The Most Expensive Bowling Spells in the IPL: Top 6

Over the years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been host to some of the most breathtaking competition between bat and ball. The last 16 years of the tournament have been nothing short of exceptional and the upcoming edition promises to be even better.

The phrase “cricket is a batter's game” has been justified in the IPL as well because of the way batters have treated their opposition. Bowlers have been at the receiving end of carnage. This has not only hampered their team’s chances at the game but also has seen them getting unwanted records to their name. In this piece, we will look at the most expensive spells in the IPL. 

Top 6 Worst Spells: Unforgettable Bowling Blunders in IPL History

1. Basil Thampi's Performance vs. RCB (0-70 Runs)

Right-arm fast bowler Basil Thampi, who played for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2018, holds the record for the most expensive spell in IPL. He got his name etched in the unwanted record books during the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2018. Thampi gave away 70 runs in his four overs and had an economy of 17.5. 

He didn’t have a great start as he conceded 19 runs in his first over. The pacer also failed to take a single wicket in his spell as RCB batters AB de Villiers, Moeen Ali, Sarfaraz Khan, and Colin de Grandhome didn’t go easy on him and tonked him all over the park. Since that game against RCB, Thampi’s career has gradually plummeted.

2. Yash Dayal’s Performance vs. KKR (0-69 Runs) 

Yash Dayal was one of the players who grabbed the spotlight for his bowling in the IPL for Gujarat Titans (GT). However, the game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad turned him from star to villain within a span of one over. The left-arm pacer wasn’t already having the greatest of outings as he had conceded 38 runs in the three overs for his team. 

Yash was given the responsibility to defend 29 runs off the last over. It seemed that it would be a cakewalk for the pacer. However, KKR batter Rinku Singh did something that no one anticipated. He slammed the fast bowler for five consecutive sixes to win the game for his team. Yash registered figures of 0/69 of 4 overs, which is currently the second-most expensive spell in the IPL.

3. Ishant Sharma’s Performance vs. CSK (0-66 Runs) 

Veteran India pacer Ishant Sharma’s name on the list of the most expensive spells in IPL will slightly surprise you. The lanky fast bowler, who is known for his defensive bowling, was taken to the cleaners during the game against Chennai Super Kings while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2013. 

The speedster had no answer to the throttle by Murali Vijay, who smashed him for three six in his second over and Suresh Raina, who hit the pacer for 25 runs in the 17th over. He returned with figures of 0/66 in the three overs that he bowled. At that time it was the most expensive spell in the IPL and the record stayed with him for 5 years.

4. Mujeeb ur Rahman’s Performance vs. SRH (0-66 Runs) 

Young Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman also tasted the carnage of batters in the IPL. Playing for Punjab Kings, IPL 2019, the mystery spinner came under a lot of pressure against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He was given the responsibility to bowl with a new ball but the move didn’t work as he gave away 28 runs in the first two overs. 

He returned stronger as in the third over he gave away 12 runs but the demons came to haunt him yet again in his 4th over. SRH batters Mohammad Nabi and Kane Williamson hit him for three sixes and a four, taking his figures to an underwhelming 0/66.

5. Arshdeep Singh’s Performance vs. MI (1-66 Runs) 

There is hardly any bowler who hasn’t had a bad day in the league with the ball for his team. A similar story unfolded with Arshdeep Singh during the 2023 edition of the IPL.  In the first leg of the game against Mumbai Indians, the pacer won his team the game when he defended a low total in the last over and also uprooted the stumps of Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera. 

However, in the second leg, things changed drastically. The Punjab Kings’ fast bowler didn’t look in his sort right from the start and was taken for quite a few runs. He was one of the main reasons why his team went on to lose the game and registered the fifth-most expensive spell in the IPL with figures for 3.5.0-66-1.