Top 10 Bowlers Who Have Bowled The Most Maiden Overs In IPL

Bowlers bowling maidens in Test cricket seem the most digestible. The bowlers going overs without giving away runs in ODIs is far from surprising. However, it is indeed a striking revelation to witness them delivering maidens in T20 cricket, a format in which batsmen dictate the terms.

Also Read: Indian Bowlers Who Have Picked 200+ Wickets In Both Test And ODIs

Revealingly in IPL, there do exist bowlers who have bowled a good number of maiden overs during their careers. Their discipline and precision against some of the most swashbuckling batsmen in the world indeed deserve recognition. The unhelpful wickets throughout the tournament in most venues further widen the odds for the bowlers to chalk out maidens.

We take a look top ten bowlers who have delivered the most number of maidens in IPL history:

Munaf Patel – 5

One of the unsung heroes of India’s 2011 World Cup victory, Munaf Patel is an uncanny bowler, who hardly generates pace during bowling. Instead, Munaf Patel relies on movement and nagging line and lengths to bother the batsmen. From 2008 to 2017, he played for Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Lions, and Mumbai Indians.

The right-arm medium pace bowler played 63 matches in nine years and bowled five maidens. Munaf took 74 wickets at 22.95 apiece alongside a solitary five-wicket haul. After playing 13 Tests, 70 ODIs, and three T20Is, Munaf Patel retired from international cricket in November 2018.

Harbhajan Singh – 6

Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is perhaps one of the most experienced players in the tournament’s history. He has plied his trade for Mumbai Indians while the offie’s existing franchise is Chennai Super Kings, playing 160 matches in total. In such an enormous amount of games, he has delivered six maidens.

The Turbanator has notched 150 wickets at 26.44 while maintaining an economy rate of 7.05 alongside a solitary five-wicket haul. Concerning the 40 year’s old international career, he played his last game in March 2016. India’s highest wicket-taker amongst off-spinners in Test could feature in his final IPL season in 2020.

Amit Mishra – 6

Amit Mishra is one of the best-performing spinners in the extravaganza’s history, having played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Deccan Chargers, and his existing franchise Delhi Capitals. During his 147-match career so far since 2008, the leggie has also delivered six maidens.

With three hat-tricks in IPL, the 37-year old holds the highest number of them in the cash-rich league. He has 157 wickets so far at 24.19 apiece while maintaining an economy rate of 7.35. Amit Mishra has a fifer and three four-wicket hauls. With the leg-spinner being on the wrong side of the 30s, he is still hopeful of making a comeback to the national team.

Dale Steyn – 7

South African speedster Dale Steyn is next on the list and is also one of the two overseas players to be on it. Dale Steyn played all the seasons from 2008 to 2016. However, he skipped the next two years healing from injuries but returned in 2019. Steyn opens the bowling for his franchises and is a deadly operator with the new ball.

Meanwhile, having played 92 games in the IPL, he has sent seven maidens. The paceman has picked up 96 wickets at 24.73 while keeping his economy rate at 6.76. The veteran is expected to play for Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore in the upcoming season at the UAE.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 8

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the best bowlers with the new ball, capable of generating movement both ways. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also an exceptional death bowler and headlines an already reputed Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling attack. The Meerut pacer is the kind of bowler, who can send maidens even in death overs.

So far in 117 IPL games, he has delivered eight maidens. The 30-year old boasts of 133 wickets at 23.71, keeping an economy rate of 7.24. Kumar, who has battled plenty of injuries in recent times, would be aiming to mark his territory in the upcoming season. That would give him a chance to stay in the reckoning for a regular spot in the Indian team.

Sandeep Sharma – 8

Like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma is also a dangerous new-ball bowler with a lethal inswinger, playing currently for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The right-arm pacer also played for Kings XI Punjab previously. When it comes to delivering maidens, Sandeep Sharma also has eight maidens.

The Punjab seamer has 95 wickets so far in IPL, which has come at 23.91 apiece and an economy rate of 7.81. Sandeep has two four-wicket hauls as well and has played two T20Is both of which arrived in 2015. However, the 27-year old was able to pick only one wicket across those.

Also Read: Top 10 Non-Retired Bowlers With Most Wickets In ODI Cricket

Lasith Malinga – 8

Lasith Malinga is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament history with 170 under his belt. Lasith Malinga is also one of those, who bowls unplayable yorkers hence there is little surprise to see his name on this list. The lanky pacer has sent eight maidens in 122 games so far.

The 36-year old has played for Mumbai Indians since the start of the IPL and has been a guiding force for the young pacers in the franchise. Along with Jasprit Bumrah, he has transformed Mumbai into a formidable bowling outfit and played integral roles in all four title victories.

Also Read: 5 Bowlers Who Did Not Concede Any Six During Their Test Career

Dhawal Kulkarni – 8

While Dhawal Kulkarni has not had success at the international level, he remains in the IPL each year. At present, Dhawal Kulkarni plays for Rajasthan Royals while he has also played for Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions. The right-arm pacer has delivered eight maidens in 90 matches thus far.

In 90 matches, the 31-year old has snared 86 wickets at 27.95. However, Dhawal Kulkarni economy rate of 8.96 is slightly on the higher side as he struggles in the death overs. The Mumbai bowler has also played 14 international games across T20s and ODIs, the last of which came against New Zealand in October 2016.

Also Read: 5 Cricketers Who Began Their Career As Bowlers But Turned Into Explosive Hitters

Irfan Pathan – 8

Former Indian left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan sits second on the list for most maidens bowled in IPL. While his overall statistics may not be that impressive, Irfan Pathan has sent ten maidens in only 103 games. He played for as many as five franchises; namely, Gujarat Lions, Kings XI Punjab, Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

In 103 matches, the 35-year old managed 80 wickets 33.11 while maintaining a credible economy rate of 7.77. Pathan also scored 1139 runs with a solitary fifty. After playing 29 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 24 T20Is, Irfan Pathan retired from international and all forms of cricket in January this year.

Also Read: 7 Bowlers Who Never Bowled A No-Ball During Their Careers

Praveen Kumar – 14

Praveen Kumar was one of the best seam and swing bowlers produced by India, who was very effective with the new ball. Due to his probing line and length, batsmen used to find it challenging to dominate him. In IPL, he played for five franchises; namely Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Lions.

He sits at the top on this list, delivering a staggering 14 maidens in 119 games. However, the 33-year old could manage only 90 wickets, averaging 36.12, maintaining an economy rate of 7.72. Praveen Kumar’s constant injuries were mostly responsible for his shortened run with the Indian team, having last played in 2012.

Also Read: Bowlers Who Have Taken More Than 500 Wickets In Test Cricket