In the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), some bowlers have distinguished themselves with their skills and tactics in taking wickets in the first over. Bowling the powerplay in T20 cricket is not an easy task, especially when the game is more in favor of the batsmen.

In the IPL, we often see teams scoring more than 200 runs. Batsmen also attack the bowlers from the very first ball. In such a situation, some bowlers have become experts in the art of taking wickets in the first over with the new ball, which puts the opposition under pressure right from the start.

In this article, we will discuss the list of bowlers who have taken the most wickets in 1st over of IPL.

Also Read: Most Fifties (and over) in IPL History

Most Wickets in 1st Over of IPL

1. Trent Boult | 31 Wickets

Most Wickets in 1st Over of IPL

New Zealand left-arm pacer Trent Boult has the most wickets in 1st over of IPL. He is in high demand in franchise cricket because of his exceptional ability to take wickets in the powerplay. He has played for five teams in the IPL—Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders. His total wicket tally is over 120, and 31 of them have come in the first over.

Boult played his first IPL match on April 11, 2015, against Chennai Super Kings. So far, he has taken 126 wickets in 110 matches in the league at an average of 27.14 and an economy rate of 8.35. His best performance during this period has been taking 4 wickets while giving 18 runs. His IPL win for Mumbai Indians in 2020 and his 'Player of the Match' award in the final are testament to his achievements.

2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 27 Wickets

Most Wickets in 1st Over of IPL

When it comes to ranking some of the best bowlers in IPL history, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is right up there at the top. Although, he is not at the peak of his powers at the moment, the Indian pacer will be regarded as one of IPL's all-time greats.

The Indian pacer holds the Indian record for taking the most wickets in 1st over of IPL. The experienced bowler can bowl at all levels in T20Is, but his main strength is taking wickets with the new ball. He has been a key player for Sunrisers Hyderabad for a long time.

Bhuvneshwar's total wickets in his IPL career are 187, the most among Indian pacers. Of these, 27 came in the first over. He won the Purple Cap in two consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, which is a testament to his consistency. His swing and accuracy make him a nightmare for batsmen in the first over.

3. Praveen Kumar | 15 Wickets

Most Wickets in 1st Over of IPL

The right-arm seamer Praveen Kumar has the third most wickets in 1st over of IPL. He has had a 10-year-long IPL career, in which he has taken 15 wickets in the first over to his name and has deceived the batters with his immaculate control.

Praveen has played 119 matches and picked 90 wickets at an average of 36.12. Kumar famously picked up a hat trick in the 2010 edition of the tournament against Rajasthan Royals and became the sixth player in the history of the tournament to achieve the feat.

Also Read: Most Ducks in IPL: Rohit Sharma equals Dinesh Karthik's record

4. Deepak Chahar | 14 Wickets

Deepak Chahar rose to prominence in the IPL 2018 campaign, where MS Dhoni entrusted the youngster with the new ball. There was no looking back for Chahar, as he repaid his captain’s faith in him, and has become a mainstay in the Chennai Super Kings side for the last six seasons.

Deepak Chahar generally bowls about three overs in the powerplay overs, as he is most effective with the new ball. The 31-year-old pacer has picked up 14 wickets in the first over of IPL. Overall, the talented pacer has 82 wickets in his 87 IPL matches at an average of 28.93.

Chahar has won the IPL title three times for Chennai Super Kings, and his swing bowling has played a vital role for the team.

5. Sandeep Sharma | 13 Wickets

Most Wickets in 1st Over of IPL

Rajasthan Royals player Sandeep Sharma, undoubtedly one of the better bowlers with the new ball, has the fifth highest wickets in 1st over of IPL. Sandeep has 13 scalps to his name in the first over of IPL at an average of 28.92, and an economy rate of just 5.29.

The pacer has picked up 142 wickets in 133 IPL outings at an average of 27.49. The former Sunrisers Hyderabad player’s best bowling figure in IPL came against Delhi Capitals in 2017, where he picked up four wickets, whilst conceding just 20 runs in four overs. A certain achievement in the pacer’s career is that he holds the record for dismissing Virat Kohli on most occasions in IPL.

Also Read: Most fifty in IPL history

6. Zaheer Khan | 12 Wickets

Most Wickets in 1st Over of IPL

One of the greatest bowlers in the history of Indian cricket, Zaheer Khan has 12 wickets when he bowled the first overs in the IPL. The veteran Indian pacer ranks sixth on the list of most wickets in 1st over of IPL.

In his IPL career, Zaheer has clinched 102 wickets with an appreciable economy of 7.59 in 100 matches, making him one of the best bowlers in the league. Due to his great sense of cricket, he has also captained Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). He had a perfect blend of brawns and brain with an astute cricketing mind and ability to match.

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