Top 10 Bowlers Who Have Bowled the Most Overs in IPL History
Most number of overs bowled in IPL: Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen some outstanding bowling performances over 15 seasons. Bowling four overs in the T20 format is a challenging job. Bowlers who can bowl tight lines and length while possessing wicket-taking abilities are a precious commodity in the IPL.Â
In this blog, we look at the 10 bowlers who have bowled the most number of overs in IPL history. The list features world-class spinners and fast bowlers who have shouldered the bowling burden for their franchises.
Bowlers Who Have Bowled the Most Overs in IPL History
The Indian Premier League (IPL) places huge demands on the bowling units of franchises. With batsmen looking to score quick runs on flat decks, bowling four economical overs while picking wickets is incredibly challenging.
To succeed in T20 cricket, bowlers need to have immense mental strength, variations, and consistency to out-think hard-hitting batsmen. In this blog post, we will look at the 10 bowlers who have delivered the most overs in IPL history while maintaining high standards across multiple seasons.
| Players | Number of Overs Bowled |
|---|---|
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 699 |
| Sunil Narine | 624.2 |
| Piyush Chawla | 606.4 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 594.4 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 591 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 569 |
| Amit Mishra | 559.5 |
| Dwayne Bravo | 520 |
| Lasith Malinga | 471.1 |
| Umesh Yadav | 460 |
Most Expensive Overs In IPL History
1. Ravichandran Ashwin  –  Overs Bowled in IPL 699Â
Premier Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin tops this list with 699 overs bowled in IPL cricket for multiple franchises like CSK, KXIP and DC. His clever variations and mastery over flight, angle and rpm has fetched him 145 wickets so far.
With a bowling average of 28.67 and economy rate of 7.01 from 197 IPL games, Ashwin poses a continual threat with the new ball and in the middle overs. His tactical acumen and ability to outfox batsmen despite not having many variations make him the leader on this list. Â
2. Sunil Narine  – Overs Bowled 624.2Â
West Indian mystery spinner Sunil Narine has been an integral part of Kolkata Knight Riders’ success over the years. Narine has bowled 624.2 overs in IPL cricket, picking up 162 wickets with his confusing blend of off-breaks, carrom balls and skidders.Â
His miserly economy rate of 6.73 illustrates how difficult it has been for batsmen to score off him. With the best bowling average of 25.79 among spinners on this list, Narine has been the leader of KKR’s spin attack since 2012.Â
3. Piyush Chawla – Overs Bowled 606.4 Â
Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla has been a consistent performer in the IPL, having bowled 606.4 overs in 181 matches. He has picked up 179 wickets with his well-disguised googlies, flatter trajectories and traditional leggies.
Currently at Punjab Kings, Chawla has previously played for KKR and CSK with distinction too. With a bowling strike rate of 26.79 and economy rate of 7.91 over 15 seasons, Chawla has maintained impressive control across different phases.
4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – Overs Bowled 594.4 in IPLÂ
Swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has bowled 594.4 overs in his IPL career so far while taking 170 wickets. He started with Royal Challengers Bangalore before becoming UP’s bowling lynchpin.Â
His ability to take wickets in the powerplay with movement and deception makes him an IPL great. Bhuvneshwar has an economy rate of 7.39 and average of 25.86 from his 160 IPL matches. For Sunrisers Hyderabad, he has been a consistent wicket-taker.
5. Ravindra Jadeja – Overs Bowled 591.1 in IPL
India’s spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has bowled 591.1 overs in IPL cricket besides scoring 2677 runs. Jadeja has taken 152 wickets with his accurate left-arm spin for teams like Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions.
With a bowling average of 29.57 and economy rate of 7.60, Jadeja has kept things tight in the middle overs while taking key wickets. His stellar fielding adds to his value as an economical bowler who can contribute with the bat.
6. Harbhajan Singh  – (Overs 569 )
Veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is second on this list with 569 overs bowled in the IPL. Representing Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings with distinction, he has claimed 150 wickets so far.
Harbhajan has won four IPL titles through his consistent off-spin combined with his clean striking abilities down the order. With an economy rate of 7.05 and average of 26.44 from 163 games, he has been an influential figure for over a decade.
7. Amit Mishra Â
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra is one of the unheralded bowling heroes of the IPL over the years. Having played for Delhi Capitals, Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mishra has bowled 559.5 overs and taken 173 wickets.
With three hat-tricks to his name, Mishra has bamboozled the best batsmen with his googlies and leg-breaks. His economy rate of 7.38 and bowling average of 23.87 make him one of the most effective bowlers in IPL history. Â
8. Lasith Malinga Â
Sri Lankan pace legend Lasith Malinga is regarded as one of the greatest T20 bowlers with his unorthodox slinging action and toe-crushing yorkers. He has bowled 471.1 overs in the IPL while taking 170 wickets for Mumbai Indians.Â
With the best economy rate of 7.14 in IPL history, Malinga kept batsmen guessing with his late swing and dipping slower balls. His bowling average of 19.8 and strike rate of 16.8 underlines his effectiveness over the years for Mumbai.
9. Dwayne John Bravo
West Indian all-rounder DJ Bravo has bowled 520 overs and taken 183 wickets in the IPL. Having played for Mumbai, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Lions and CSK again, Bravo is known for his death bowling and variations.
Bravo has won the Purple Cap twice – in 2013 and 2015. With a bowling average of 23.82, economy rate of 8.38 in IPL cricket, Bravo has been an asset for his teams. His disguising slower balls and yorkers make him hard to get away.
10. Umesh Yadav
Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav has bowled 487.2 overs in his 141 IPL matches, picking up 136 wickets. He played for Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders after starting with Delhi in 2010.Â
Yadav has often bowled with the new ball and in the death overs. He has a bowling average of 30.04 in his IPL career and best figures of 4/23. His ability to swing the ball and bowl quick has made him an IPL mainstay.
Conclusion Â
Bowling tight lines and lengths in the fast-paced T20 format requires skill and mental fortitude from bowlers. Ravichandran Ashwin tops the list with the most overs bowled in IPL history, underlining his longevity and consistency across 17 seasons.
Other Indian and overseas spinners and pacers have run their blood to sweat to bowl the most overs and regularly provide breakthroughs for their franchises.
Bowling four good overs everyday comes with immense expectations and pressure in the IPL. These bowlers have shown the mental resolve and adaptability to shoulder this responsibility for their teams with distinction for over a decade.
