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 

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

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

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

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

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.

The seventeenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin on Friday, March 22 with a huge clash between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chennai. IPL has seen several world-class players over the years. The best players in the world, like Kohli, Gayle, AB de Villiers, and Warner, have scored plenty of runs in the league. So it's time we have a look at the players with the most runs in IPL history.

Also Read: MS Dhoni Captaincy Record and Stats in IPL

Top Five Players with Most Runs in IPL History

Virat Kohli holds the record for scoring the most runs in IPL. He is in the top of this list with 7263 runs in 237 matches, including 7 centuries and 50 fifties. Virat has scored those runs at an average of 37.24 and a strike rate of 130.02. His best season came in 2016 when he made an incredible 973 runs in a single season, including 4 hundreds which is still the highest individual runs in a single season.

Shikhar Dhawan is second on the list in terms of scoring the most runs in IPL. He has been consistent in the IPL, crossing the 400-run mark each season from 2016 to 2022. Dhawan has scored 6617 runs in 217 games at an average of 35.38, including 2 centuries and 50 half-centuries. His best season came in the 2020 season when he scored 618 runs with 2 centuries and 4 half-centuries. 

The former captain of Hyderabad, David Warner, is the top run-getter among the foreign players and comes third overall. He has made 6397 runs in 176 matches at an average of 41.53 and a strike rate of 139.91. He has scored 4 centuries and 61 half-centuries in the Indian cash-rich league. His best season came in 2016 when he made 848 runs with 9 fifties.

The Hitman, Rohit Sharma is one of the most dangerous batsmen in the IPL. He has led Mumbai Indians to five titles so far. Rohit began his IPL career with Deccan in 2008 before joining Mumbai in 2011. In 243 matches, Rohit Sharma has scored 6211 runs at an average of 29.57, with 1 hundred and 42 half-centuries. The Hitman is the 2nd highest six-hitter in IPL with 256 sixes. 

Mr. IPL, Suresh Raina has been a key member for Chennai in the league. He has been always consistent for CSK and led the team to 4 titles and 5 runner-up titles. In 205 matches, Raina has scored 5528 runs at a fantastic strike rate of 136.76, with 1 hundred and 39 fifties. Raina retired from international cricket in 2020 and from IPL in 2022.

KL Rahul just broke a major record by becoming the batter who took fewest innings to reach 5000 IPL runs. He hit this milestone during a game between Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Rahul played an outstanding innings, scoring an unbeaten half-century, which helped his team secure an important sixth win of the season. Notably, he reached the 5000-run mark in just 130 innings, beating David Warner’s previous record.

Also Read: Most Fifty Plus Scores in IPL by an Opener Since Gill's Debut

Now, let’s take a moment to check out the top five players who took fewest innings to reach 5000 IPL runs.

Fewest Innings to Reach 5000 IPL Runs

5. Shikhar Dhawan | 168

Shikhar Dhawan rounds out the top five on this list, reaching 5,000 IPL runs in his 168th inning. He achieved the milestone in 2020 while playing for DC, scoring an unbeaten 106 off 61 balls against his former team, Punjab Kings in Dubai.

With his flair, calmness under pressure, and consistent batting, Dhawan has made a name as one of the finest players in white-ball cricket. Dhawan retired with 6,769 runs in 222 matches at 35.26 and a strike rate of 127.14, including two centuries and 51 fifties.

4. AB de Villiers | 161

Former South Africa and RCB star AB de Villiers ranks fourth on the list, having reached 5,000 IPL runs in 161 innings. He achieved the milestone in 2021 against Delhi Capitals, scoring an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls in Ahmedabad.

de Villiers is considered a modern legend in cricket. His legacy as one of the most impactful players in the league is solidified by his remarkable and consistent performances. Across 184 matches, de Villiers amassed 5,162 runs at a strike rate of 151.69 and an average of 39.71, including three centuries and 40 half-centuries.

3. Virat Kohli | 157

Virat Kohli, the highest run-scorer in IPL history, ranks third on the list of fastest to 5,000 runs, reaching the milestone in 157 innings. Representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he achieved the feat in 2019 home game against Mumbai Indians, scoring 46 off 32 balls.

Kohli’s hunger for runs is something that sets him apart, and his consistent performance makes him a real legend in this league. Overall, Kohli has amassed 8,326 runs in 260 matches at an average of 39.27, including eight centuries and 59 half-centuries.

2. David Warner | 135

Before Rahul, David Warner held the title for the fewest innings to reach 5000 IPL runs for nearly five years, reaching the milestone in 135 innings. He achieved the milestone in 2020, playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring an unbeaten 47 against Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi.

Known for being one of the best players in the league, Warner led the Sunrisers Hyderabad to a championship in 2016. He made scoring big runs look effortless, converting his explosive starts into match-winning performances.

Despite going unsold in the recent auction, Warner boasts an impressive IPL record of 6,565 runs in 184 matches at 40.52, striking at 139.77 alongside 62 fifties and four centuries.

Also Read: Most Runs in IPL History: Virat Kohli leading the charts

1. KL Rahul | 130

As mentioned, KL Rahul is now the player who took fewest innings to reach 5,000 IPL runs, achieving the milestone in 130 innings.

He surpassed David Warner, who took 135 innings, to claim the top spot. Rahul also moved past Chris Gayle (4,965) and Robin Uthappa (4,952) on the all-time run-scorers list. Overall, he now owns 5,006 runs across 139 matches at 46.35 (SR: 135.70).

The cricketer from Karnataka added this record to his name while playing for Delhi Capitals after an impressive journey that started back with Kings XI Punjab in 2018. Since then, he has shown incredible consistency and has proven to be a match-winner time and again. His special 5000-run achievement came during a match against Lucknow Super Giants, reinforcing his nickname of “Mr. Consistent.”

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a tournament where batsmen dominate more. But, in the history of the cash-rich league, there have been many bowlers who fool the batsmen with their clever bowling and deprive them of scoring runs by bowling dot balls.

Fast cricket is being seen in every season of IPL, where batsmen hit a lot of fours and sixes. On the other hand, bowlers seem helpless most of the time. To get out of this situation, you need to have bowlers who can control the run flow of the opposition team by bowling dot balls.

Also Read: IPL facts: Every player to make IPL debut before turning 18

In this article, we will be discussing about the top 10 bowlers with most dot balls bowled in IPL history.

Most Dot Balls Bowled in IPL

10. Amit Mishra | 1191

Amit Mishra has been among the top wicket-takers in the IPL. He is also the only bowler to take three hat-tricks in IPL history.

The experienced leg spinner has outfoxed batters with his flighted deliveries and leg breaks. Mishra was in his prime in the initial seasons of the league, taking heaps of wickets. Over the years, Mishra has bowled 1191 dot balls in 162 games while picking up 174 wickets. 

9. Umesh Yadav | 1203

Umesh Yadav has sent down 1203 dot balls in his IPL career. The right-arm fast bowler grabbed everyone’s attention with his quick pace. He then showcased his ability in the IPL, making his debut for Delhi in 2010. Yadav can move the ball in and out while hitting above 135 kmph consistently.

Thus far, the Vidarbha bowler has represented four teams and took 144 wickets in 148 matches.

8. Harbhajan Singh | 1268

Harbhajan Singh delivered 1268 dot balls in his 163-match IPL career. The former off-spinner was a crucial member of Mumbai Indians (MI) for 10 seasons between 2008 and 2017. He played a major role in Mumbai winning the league three times, especially in 2013, when he racked up 24 wickets. 

Harbhajan then moved to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), playing his last game in 2021. Harbhajan got the better of batters with his varying length and pace while using his off-spin tricks. He took 150 wickets in 160 appearances at an economy rate of 7.08.

7. Yuzvendra Chahal | 1272

Yuzvendra Chahal is the most successful bowler in IPL history, sitting at the top of the wicket chart. The leg spinner has bagged 214 wickets in 168 matches while giving away 7.90 runs per over. On top of that, Chahal has delivered 1272 dot balls in the league. 

What makes his achievement special is he bowled most of his overs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where batters find it easy to score runs. Despite that, the leggie put up a break on run scoring, which is evident from his numbers.

6. Ravindra Jadeja | 1273

One of the best all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja has kept batters calm with his accurate bowling. The elite left-arm spinner bowls wicket-to-wicket, not giving much room to batters to score runs.

This has resulted in him bowling 1273 dot deliveries in 219 innings. Jadeja also boasts 165 wickets at an economy of 7.65 while representing four teams.

Also Read: IPL Facts: Best Economy in IPL Since 2024

5. Jasprit Bumrah | 1301

Jasprit Bumrah’s rise in world cricket is phenomenal. The right-arm pacer came to the IPL in 2013 and turned everyone’s heads around with his unorthodox slingy action. Thanks to his exploits in the league, Bumrah soon entered the Indian team, emerging as one of the greatest fast bowlers from the country. 

Mumbai Indians scouts unearthed the rookie talent, who has been playing for them ever since. Bumrah’s awkward release point makes it hard for batters to play him, helping him put a lid on run scoring. Thus far, he has fired down the fifth-most dot balls, with 1301 dots in 137 innings while adding 169 wickets at an economy rate of 7.30.

4. Piyush Chawla | 1337

One of the most successful bowlers in IPL history, India's dangerous leg-spinner Piyush Chawla has bowled 1337 dot balls in the tournament. He has managed to secure the fourth position in this list.

Additionally, with an impressive economy rate of 7.96 and an excellent bowling average of 26.6, Chawla holds the record for taking the second-highest number of wickets (192) in the history of the tournament.

3. Ravichandran Ashwin | 1606

India's experienced off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is third on this list with 1606 dot balls in 215 IPL innings. His economy in the league is impressive at 7.19 and he has also taken 4 wickets once.

Ashwin captained the Punjab Kings franchise for two seasons and played for Delhi Capitals in the 2020 and 2021 seasons and is currently playing for Chennai Super Kings. He has taken 185 wickets in an average of 30.23.

2. Sunil Narine | 1651

West Indies mystery spinner Sunil Narine made his IPL debut in 2012. Since then, this star all-rounder has been an important player for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Batters often find it hard to navigate his mystery spin, resulting in fewer runs and more wickets.

In the history of IPL, Narine has bowled 1651 dot balls and he is second on this list. Narine has taken a total of 187 wickets in 181 IPL innings.

Also Read: IPL Facts: Lowest Total Defended in IPL

1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 1736

India's experienced right-arm fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes first in the list of most dot balls bowled in IPL history. Bhuvi, who has the ability to swing the new ball both ways, has bowled 1736 dot balls in the cash-rich league. 

Bhuvi started playing in the IPL in 2011 with Pune Warriors before moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2014. Since then, he has shown his incredible control over the ball, often putting a break on the run flow of the batting sides. He will now represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2025 season.

The Indian fast bowler has taken 189 wickets in 183 innings at an average of 27.14 and an economy of 7.57.

Gujarat Titans entered IPL 2025 with one of the best bowling line-ups. They had Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Ishant Sharma among fast bowlers. And Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore and Washington Sundar leading the spinners. But while you would have expected Rashid Khan to be the main stars, reality has been different. Rashid endured the worst-ever phase of bowling he’s had in any IPL, and he has been playing in the tournament since 2017. He has gone wicketless in 7 innings out of 18 since IPL 2024. 

So, let's take a look at the stats of 'Rashid Khan in IPL since 2024'.

Also Read: Most Wickets Among Spinner in IPL Since 2023

What has gone wrong with Rashid?

The Rashid Khan in IPL of 2017 to 2023 was a master at landing the ball where he wanted to. He would find that sweet spot where batters were neither confident coming forward because the ball was not full enough, nor rocking back because it wasn’t short enough. And with Rashid’s speeds, you couldn’t safely just read him off the pitch either.

Moreover, it was extremely difficult to pick his variations. The googly caught many a batter plumb or bowled, because when he delivered it the difference in action was miniscule compared to his leg-break. His changes of pace, sliders and top-spinners were equally subtle. There was a fizz to his bowling.

But of late, that control has been lacking. The master of length has been bowling too short, too full, and straying in line too. What could be the reason?

Rashid had back surgery in late 2023, and that could well be a contributing factor. Since his comeback from that surgery, he has been a diminished version of what he was at his peak. The numbers show that clearly.

Rashid Khan in IPL since 2024

There is a clear contrast between the 2025 numbers and those of previous years. IPL 2024 was the first time Rashid was a bit below average, although in the most batting-dominated season of all time, his numbers were still quite okay. But in 2025 that decline was steeper.

Rashid Khan in IPL over the years

From his first year in 2017, Rashid was a phenomenon. He was extremely difficult to score off, and despite opponents playing him defensively and trying to just get through his overs without damage, he was picking up regular wickets too.

Also Read: IPL Facts: Best Economy in IPL Since 2024

We expect Rashid to be back soon

Rashid still remains a key part of the Gujarat Titans. His experience and nous can’t be discounted, and he adds value with his batting too. As he showed against Royals, he can be handy with his bowling still. What has helped Titans is how Kishore has seamlessly stepped up, while Siraj and Prasidh are on track to have their best IPL seasons. That has allowed the team to not be too hindered by Rashid’s drop off. And they expect him to be back to his best soon too.

Whether this game marks the start of better fortunes for Rashid or not remains to be seen. But it did show that he can’t be discounted yet.

Punjab Kings made history as the Shreyas Iyer-led side successfully defended a low score of 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL 2025 match in Mullanpur. To put things in perspective, this is the lowest total defended in IPL that started in 2008.

However, it’s a highly rare scenario in which a team successfully defends a low score. Yet, it’s happened several times. In this article, we will be discussing about the IPL facts of lowest total defended in IPL history.

Also Read: Most Dismissals in IPL History

Lowest Total Defended in IPL

6. 120 by MI (vs PWI, 2012)

This game saw Mumbai Indians set a target of just 121. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar was the Mumbai Indians top scorer with a knock of 34 while there were also contributions from James Franklin and Dinesh Karthik.

The MI bowlers, led by Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh, defended the score fiercely. Pune crumbled under pressure and could only muster 119, falling short by one run in a game that exemplified MI’s early reputation for pulling off scrappy wins. The final over saw Pune needing 12 to win and 11 for a super over was bowled by Munaf Patel. It went for 10 (including a wide) as MI hung on for the narrowest of wins.

5. 119 by SRH (vs PWI, 2013)

Another Pune Warriors heartbreak, this time at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad. SRH’s 119, carried by one-season-wonder Biplab Samantray’s 37.

It was a total that was below-par, especially against a Pune lineup that included Steve Smith, Aaron Finch, Robin Uthappa, Mitch Marsh and Angelo Matthews. But a devastating spell from Amit Mishra (4/19), which included a hat-trick, turned the match on its head. The Warriors were bowled out for just 108, handing SRH an unlikely 11-run win and helping establish the franchise’s long-standing reputation for defending tiny targets.

4. 119 by PBKS (vs MI, 2009)

Back in the South African edition of the IPL, PBKS managed to grind their way to 119 on a difficult Durban surface. Kumar Sangakkara’s 45 was key in helping them post a total with some fight to it.

In reply, MI’s chase never gained traction. Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Abdulla, and Ramesh Powar kept the pressure tight with only Proteas’ batsman JP Duminy really getting going as he made a well-played 59. MI were strangled for 116, handing Punjab a nail-biting three-run victory, the first of many low-score defences in their history.

3. 118 by SRH (vs MI, 2018)

This game was a bowler’s dream. Batting first SRH struggled from the outset with Kane Williamson and Yusuf Pathan joint top scorers with knocks of 29 as they made their way to a score of 118.

Mumbai, chasing a small target at home, were left stunned by a clinical SRH bowling performance. Rashid Khan (2/11) and Siddarth Kaul (3/23) triggered a collapse that saw MI bundled out for 87 and handing SRH what on paper appeared to be the simplest of 31-run wins, but what in reality was one of the great IPL bowling efforts.

2. 116 by CSK (vs PBKS, 2009)

Held in Durban, this was a classic case of CSK clawing their way back from the brink. Batting first, they could only post 116 with Parthiv Patel (30) Suresh Raina (20) top scoring on a difficult pitch.

But Muttiah Muralitharan (2/8), Ravi Ashwin (2/13) and Suresh Raina (2/17) bowled with guile, stifling PBKS to 92/8 in their 20 overs. It was one of those early IPL encounters that showed Dhoni’s leadership and CSK’s ability to win ugly.

Also Read: Most Wickets in 1st Over of IPL

1. 111 by PBKS (vs KKR, 2025)*

This week’s result enters the pantheon of IPL low-score defences. In a season where batting has generally dominated, PBKS crumbled to 111 all out after being put in by KKR. But what followed was breathtaking.

Chahal and Jansen bowled with venom and variation to strangle KKR’s chase. The target was small, but the pressure built relentlessly. KKR folded for just 95, an example to PBKS’s bowling discipline and mental strength. This was the lowest total defended in IPL in a non-rain affected game.