket-takers, he is currently eighth on the list, he does boast the best average of any player in the top 95. He’s the only player to average below 20.

2. Sunil Narine (West Indies)  – 180 IPL wickets from 177 games at an average of 25.39

At number five on the overall list is Trinidad and Tobago allrounder Sunil Narine. The off-break bowler and hard-hitting batsman has played IPL since 2012 where he has featured for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Now 36 years old Narine sems to have got better with age. He has been retained by the knight Riders for the 2025 season and will be looking to add further to his wicket tally.

1. Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) – 183 IPL wickets from 161 games at an average of 23.82

At third on the list is another star from Trinidad and Tobago, the West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo. Bravo played IPL from 2008 to 2022, appearing in a total of 161 games. Although his number of appearances is not a tournament record, he is at the top end of games played.

Bravo’s time in IPL saw him play for Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and the Gujarat Lions. Along with West Indies teammate Chris Gayle, Bravo is one of the early legends of the T20 game – he won the T20 World Cup twice and won 15 franchise league titles. He was the first T20 bowler to take 500 wickets in the format.

Read next: Worst bowling figures in the IPL