10 Most Costly Bowling Spells in IPL History
In the realm of Indian Premier League (IPL), records are made and broken with each passing season, but some records hold a notorious footnote in the annals of cricket history. Among these, the records for the most expensive bowling spells stand out, and no bowler aspires to top this list.
Recently, a young Mumbai Indians debutant, 17-year-old Kwena Maphaka, experienced a tough outing as he conceded 66 runs in the four overs he bowled against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Sunrisers batsmen, capitalizing on his inexperience, unleashed a severe attack on the youngster.
On that eventful day, Sunrisers players Travis Head and Abhishek shone with the bat, scoring brisk half-centuries off just 17 and 18 balls, respectively. Their explosive hitting contributed significantly to Maphaka’s expensive figures.
This expensive spell by Maphaka recalled an even more exorbitant spell from the IPL’s past.
Basil Thampi, bowling for Sunrisers Hyderabad, has the unfortunate distinction of delivering the worst spell in the tournament’s history. In a 2018 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Thampi leaked a monumental 70 runs in 4 overs without claiming any wickets.
Thampi’s pricey spell proved to be detrimental to SRH’s prospects as the Royal Challengers Bangalore went on to amass a hefty total of 218-6. Ultimately, RCB clinched the victory by 14 runs in what turned out to be a high-scoring encounter.
| Bowler | Figures | Team | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil Thampi | 4-0-70-0 | SRH | RCB | 2018 |
| Yash Dayal | 4-0-69-0 | GT | KKR | 2023 |
| Kwena Maphaka | 4-0-66-0 | MI | SRH | 2024 |
| Ishant Sharma | 4-0-66-0 | SRH | CSK | 2013 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4-0-66-0 | PBKS | SRH | 2019 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 3.5.0-66-1 | PBKS | MI | 2023 |
| Umesh Yadav | 4-0-65-0 | DC | RCB | 2013 |
| Sandeep Sharma | 4-0-65-1 | PBKS | SRH | 2014 |
| Siddarth Kaul | 4-0-64-2 | SRH | MI | 2020 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 4-0-64-0 | RCB | PBKS | 2022 |
Maphaka now joins a less enviable list, becoming the fourth bowler in the history of the IPL to concede 66 runs across his 4-over quota. He shares this record with other bowlers who have had similar tough days on the field, including Ishant Sharma, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, and Arshdeep Singh.
While a bowler’s nightmare spell might offer a moment of glory for the batsmen, it serves as a stark reminder of the relentless pressure and unforgiving nature of T20 cricket, especially in a high-profile league like the IPL. Aspiring cricketers can take these moments as learning experiences for improving their craft in the face of adversity.
For followers and punters on crictips.com, knowing such stats can be pivotal when considering the form and confidence levels of the bowlers during the wager placements. Stay tuned for more updates and betting tips as the IPL season progresses.
19:30 IST
