Powerplays are considered to be one of the most important parts of the game in the shortest format. Both the teams want to get off to a good start which sets the tone for the rest of the match. A batting team would like to score around 50 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket or at most losing one wicket. On the other hand, the bowling team would like to pick up early wickets in the powerplay. There is a stat that tells that if a batting team loses three wickets in the powerplay then there is a 70% chance that they will end up on the losing side. This stat just tells the importance of wickets in the powerplay. Bowlers who can pick up early wickets are gold and everybody can’t do that. So, who are the bowlers with the most wickets in the Powerplay? Let’s have a look at five bowlers with most IPL wickets in the powerplay.
5. Dhawal Kulkarni – 44 wickets
Dhawal Kulkarni is currently part of the Mumbai Indians squad and is serving as a backup to Jasprit Bumrah. He is one of those players who has been part of the IPL from its first season. Kulkarni has played for three different teams in the IPL and most of the time takes the new ball whenever he is playing.
He is one of those bowlers who can get some swing upfront. If he gets it right, he can get a couple of wickets in the powerplay. So, far he has picked up 86 wickets in his IPL career out of which 44 are in the powerplay. More than 50% of his wickets are in the powerplay. With 44 wickets in the powerplay, he is fifth on this list.
4. Umesh Yadav – 45 wickets
Another Indian fast bowler who is currently not part of the first XI for RCB. He has been struggling over the last couple of seasons for RCB. But in 2018, he was sensational with the new ball as he used to pick up a lot of wickets in the powerplay.
Kohli used him well in 2018 as he used to bowl three in the powerplay. Umesh Yadav has picked up 119 wickets in his IPL career out of which 45 are in the powerplay. He has always been a new ball bowler and using him at the death wasn’t a wise decision.
3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 48 wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s template as an IPL bowler is set. He bowls two in the powerplay and two at the death and is successful in both areas. He started his career as an out and out-swing bowler but now has learned how to bowl at the death. But still, he has the swing which can knock a few poles in the powerplay.
Kumar has picked up 136 wickets in his IPL career out of which 48 are in the powerplay. He is one of those new ball bowlers who you don’t want to face in the powerplay.
2. Zaheer Khan – 52 wickets
After so many right-arm fast bowlers there had to be a left-armer on the list and who better than Zaheer Khan. The left-arm swing bowler has picked up 102 wickets in his IPL career out of which 52 are in the powerplay.
One of the finest new-ball bowlers not only in the IPL for India has picked up more than 50% of his wickets in the powerplay. Left-armers are always difficult for the right-handers and if they can swing the new ball then the batsman will always be in trouble.
1. Sandeep Sharma – 53 wickets
Sandeep Sharma recently picked up his 100th wicket in the IPL which is a huge achievement. He is one of the most underrated bowlers in the IPL. He is known for his swing in the initial overs. He has dismissed Virat Kohli seven times in the IPL.
The 27-year-old swing bowler has taken 108 wickets in the IPL out of which 53 are in the powerplay. He is doing well in this IPL in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His early wickets will be key for SRH in the playoffs.
