Lungi, Tye, Markande: 10 Best Bowling Spells in IPL 2018 So Far

We list below some of the best spells in this IPL so far – some of which can even be termed as tournament-defining.

"Batsmen are important – of course they are – but I think bowlers are hugely underestimated in T20 cricket.” Breaking the myth that batsmen are the more crucial members in a T20 side, Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody, whose side has been guided into the IPL Play-offs after a spirited bowling display in the round-robin stages, reveals the importance of a strong bowling line-up in the shortest format of the game.

Over the years, Kolkata Knight Riders too has chosen to focus on the quality of their bowlers, who were the major forces behind the team winning the tournament two times. While high-quality batsmen can be many, quality bowlers are rare to find and hence, even while teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils stood up in the batting front this season, they were let down by their poor standard in the bowling department. We list below some of the best IPL spells in this tournament so far, some of which can even be termed as tournament-defining.

Ankit Rajpoot for KXIP against SRH: 4-0-14-5

The uncapped Indian is the first and the only bowler to pick up a fifer in this IPL. After not being selected for the first few matches, Rajpoot opened the attack for Punjab against SRH in Hyderabad and knocked off Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson and Wriddhiman Saha early on. The youngster showed tremendous control and control as he hit the deck hard and troubled the batsmen. Rajpoot returned in the death and kept varying his pace and scalped Mohammad Nabi and Manish Pandey to help restrict the rivals to 132. However his best T20 figures were not enough for the team, as Punjab were undone by an equally brilliant bowling display by Rashid Khan who lead the way with 3 wickets.

Lungi Ngidi for CSK against KXIP: 4-1-10-4

On a Pune wicket that had bounce, pace and carry, South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi picked up his best T20 figures. With Punjab needing to win by a margin of 53 runs to qualify, the batters were keen to begin on an explosive note, but a wicket maiden by Ngidi derailed proceedings. He had explosive Chris Gayle out for a nought in the first over and in the next, he bowled in-form KL Rahul for 7. His initial spell ensured that the visiting side could never gain back their momentum and with two more wickets in the 18th over, Ngidi ensured that Chennai comfortably ended in the Top-2. He conceded just 10 runs in his quota of overs as well – the most economical spell by a bowler this season.

Andrew Tye for KXIP against MI: 4-0-16-4

The Australian has been in fine form in the league and presently holds the Purple Cap for his 24 wickets. He entered the record books when he became the first player to pick up three 4 wicket hauls in an IPL season, the third of which came at Wankhede in a must-win game. The pacer dismissed Evin Lewis first up with a knuckle ball and then sent back Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan off successive deliveries. He returned to pick up the wicket of Hardik Pandya and helped Punjab restrict Mumbai for 186. The visiting team lost by 3 runs.

Shreyas Gopal for Rajasthan Royals against RCB: 4-0-16-4

In a do-or-die game for both the sides, leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal came to the party in their last home game to shoot out a strong RCB side for just 134. After Rajasthan had piled on a competitive 164/5 on the board, the onus was on the Rajasthan bowlers to take their side across the line. The 24-year-old sent back Parthiv Patel and Moeen Ali in the same over to leave Bangalore stuttering at 77 for 3. However, he knew that his work was not over till the dangerous AB de Villiers was at the crease. He bowled a perfect googly that bamboozled the South African to get him stumped and with the wicket of Mandeep Singh earlier, Gopal ensured that Rajasthan stayed on course for a top-four finish.

Kuldeep Yadav for KKR against Rajasthan Royals: 4-0-20-4

Before KKR’s encounter with Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens, Kuldeep Yadav had picked up just 9 wickets, failing to replicate his international success for his franchise this year. However in a crucial game, the chinaman bowler showed his worth, taking up 4 wickets for just 20 runs to help his side restrict RR to just 142. After piling on 59 runs in 4 overs, Rajasthan looked all set for a dangerous target, but Kuldeep’s deceptive slower balls stalled their progress. He picked up Ajinkya Rahane in his first over and in his second sent back Jos Buttler who attempted a reverse sweep when he was on 39 from just 21 balls. Kuldeep picked up Stuart Binny and Ben Stokes in the next two overs, which effectively broke the RR momentum. The side could just manage 142 runs, courtesy Kuldeep’s stellar show and KKR easily chased the target with 2 overs to spare.

Mayank Markande for MI against SRH: 4-0-23-4

Mumbai’s Mayank Markande had a dream start to the IPL season, taking 3 wickets in his first IPL match. He bettered his show in the next game against SRH in Hyderabad, as he picked up 4/23 with 11 dot balls in his quota of overs. His googly troubled Wriddhiman Saha and Dhawan top-edged a sweep to long-leg. The 20-year-old continued his rich vein of form as he got Pandey soon after and finished off with the wicket of Shakib Al Hasan as the batsman attempted to late-cut the bowler. After Mumbai were restricted to just 147, they needed their bowlers to stand up and while Markande did just that, he was not given much support from the other end. His side eventually lost the game.

Prasidh Krishna for KKR against SRH: 4-0-30-4

KKR have been relying on young fast bowlers after their senior pros Mitchell Johnson and Vinay Kumar have had an ineffective season. Once Shivam Mavi was injured, KKR turned to Prasidh Krishna who impressed with 5 wickets in 4 games before the game against SRH. Needing a win to qualify, KKR were in trouble with Hyderabad cruising at 92 for 1, and Kane Williamson batting on 36 from 16. However, it was the combined efforts of Krishna and Sunil Narine that helped KKR restrict SRH to 172 for 9. The pacer was particularly impressive in KKR’s last over, picking up 3 wickets and conceding only four runs to tilt the momentum in favour of the visiting side.

Andrew Tye for KXIP against Rajasthan Royals: 4-0-34-4

Tye picked up his first 4-fer in Jaipur on the day the speedster lost his grandmother. Showing brilliant character, the Aussie got his knuckleball to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane and throughout the innings he bowled with precision and accuracy, which prevented the opponents from running away with the game. His other three wickets came in the last over of the innings when he had Ben Stokes out off the first ball and then got the wickets of Jofra Archer and Jaydev Unadkat to restrict Rajasthan to 158/8.

Andrew Tye for KXIP against KKR: 4-0-41-4

KKR’s away game against Punjab was a run-feast with the visitors piling on a mammoth 245 on the board. On a day the Punjab bowlers took a beating, Tye was the only bowler who impressed, taking 4 wickets at an economy rate of 10.25. He accounted for the top-four batsmen in the KKR camp and if it was not for his variations, the rivals would have ended up scoring more.

Deepak Chahar for CSK against SRH: 4-1-15-3

Uncapped pacer Deepak Chahar took full advantage of the bounce on offer on a slow Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium to finish with 3/15 in CSK’s fifth match of the season. Helped by a track that had pace and with a strong breeze allowing him to swing his deliveries, Chahar had an incredible first spell, which read 3-1-7-3. He claimed the wickets of Ricky Bhui, Pandey and Deepak Hooda in a tight run-chase that Hyderabad lost by just 4 runs.