Top 5 Greatest Bowlers In IPL History

Many bowlers have made their name in IPL history. The greatest bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Makhaya Ntini, Shane Warne, Muralidharan, Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin, Malinga, and Jasprit Bumrah have played in this league, and some are still playing. In such a situation, it will be a very difficult task to decide the names of the "top 5 greatest" bowlers out of all these. But based on the records of IPL and their performance, today in this article, we will know about the greatest 5 bowlers in IPL history.

1. Yuzvendra Chahal

Currently the highest wicket-taker in IPL history with 219 wickets in 171 matches, Chahal remains a constant threat with his leg-spin. His ability to take wickets in the middle overs and his variations make him a formidable bowler in the T20 format. Chahal also has 2 hat-tricks in his IPL career. His best bowling figure is 5/40. Chahal has played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Rajasthan Royals in his IPL career, while in IPL 2025, he is playing for Punjab Kings.

2. Lasith Malinga

Arguably the greatest T20 fast bowler of all time, Malinga's slingy action and deadly yorkers were a nightmare for batsmen. Playing mainly for the Mumbai Indians, he took 170 wickets in just 122 matches at an impressive economy rate of 7.14. His ability to perform well under pressure in the death overs makes him an all-time great. His best bowling figures are 5/13.

3. Sunil Narine

The West Indies mystery spinner has been a game-changer for the Kolkata Knight Riders. With 190 wickets in 187 matches and a phenomenal economy rate of 6.77, Narine's tight bowling and wicket-taking ability have been invaluable. His variations and the difficulty batsmen have in reading him make him a unique and highly effective bowler. His best bowling figures are 5/19. He is still taking wickets consistently for Kolkata Knight Riders and playing the role of opener during the T20 matches. Narine is one of the few players in the IPL who has played for only one franchise so far.

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The master of swing bowling, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, has constantly troubled batsmen with his ability to swing the ball both ways. His efficiency in the powerplay and his deceptive slow balls in the death overs make him a valuable asset. He has taken 5 wickets twice, with a best performance of 5/19. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has also played for Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad in his IPL career. At the same time, in IPL 2025, he has become a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore and is consistently taking wickets for his team. He is doing well in this edition and can become the key player for RCB in the upcoming cricket matches of IPL 2025.

5. Ravichandran Ashwin

An intelligent and versatile spinner, Ashwin has used his variations and tactical skills very well in the IPL. Having played for several franchises, he has taken 185 wickets in 219 matches. His ability to bowl at different stages of the game and his strategic thinking make him a great bowler. His best bowling figure is 4/34. Ashwin has played for Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals so far in his IPL career. These five bowlers have not only taken a large number of wickets but have also performed consistently well and influenced the results of many IPL matches. While other bowlers like Dwayne Bravo, Piyush Chawla, and Jasprit Bumrah have also been exceptional.