Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa expressed his disappointment after not getting picked up at the IPL 2022 mega auction. He stated that it has become hard for overseas spinners who don't have an air of mystery about their bowling style.

The trend at the mega auction saw the franchises shell out tons of money for the fast bowlers. Several Indian spinners also bagged good contracts but overseas spinners were overlooked. Speaking about the same, Zampa felt being a specialist spinner isn't as valued.

Read Also: IPL 2022: Simon Katich quits as SRH didn't follow the pre-auction plan

"It's very hard as an overseas spinner, particularly if you're just a specialist spinner who's not so much of a mystery spinner. The mega-auction, the way it panned out, they spent a lot of money on fast bowlers, a lot of money on allrounders, and even batsmen don't get great money. They get okay money."

Adam Zampa was quoted as saying to cricket.com.au.

He was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise in the previous editions. Meanwhile, he also played a few games where he was very economical. However, he opted out of participating in the second phase of the league which was moved to the UAE.

I will be a valuable addition to any of the IPL squads next year: Adam Zampa

Zampa insisted that the franchises go after the Indian players as they can perform well anyway on Indian tracks where there is a spin on offer. However, he kept a positive frame of mind, hoping to bag a contract in the next season of the league.

"And then once all that money gets spent, they go. 'Okay, we need some spinners now,' and usually they feel like the local guys can do an okay job anyway. I think there'll be opportunities maybe next year with the IPL though… I think I'd be a valuable addition to any of those squads, particularly with the way that I'm bowling at the moment."

Adam Zampa added

Also Read: Indian Players To Win Man Of The Match On T20I Debut

T20 World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch and batsman Steve Smith were among the other Australians who went unsold.

We have all heard multiple times that T20 cricket is a batter’s game. However, one thing is to be noted that it is a bowler who turns the game for his team most times. The teams across the world have understood the fact that they need a good set of bowlers to win a tournament. This is true in the biggest T20 tournament IPL as well.

Over the years, it has been seen that teams who possess quality bowlers perform quite well, while those who struggle in this department generally lag behind.

So, let's take a look at the bowlers with the most wickets in IPL history.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Squads of every IPL team after the auction

Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in IPL history:

10. Ravindra Jadeja | 160* Wickets

Ravindra Jadeja is easily the most well-rounded cricketer India has ever produced. A major portion of his success needs to be credited to the IPL, as the Saurashtra superstar built his international career by learning in the IPL under cricketing greats like Shane Warne, MS Dhoni, Stephen Fleming, and others. 

Apart from missing the 2010 season, Ravindra Jadeja has played all the other seasons with him representing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since 2012. He has played 240 games taking 160 wickets with the ball with an average of 30.40 and an economy rate of 7.62.

His generational fielding skills have also shined, as the 36-year-old has taken 103 catches in the competition, making him ‘The Ultimate All-rounder’ as he is the only player to have 1000+ runs, 100+ wickets, and 100+ catches, fulfilling his 3-dimensional abilities to the fullest. 

9. Jasprit Bumrah | 165* Wickets

Jasprit Bumrah, the game-changer of the game has put his name at no. 9 on this list of bowlers who scalped the most wickets in IPL history. Bumrah has been playing for Mumbai Indians since the 2013 season, in which the franchise bought him at a cheap price.

Bumrah has scalped 165 wickets in 133 games with an average of 22.51. Meanwhile, Bumrah has bowled at an economy rate of 7.30 in the franchise cricket league. This year he will be playing for MI again as the franchise retained him before the mega auction.

8. Lasith Malinga | 170 Wickets

Lasith Malinga, who is undoubtedly the greatest pacer in the IPL history has taken 170 wickets in 122 games he has played. Malinga averages 19.79 with the bowl and maintained an economy rate of 7.14 in the cash-rich league. 

Though 108 of these wickets have come in death overs where batters try to score at a faster pace and often get out in the process, still his overall numbers are too good to be questioned.

Malinga started playing for Mumbai Indians in the 2009 season, and last appeared in the 2019 season. His final over in the 2019 final was enough to prove his greatness even at that stage of his career.

7. Amit Mishra | 174 Wickets

The next bowler on the list is Indian leggie Amit Mishra who has picked 174 wickets in 162 games. The seventh-highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL, Mishra, went unsold in the mega auction of IPL 2025. 

He has recorded an impressive economy of 7.37 in the league and has been crucial in taking wickets in middle overs. However, previously he has played for Lucknow Super Giants.

6. Ravichandran Ashwin | 180* Wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin is always known as a great bowler in Test cricket but he has also proved his ability in the shortest format of the game. Meanwhile, Ash comes at number six on this list of bowlers with the most wickets in IPL history. 

Ashwin also has picked 180 wickets in 212 matches with an average of 29.82. He has also maintained an economy rate of 7.12. 

Ashwin went on to play for Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, and returns to the CSK fold after having featured for Rajasthan Royals for the last three seasons.

The Indian off-spinner was bought by Chennai Super Kings for Rs. 9.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. Ashwin had burst onto the scene in 2009 with CSK under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. He represented Super Kings till 2015 and was part of two title-winning campaigns, in 2010 and 2011. 

5. Sunil Narine | 180* Wickets

The next bowler on this is none other than the West Indies magician Sunil Narine. Narine has taken 180 wickets in 176 games with an average of 25.39 and bowls with an economy rate of 6.73. 

He has been a crucial member of the Kolkata-based franchise KKR, as the franchise won the league back in 2012, 2014, and 2024.

Narine has also played as an opener under Gambhir's captaincy. However, currently, he is with the KKR franchise as they retain the off-spinner before the IPL 2025 mega auction.

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 181* Wickets

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with 181 wickets is the fourth name in this list of players with the most wickets in IPL. Bhuvi has played in 176 matches in which he took those 181 wickets at an average of 27.23. However, he has bowled with an economy rate of 7.56 in the league. 

Meanwhile, Bhuvi will play for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise as they bought him in the IPL 2025 mega auction at a whopping 10.75 crore price.

3. Dwayne Bravo | 183 Wickets 

Dwayne Bravo with 183 wickets is the third name on the list. He is the second pacer after Lasith Malinga on the list to take the most wickets in IPL. 

Bravo had been a vital cog in Chennai’s bowling lineup, particularly in the death overs. With MS Dhoni being captain, Bravo’s potential has been used very cleverly for the team’s benefit. 

The all-rounder has played 161 IPL games and averages 23.82 with the ball. 

He played his last IPL match in the 2022 season for Chennai.

2. Piyush Chawla | 192 Wickets

Piyush Chawla, who was bought by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2021 in the mini-auction is the second-highest wicket-taker in the league history. He has picked 192 wickets in 192 matches with an average of 26.60 and an economy being 7.96. 

Piyush Chawla has earlier featured for Chennai, Punjab, and Kolkata-based franchises in the cash-rich league.

Over the last two years, Chawla was the lead spinner for Mumbai Indians. But, no teams went for him in IPL 2025 auction.

1. Yuzvendra Chahal | 205* Wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal has taken the most wickets in IPL history. Chahal has played in 160 games in which he has scalped 205 wickets with an average of 22.44. Moreover, he has an economy of 7.84 in the league.

Previously Chahal has played for RCB till 2021 and this season he will be featuring the Rajasthan Royals as they bought him in the IPL mega auction.

Chahal was with Rajasthan Royals since the 2022 season, claiming 66 wickets in 46 games. He has also represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians earlier in the IPL. He is among the 19 bowlers to have claimed a hat-trick in the IPL.

The leg-break bowler also won the Purple Cap for being the leading wicket-taker during the 2022 season, with 27 wickets to his name in 17 games at an average of 19.51 and an economy of 7.75.

Australia started their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on a winning note as they chased down the highest successful chase in tournament history. Australia chased down England's 352-run target with 15 balls remaining in the match. Jos Inglish was the star of the show with his maiden ODI ton during the chase. 

Ben Duckett dismantled the Australian bowling lineup with a recurrent breaking 165, the highest score by a better in Champions Trophy history. But, Australia ensured they made the highest successful chase in ICC Men's ODI events. Here's everything you need to know from the England vs Australia ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match.

Smith decided to bowl keeping the dew in mind

Steve Smith won the toss and decided to field first keeping the dew in mind. Ben Dwarshuis dismissed Phil Salt early in the second over. Despite a flying start to the innings, Dwarshuis was able to send back Jamie Smith for 15 in the sixth over as England found them at 43/2 after 5.2 overs.

But, then it was the partnership between Ben Duckett and Joe Root that took them to a record-breaking score. They first accumulated well to get their first fifty from 48 balls while Ben Duckett completed his fifty off 49 balls.

Root and Duckett build a solid partnership for England

Joe Root did his part by completing his fifty from 56 balls as they reached the 100-run mark for the third wicket in 94 balls. But, post his fifty, Duckett changed his gear instantly and his skill against the Aussie spinners was a masterclass from the southpaw opener.

But, after Root was trapped in front of the wicket by Adam Zampa, Ben Duckett lost support from the other end and England missed out on maybe 10 or 15 runs at the end.

Duckett's 3rd ODI ton gave England the momentum

Duckett went on to get his 100 off 95 balls, his 3rd ODI ton. Then he changed to fifth gear alongside captain Jos Buttler. Although Buttler was caught in the deep by Nathan Ellis off Glenn Maxwell, Duckett continued his slog and soon reached 150 off 134 balls.

He was finally dismissed by Marnus Labuschagne on 165 off 143 balls. Archer added a quick 21 from 10 balls to take England's total to 351/8 in the first inning.

Australia got off a flyer but lost wickets early

Just like England, Australia got a quick start but lost two wickets early. Travis Head was dismissed on 6 off 5 by Jofra Archer in the 4th over while Steven Smith was dismissed by Mark Wood for 5 in the next over. But, then, Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Short stitched a 95-run partnership to give others a platform to chase down the total.

With both Labushcagne and Short finding the gaps easily, they reached the 100-run mark in the 15th over and kept themselves in the chase. Meantime, Short reached his fifty in 47 balls but Marnus was outfoxed by Adil Rashid on 47 off 45 balls in the 20th over.

Though it looked a bit tough for the Aussies, who had not won a game in the ICC Champions Trophy in 16 years, they had batters with immense talent in the middle order.

Carey and Inglis steadied the ship

Jos Inglis, born in England, always had the game to win games for Australia, but needed to prove that now. Meantime, they had their most in-form batter in Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell to come as well.

Livingstone dismissed Short (63) with a sharp caught and bowled chance in the 23rd over and it was then the partnership between Inglis and Carey that took Australia near to home. For the 5th wicket, they put up 100 runs in just 78 balls while Inglis completed his fifty. Australia reached the 250-run mark in the 38th over and Carey also completed his fifty off 49 balls.

Maxwell and Inglis finished things off

However post Carey's (69) dismissal in the 42nd over, things could have gone either way but Glenn Maxwell made sure he made things easier for them. Inglis eased to his maiden ODI ton while Maxwell started hitting the ball powerplay from the other end.

In the end, it was a comfortable win for the Aussies as Inglis remained unbeaten on 120 from 86 balls while Maxwell was undefeated on 32 from 15 balls. All the English bowlers except for Adil Rashid went more than 6 runs an over and that made it hard for Jos Buttler to control the game.

Buttler accepted that the score was good from but the dew affected more than he had expected. "Both sides played well, credit to Australia. fantastic innings from Inglis. 350 is a pretty good score, but it was wet and the dew was a worry," Buttler said.

"The guys were outstanding. Matt Short played beautifully, Travis and I the only two to miss out," Australian captain Steve Smith said in the post-match presentation. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) awards the best cricketer annually with the prestigious recognition of ICC Men's Cricketer of the year.

The cricketer with the most impactful performance becomes the recipient of the honorary award. ICC started presenting this award in 2004.

Also Read: ICC Men's Cricketer of the year winners of last ten years

ICC Men's Cricketer of the year 2024

Jasprit Bumrah is named the ICC Men's Cricketer of the year 2024. He also became the first Indian pacer to win the award.

Bumrah became the 5th Indian to win the award after Rahul Dravid (2004), Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Ravichandran Ashwin (2016) and Virat Kohli (2017, 2018).

The pacer also won the ICC men's Test Cricketer Of The Year award as well after being the standout performer for India during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where he picked up 32 wickets.

The Indian pacer started the year with a terrific performance against England at home before he switched his attention to the T20 World Cup. 

Bumrah ended the tournament with 15 wickets and an average of 8.26 as India defeated South Africa in the final to lift the trophy.

He was adjudged as the Player Of the Tournament for his performance.

Bumrah's performance in Tests made him really stand out from the rest of the nominees. The pacer picked up 71 wickets in 13 matches, the highest by any bowler in 2024.

Who was the first player to achieve the award?

In the year 2004, ICC introduced the award and Rahul Dravid became the first cricketer to win the ICC Men's Cricketer Of The Year.

Also Read: Full List: Indians to win ICC Cricketer of the Year Award (Men's and Women's)

ICC Men's Cricketer of the year since 2004

The ICC Awards are an annual set of sports awards for international cricket, which recognize and honor the best international cricket players of the previous 12 months.

The awards were introduced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2004. Moreover, ICC has also awarded the players who have performed throughout the decade (2010-19). 

However, in this particular article, we are going to discuss the players who have won the ICC Men's Cricketer Of The Year in the last ten years.

This list includes some of the outperformers of their country like Ben Stokes, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Ashwin, Pat Cummins, and Jasprit Bumrah, etc.

Also Read: ICC Men's Cricketer of the year since 2004

ICC Men's Cricketer of the year | Last 10 years

Steve Smith | 2015

Australia batsman Steven Smith has been named as the ICC Men's Cricketer Of The Year award in the year 2015 for his phenomenal batting performance in Test cricket. 

Smith has played 13 test matches in that year, in which he aggregated 1474 runs with an impressive average of 73.70. 

The right-handed batsman has smashed 5 half-centuries and 6 centuries including a score of 215. 

Smith has so far played 114 tests, 165 ODIs, and 67 T20Is in his career and has aggregated 16,755 runs. 

For his brilliant run in tests back in the year 2015, he received the Men's Cricketer Of The Year award in that edition.

Ravichandran Ashwin | 2016

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has named the ICC Men's Cricketer Of The Year award winner in the year 2016. 

Ashwin became only the fifth cricketer to complete 300 plus runs and more than 25 wickets in a Test series in that year.

He has had a sensational year aggregating 612 runs in Tests besides snaring 72 wickets. 

Ashwin has taken 537 Test wickets in his career and also crossed Kapil Dev's 434 wickets in tests. Moreover, Ashwin has also added 4394 runs and took 765 wickets across formats. 

For his brilliant display with both the bat and bowl, he received the award in the year 2016.

Virat Kohli | 2017

Indian former Test skipper Virat Kohli has won the ICC Men's Cricketer Of The Year award first time in 2017 for his brilliant run at international cricket.

Kohli has aggregated 1059 runs in 10 tests, while he smashed 1460 runs in 26 ODIs. 

Kohli has smashed 11 hundred including three double hundreds across formats in the year 2017. 

Meanwhile, with 299 T20I runs, Virat Kohli has aggregated 2818 runs in 2017 across formats. 

He has also registered 27,324 runs so far during his international cricket career. 

Therefore for his brilliant performance throughout the year, he has been rewarded with the ICC Men's Cricketer Of The Year award.

Virat Kohli | 2018

Yes, you read it write it's again Virat Kohli who has won the award back to back in 2017 & 2018. 

Former Indian skipper Kohli has also broken the record of Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest to score 10000 runs in ODI cricket this year. 

Kohli has aggregated 2735 runs across formats in 2018 including 11 hundred to his name. The former Indian white-ball captain has also retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy in the same year. 

Kohli has ended the year as the number 1 batsman in Tests and ODIs. 

Therefore, he received the award from ICC as the men's cricketer of the year 2018.

Ben Stokes | 2019

England star all-rounder Ben Stokes was the main game-changer in England's maiden ODI World Cup in 2019. 

Ben Stokes in the final of the 2019 World Cup, where he scored 84 runs and helped England to win their maiden World Cup title. 

Stokes scored an unbeaten 135 to steal victory in the third Ashes Test at Headingley in August 2019. 

Moreover, in 2019 Ben Stokes aggregated 719 runs and bagged 12 wickets in 20 ODIs and smashed 821 runs, and took 22 wickets in 11 tests.

Therefore, he received the ICC Men's Cricketer Of The Year award in 2019.

Virat Kohli | 2020

Former India white-ball captain Virat Kohli has won the ICC Men's Cricketer Of The Year award for the third time in 2020. 

He has also won the ICC ODI Player Of The Decade award in the same year for his excellent run at international cricket since 2011. 

Virat has won the cricketer of the year award back in 2017 & 2018 for his brilliant performance in both years. 

He has averaged 46+ in all the forms of the game. Kohli has registered 27,324 runs so far during his international cricket career.

Therefore, he received the award for the third time in just four years.

Shaheen Shah Afridi | 2021

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been named as the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year for 2021.

The 24-year-old took 78 wickets in 36 matches at an average of 22.20 across all three formats in that year.

In nine Tests, the left-arm quick claimed 47 scalps at 17.06 apiece and picked up career-best figures of 6/51 against West Indies along the way.

In six One-Day Internationals, Afridi picked up eight wickets in six matches with his best return (3/58) coming against South Africa in April.

Afridi had a fantastic 12 months in T20 international cricket, ending the year with 23 wickets in 21 matches, which included a memorable spell against India at the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE, taking 3/31 from his four overs. 

That performance was officially named as the ICC’s Play of the Tournament.

Despite Afridi’s 3/31, his best figures of the year came against West Indies where he returned 3/26.

Babar Azam | 2022

Former Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam was named the men’s cricketer of the year by the International Cricket Council in 2022.

Babar led Pakistan to the finals of two T20I tournaments that year, the World Cup and Asia Cup, and scored nearly 2,600 international runs in all formats at an average of 54. Nobody else passed 2,000.

Other highlights included saving a draw in the second test against Australia in Karachi with 196, his highest test score.

Babar also got his second straight ODI men’s award that year, the first to receive consecutive awards since Virat Kohli in 2017-18 for leading Pakistan to wins in all three of its ODI series, and scoring 50 or more in eight of the nine matches.

Pat Cummins | 2023

Pat Cummins was honored with the prestigious ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year for 2023.

Cummins overcame compatriot Travis Head and India duo Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja to take this honour home.

Under Cummins' leadership, which began in late 2021, the Australian team has soared to new heights, achieving a series of significant victories that included retaining the Ashes and captaining Australia to victories in the World Test Championship and ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. 

Cummins' outstanding individual record for the year amassing 422 runs and taking 59 wickets in 24 matches.

Cummins signed off a remarkable year with his second 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. This helped Australia win the Test series against Pakistan.

Also Read: ICC AWARDS 2024: Jasprit Bumrah wins Men's Test Cricketer of the Year while Mandhana wins Women's ODI cricketer of the Year award

Jasprit Bumrah | 2024

Jasprit Bumrah was awarded the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2024 due to his outstanding performances in all formats of the game.

Bumrah also became the first Indian pacer to win the award and was instrumental in India's success in the home Test series against England and Bangladesh. 

He also played a crucial role in the T20 World Cup win for his side.

Bumrah beat tough competition from Travis Head, Joe Root and Harry Brook to win the prestigious award. 

The pacer became the 5th Indian to win the award after Rahul Dravid (2004), Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Ravichandran Ashwin (2016) and Virat Kohli (2017, 2018).

Bumrah also won the ICC men's Test Cricketer Of The Year award as well after being the standout performer for India during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where he picked up 32 wickets.

The Indian pacer started the year with a terrific performance against England at home before he switched his attention to the T20 World Cup. 

Bumrah ended the tournament with 15 wickets and an average of 8.26 as India defeated South Africa in the final to lift the trophy.

The Indian pacer was adjudged as the Player Of the Tournament for his performance.

Bumrah's performance in Tests made him really stand out from the rest of the nominees. The pacer picked up 71 wickets in 13 matches, the highest by any bowler in 2024.

The five-match Test series of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 between India and Australia has concluded, in which Australia won by 3-1. The likes of Travis Head and Yashasvi Jaiswal stood out for their teams while debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy also impressed throughout the 5 matches. In this article, we will take a look at those batters who scored the most runs in BGT 2024-25.

Also Read: India under Gautam Gambhir coaching

Most Runs in BGT 2024-25

1# Travis Head | 448 Runs

Australia's dreaded batsman Travis Head was the highest run-scorer in the Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He remained unbeaten once in 9 innings of 5 Test matches and scored the maximum of 448 runs at an average of 56 and strike rate of 92.56.

In this series, Head scored two centuries and one half-century. He hit 52 fours and 4 sixes in the entire series. Head's highest individual score in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 was 152 runs.

2# Yashasvi Jaiswal | 391 Runs

Indian young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal finished 2nd in the race for most runs in BGT 2024-25. It was his first series in Australia as well. Jaiswal scored 391 runs while remaining unbeaten once in 10 innings of five Test matches. He scored these runs at an average of 43.44 and strike rate of 53.41. 

Jaiswal scored one century and two half-centuries in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He hit 44 fours and 4 sixes in the entire series. Jaiswal's top score in this series was 161 runs which came in Perth Test.

3# Steve Smith | 314 Runs

Australia's middle order batsman Steve Smith was the third top scorer in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The series saw the comeback of Aussie star batter who returned with a bang, scoring 314 runs in 9 innings of five matches including 2 brilliant hundreds to his name. Smith scored runs in this series at an average of 34.88 and strike rate of 54.99.

Smithp's best score in this series was 140 runs. He hit 31 fours and four sixes. However, Smith missed completing his 10,000 runs in Test cricket in this series by just 1 run.

4# Nitish Kumar Reddy | 298 Runs

Indian all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy made his Test debut in this series and he was successful in performing brilliantly. Nitish was a part of Team India in all five Tests. In his first Test series, Nitish scored 298 runs while remaining unbeaten once in nine innings of five matches at an average of 37.25 and strike rate of 64.22.

Nitish also scored a century in this series. He hit 30 fours and 8 sixes in the series. His best score was 114 runs.

Also Read: Most Test runs in 2024: Root, Jaiswal, Duckett and more

5# KL Rahul | 276 Runs

Indian opener KL Rahul, considered a liability at the start of BGT, scored 276 runs at an average of 30.66 despite having his role in the order changed to accomodate Rohit. Rahul started the series well and scored 26 and 77 in the Perth Test. He added 201 runs with Jaiswal in the second innings of the Perth Test and guided India to a historic win.

Rahul remained unbeaten once in 10 innings of five matches. He scored two half-centuries in the series and his highest score was 84 runs which came in Brisbane Test.

6# Rishabh Pant | 255 Runs

India's wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant’s overall performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has been a mixed bag. While he has gotten starts, he has struggled to convert them into big scores. 

The third innings of the game saw Pant score the second-fastest half-century by an Indian in just 29 balls. This comes close to his own record of a half-century off 28 balls against Sri Lanka in 2022. This was his only fifty in BGT 2024-25 as he finished the series with 255 runs at an average of 28.33.