The Player of the series in cricket is awarded to that player who has played phenomenally well in most matches and has been an integral part of the team's win. The player who exerts the most influence in that series is awarded the player of the series or man of the series.

The rule of awarding a player as the man of the match or man of the series became regular in the test matches since the mid-1980s. Let's check out those players who contributed more than any other player for their team's win and won most player of the series in Test cricket history.

Read Also: Most half-centuries in Test cricket among active Indian players

#6. Shane Warne | Australia | 8 awards (46 series)

Shane Warne is undoubtedly one of the greatest bowlers in the history of cricket. The God of spin's bowling totally changed the game with his and how he refined it. He made his test debut in 1992 to and his initial years were a bit difficult. He was talented even then but he couldn't do the correct projection. Soon in the next year he changed his game completely and bowled exceptionally well.

After his performance in the Ashes series, his bowling was also called the 'ball of the century. The Australian cricketer not only spoke with his ball, but he also helped the team with runs and fielding in dire situations. In a span of 15 years, he became the player of the series 8 times in 145 matches.

#5. Sir Richard Hadlee | New Zealand | 8 awards (33 series)

Sir Richard Hadlee is a former cricketer of the New Zealand bowling team. Needless to say that he single-handedly took the burden of the bowling performances. He was the most important bowler of New Zealand at that time. It was quite evident that the New Zealand team is nothing without him after his retirement. He is one of the cricketers from his country who took this team to higher levels and presented it in a way in front of the world that they never expected. He made his debut in 1973 against Pakistan.

Hadlee was playing well but he got recognition in 1976 when he destroyed India with a spell of 7/23. He started showing in his class more and more and had a bright test career. He picked up 130 wickets in 23 test matches played against Australia including spells like 15/123 at the Gabba. The legendary bowler ended his career by picking up 5 wickets in his last match. He took a wicket in the final ball of his last test match. Also, he became the first bowler in the history of test cricket to pick 400 test wickets. In a span of about 17 years, he played in 86 matches and became the player of the series 8 times.

Also Read: Most number of days between centuries by any Indian batsman in tests

#4. Imran Khan | Pakistan | 8 awards (28 series)

Imran Khan is one of the finest cricketers of the Pakistan cricket team till today. The all-rounder was a great cricketer on the field and was loved by everyone for his impeccable performances. But he was appreciated a lot off the field as well. He was very popular because of his good looks, long hair, and charismatic appeal.

The heartthrob of the 70s and 80s was an all-rounder with skills of reverse swinging Yorker and batting as well. After graduating from Oxford he returned to his country and joined the cricket team. He was recognized the most when he was declared the 3rd fastest bowler of cricket history in 1978. With both old balls and new balls, he had the ability to destroy the opposition. He played 88 matches and has been awarded the player of the series 8 times because of his impactful performances.

Read Also: Cricket Facts: Teams to win every ICC event (white ball)

#3. Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 9 awards (61 series)

There is no comparison to Jacques Kallis when it comes to the greatest wall rounder of all time. The South African cricketer literally created havoc every time he was on the field. His steps in all three formats are exceptional and he presented his caliber in the best way possible always. He is regarded as the greatest all-rounder because of his record of scoring 10000 runs and taking more than 250 wickets at the same time.

Kallis was a great fielder too and caught over more than a hundred catches. He is one of the four players in the history of Test matches to score a century in 5 consecutive matches. Kallis has been an asset to the South African cricket team since his debut and contributed a lot to his team until he retired in 2013. He played 166 matches in 61 series and has been awarded the player of the series 9 times.

#2. Ravichandran Ashwin | India | 9 awards (33 series)

Ravichandran Ashwin is the number one bowler with the most number of international wickets right now. The Indian off-spinner is one of the biggest assets of the Indian bowling lineup and has been playing exceptionally well in all three formats of the game. He was selected in the Indian squad as a replacement of Harbhajan Singh against South Africa in 2010 and since then he proved himself in most of the opportunities he got. Ashwin overtook Kallis, Imran Khan, Sir Hedlee, and Warne when he won his 9th Player of the Series award against NZ recently.

One of the most memorable moments of his career is that he picked up 9 wickets in his maiden Test. He played extraordinarily in the Border Gavaskar trophy 2013 and became the man of the series and since then there has been no looking back for him. Ashwin has proven the fact that he can bat well too. A few times you have contributed runs for the team. The destructive Indian bowler has played in 81 matches and has been awarded the player of the series 9 times. Meanwhile, Ashwin is just behind the legend Muralitharan, who has won 11 awards in his test career.

Also Read: Most ICC Trophy wins by any team

#1. Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 11 awards (61 series)

The cricketer with the most number of players of the series winners in Test cricket history is Muttiah Muralitharan. The Sri Lankan bowler is considered one of the greatest spin bowlers of his time. He created magic with a ball in his hand. He destroyed the opponent batting lineup with spinning kills and many times he became the one-man army of the Sri Lankan bowling lineup and fought against the opponents.

Since his debut in 1992, he has been playing well but right after 1998, he started having a stunning and exceptional career. He took more than 1000 international wickets in tests and ODI. The spinner won everyone's hearts through his magic but got trapped in controversies many times. He has received the most number of player of the series awards. He played in 133 matches and won 11 players of the series awards in them.

N.B: The stats are accurate as of 08/12/2021.

As the ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 is getting closer to the grand final, it is now time to look back at the bowlers with standout performances. They have constantly troubled batsmen which led to their team's success.

Who do you think are the ones with most wickets? Take a look at the highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

Jasprit Bumrah | India

Jasprit Bumrah had a remarkable campaign in WTC 2023-25 cycle and has taken the most number of wickets. He took 77 wickets in 15 matches, with an average of 15.09. 

Bumrah recorded five 5-wicket hauls in the cycle and also had his best bowling figure of 6/45 in an innings against England.

Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah becomes first-ever player to pick 200 Test wickets with an average below 20

Jasprit Bumrah stats in WTC 2023-2025

Pat Cummins | Australia 

The Australian skipper, Pat Cummins, has done wonders with the ball, by taking 73 wickets in 17 matches. He is the leading wicket taker for Australia and can also be on top by showcasing his wicket-taking skills in the WTC final against South Africa. 

His best bowling performance in the tournament was a 6-wicket haul for 91 runs.

Pat Cummins stats in WTC 2023-2025

Read Also: WTC Final: Australia and South Africa announce their squads

Mitchell Starc | Australia 

Yet another Australian legend to feature in this list, who is just behind Cummins by one wicket. This fiery left-arm pacer have always been a key bowling of their team. He took 72 wickets in 18 matches total.

Mitchell Starc's best bowling figure in WTC 2023-25 includes a 6-wicket haul for 48 runs.

Mitchell Starc stats in WTC 2023-2025

Other players with 60+ wickets in WTC 2023-25

Seems like the Aussies and Indians have purely dominated the bowling sides and got most wickets up their sleeves.

Read Also: Fav four in Test cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith stats in Tests

Here are the other players who crossed the 60 wickets mark and deserves a shoutout in the list of highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

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: Fastest 50 IPL Wickets Among Pacers (by Matches)

Top 10 bowlers with most wickets in IPL history:

10. Ravindra Jadeja | 166 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 249 games taking 166 wickets with the ball with an average of 30.43 and an economy rate of 7.64.

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. 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.

8. Amit Mishra | 174 Wickets

The next bowler on the list is Indian leggie Amit Mishra who has picked 174 wickets in 162 games. The eighth-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.

7. Jasprit Bumrah | 174 Wickets

Jasprit Bumrah, the game-changer of the game has put his name at no. 7 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 174 wickets in 139 games with an average of 22.38. Meanwhile, Bumrah has bowled at an economy rate of 7.30 in the franchise cricket league. This year he is playing for MI again as the franchise retained him before the mega auction.

6. Dwayne Bravo | 183 Wickets 

Dwayne Bravo with 183 wickets is the sixth name on the list. 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.

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

5. Ravichandran Ashwin | 185 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 five on this list of bowlers with the most wickets in IPL history. 

Ashwin has picked 185 wickets in 219 matches with an average of 30.22. He has also maintained an economy rate of 7.18. 

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. 

4. Sunil Narine | 190* Wickets

The next bowler on this is none other than the West Indies magician Sunil Narine. Narine has taken 190 wickets in 186 games with an average of 25.39 and bowls with an economy rate of 6.77. 

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.

3. Piyush Chawla | 192 Wickets

Piyush Chawla, who was bought by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2021 in the mini-auction is the third-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.

2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 193 Wickets

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with 193 wickets is the second name in this list of players with the most wickets in IPL. Bhuvi has played in 185 matches in which he took those 193 wickets at an average of 27.01. However, he has bowled with an economy rate of 7.60 in the league. 

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

Also Read: Most Dot Balls Bowled in IPL History: No one is catching Bhuvi

1. Yuzvendra Chahal | 214 Wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal has taken the most wickets in IPL history. Chahal has played in 169 games in which he has scalped 214 wickets with an average of 22.63. Moreover, he has an economy of 7.90 in the league.

Previously Chahal has played for RCB till 2021 and this season he is featuring the Punjab Kings as they bought him in the IPL 2025 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.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the five-time IPL Champions known for their consistency and tactical moves which usually leads them to success, find themselves in an unfamiliar position this season. CSK is at the bottom of the points table with just 2 wins out of their 9 matches, marking their worst IPL season till date. 

The main reasons of CSK’s struggles in IPL 2025 are a combination of poor auction strategy, some important players getting injured, very weak & out of form batting line-up, horrible fielding performances, and being unable to find a proper & effective playing 11 combination despite playing half of their matches in IPL 2025.

Also Read: Impactful Overseas players in IPL 2025

(1) Poor Auction Strategy

From the Auction Table only, CSK’s management started making mistakes by failing to grab impactful players who could fill the gaps in their squad.

Instead of investing in young and in-form players, the management made some confusing choices by buying mediocre players with poor form like Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar, especially with a few key players nearing the end of their careers like Ravichandran Ashwin. 

Former CSK great, also known as “Mr. IPL”, Suresh Raina has publicly criticised CSK’s poor auction strategy by pointing out the missed opportunities to buy match-winning players like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Faf Du Plessis, etc., due to a lack of funds. 

While other franchises focused on acquiring young and dynamic talent, CSK appeared to rely heavily on their tried-and-tested players like Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Sam Curran, etc., who are unable to perform in crucial situations for CSK in IPL 2025. 

CSK’s management overlooked many promising domestic and overseas players who have been performing nicely in other T20 leagues, which resulted in a poor out-of-form bunch of players.

Some auction picks like Noor Ahmad and Khaleel Ahmed were great buys for CSK in IPL 2025, as these 2 players are performing really well and clinching wickets on a regular basis.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Where's what each team need to do to qualify for the playoffs

(2) Batting Collapses in almost every match

CSK’s batting has been one of the weakest in this season. Their top-order batsmen like Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, and Ruturaj Gaikwad have failed to perform consistently, and batted with a very low strike-rate in power-play which leads the team one step backwards from the start of the game. 

The middle-order batsmen like Deepak Hooda, Shivam Dubey, and Vijay Shankar have failed to capitalize in the middle overs, and batted with a slow strike rate, and poor shot selection, which made most of their chases or first innings totals look below par. 

Even their reliable lower order batters or finishers like Ravindra Jadeja and Mahendra Singh Dhoni haven't been able to rescue them as they are also out of form and being overburdened with responsibility. So, the lack of a proper finisher is glaring. 

Also Read: Top 5 game-changing factors that could send MI to IPL 2025 Playoffs

Some young and new batters of CSK like Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, and Dewald Brewis who got a chance to play from the previous 2-3 matches have performed nicely and played exceptionally well and showed potential that they can be the future stars of CSK. 

After the recent loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad, MS Dhoni highlighted the problems because of which CSK is continuously losing matches this season.

His words were, “In a tournament like this, if there are one or two areas to plug in the holes, then it's good, but when a majority of the players are not doing well, then you need to make changes. You can’t just keep going. We are just not putting enough runs on the board”, while addressing the post-match presentation.

Also Read: Glenn Maxwell in IPL Since 2024

(3) Poor Fielding and Catch Drops at Crucial Moment

CSK’s fielding, which was a strength for them earlier, has been horrible this year. CSK has dropped 13-14 catches in IPL 2025 till now which is most by any team this season and after these catch drops of important players at crucial moments, all those players scored a good number of runs and lead their respective teams to a very good total or chased the runs made by CSK. 

In a highly competitive league like the IPL, every run saved with a good fielding effort makes a difference and creates pressure on the opposition, but CSK has failed to do this in this IPL season, which is one of the reasons for CSK’s struggles in IPL 2025. 

MS Dhoni’s wicket-keeping skills is the only thing which deserves appreciation when CSK is fielding. At the age of 43, Dhoni’s wicket-keeping is still lethal with lightning-fast stumping and very smooth ball receiving technique. 

CSK’s bowling has also been very outstanding this season. Bowlers of CSK, like Khaleel Ahmed and Noor Ahmad, have taken crucial wickets continuously. They have been able to create chances with their effective bowling, but the fielders were not able to grab those chances and take advantage of them.

Also Read: IPL Facts: Lowest Total Defended in IPL

(4) Important Players Getting Injured

Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Captain of CSK, got injured and was ruled out of this IPL, which made the CSK batting line-up very weak and inexperienced. Devon Conway has to return to New Zealand because his father passed away. 

After Gaikwad’s exclusion from the playing 11 because of an unfortunate injury, MS Dhoni has again become the Captain of CSK and Ayush Mhatre has been signed by the CSK management as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Also Read: IPL 2025, CSK vs KKR: CSK's five lowest totals in IPL history

(5) Where will the CSK team go from here?

After losing 7 out of 9 matches, and with 5 games left, only CSK’s qualifying chances for IPL 2025 Play-offs are practically gone. Even MS Dhoni seems to be looking ahead to next season, as after their recent loss to Mumbai Indians, Dhoni highlighted the importance of getting a secured playing XI for the next year, while addressing the post-match presentation.

As the season progresses, one thing is clear: CSK's struggles in IPL 2025 serve as a reminder that even the most successful teams need to evolve and adapt to the current playing style to stay competitive. 

If CSK wants to bounce back next season, they need figure out what went wrong in 2025 and correct those things as soon as possible. The auction errors, poor on-field execution, poor display of batting & fielding, and over-reliance on aging players have all contributed to a season they’ll want to forget. 

The Chennai Super Kings have built a legacy over the years. But this year, that legacy has taken a hit and only a superb comeback in the next season of IPL can earn them their respect again which CSK deserves, and as we all know that CSK is also known as the Comeback Super Kings so every CSK fan will pray for their team’s strong comeback in the next season of IPL.

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.

As Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru prepare to face off at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai today, all eyes will be on the bowlers who could make the difference in this high-stakes encounter. 

Now Mumbai Indians will get a boost as Jasprit Bumrah returns for their MI vs RCB clash. The pacer, sidelined since India’s final Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January due to a back injury, also missed the Champions Trophy and IPL’s early matches. Now fit, the 31-year-old is set for his season debut.

Also Read: Most Wickets in IPL as a Captain

So, before start of the MI vs RCB IPL 2025 match, let's take a look at the bowlers with most wickets against RCB in IPL.

MI vs RCB: Most Wickets against RCB in IPL

5. Ravichandran Ashwin | 26 Wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin is the fifth-highest wicket-taker against Royal Challengers Bengaluru among the active bowlers and sixth overall. The veteran spinner has enjoyed bowling for this team, and his spell in the finals of the 2011 season while playing for CSK helped Chennai win the tournament. 

Overall, Ashwin has played 31 games against RCB and taken 26 wickets at a brilliant economy rate of 7.12 and a best of 3/16. His bowling average is 28.03 against them.

The 38-year-old is still active in the IPL. He is representing his inaugural season team, the Chennai Super Kings, in the ongoing season.

4. Ravindra Jadeja | 26 Wickets

Ravindra Jadeja has played 34 matches against RCB and bowled 594 deliveries, taking 26 wickets at an impressive average of 28.38. His economy and control in the middle overs make him a key weapon, especially at spin-friendly venues.

With the bat, Jadeja has also been impactful. He batted in 27 innings, scoring 383 runs. Though not always at the top of the order, he has been a reliable lower middle-order batter. His highest score against RCB is 62*, and he averages 23.93 with a strike rate of 128.95.

3. Sandeep Sharma | 27 Wickets

Sandeep Sharma is an important member of RR’s bowling unit. The veteran pacer matched the performance of Trent Boult with the new ball and then also restricted the batters in the final overs. 

The veteran pacer has played just 19 innings against Royal Challengers Bengaluru until now. He has picked up a total of 27 wickets at an economy rate of 8.17. If he can take three wickets in the coming game, he will become the leading wicket-taker against RCB. His best figure against RCB is 3/15.

Sandeep has enjoyed bowling against RCB and its batters. He has also dismissed Virat Kohli seven times in the IPL.

Also Read: IPL facts: Players to play 100 IPL matches for each team

2. Sunile Narine | 27 Wickets

Having made his IPL debut in 2012, Sunile Narine has an incredible bowling average of 20.57 against RCB. He has played 22 IPL matches for KKR against RCB and has taken a phenomenal 27 wickets. His economy rate is a brilliant 6.69, which only adds to his reputation as one of the most dangerous bowlers in the league.

With the bat, Narine also has an exceptional strike-rate of 180.97 against RCB in the IPL. He has hammered 333 runs from 13 innings at 30.27 in this regard. His tally includes 35 fours and 23 sixes.

1. Jasprit Bumrah | 29 Wickets

In 19 matches against the Rajat Patidar-led side, Jasprit Bumrah has scalped 29 wickets at an average of 19.03 and an economy rate of 7.45. His best performance came just last season at the Wankhede, where he dismantled the RCB batting lineup with a sensational 5/21.

Notably, the last time Bumrah missed an entire IPL season was in 2023 due to injury. He returned in 2024 with a bang, playing 13 matches and bagging 20 wickets for the franchise. Across his IPL career, the India pacer has featured in 133 matches, claiming 165 wickets and establishing himself as one of the most consistent fast bowlers in the league.

Bumrah's return is particularly significant given his stellar record against RCB.