Most Maiden Overs in IPL

The shortest format of the game – T20 cricket is known for aggressive and hard-hitting batting that entertains fans all over the world. Known for its fast pace, the game is levelled by skilful bowlers who give their best in the mini 4-over spell to restrict scoring and take wickets.

Bowling a maiden over in this format is a tough ask with the rules also suited for batters. With the Indian Premier League (IPL) considered as one of the biggest T20 tournaments in the world, let’s have a look at the bowlers with the most maiden overs in IPL.

India pacer Praveen Kumar who also bowled the first ever ball of IPL holds the record for bowling the most maiden overs in IPL history. He played for five IPL teams and bowled 14 maiden overs in 119 matches.

1. Praveen Kumar (14 Maidens)

Former Indian right-arm pacer Praveen Kumar has the record for bowling the most maiden overs in IPL history. The swing bowler has delivered 14 such overs in which the opposition batter has failed to score a single run. Praveen featured in the first 10 seasons of IPL playing for five various teams.

Praveen Kumar started off with Royal Challengers Bangalore and became the 6th bowler to take a hat trick in IPL in the third season. He played for the Kings XI Punjab from 2011-2013, moved to Mumbai Indians for a season as a replacement for Zaheer Khan, played a season for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and finished off with the Gujarat Lions. He has 90 wickets to his name in the league with an impressive economy of 7.7.

2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (12 Maidens)

Praveen Kumar’s teammate from the Uttar Pradesh domestic side and also from the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2015 season, Bhuvneshwar Kumar seems a like-for-like replacement of his senior as he has the similar ability to nag the batter by swinging the ball both ways.

Bhuvneshwar made his IPL debut for Pune Warriors in 2011 and since has been part of the tournament moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014. In 160 matches, Bhuvi, as he famously known as, has picked 170 wickets and bowled 12 maiden overs also taking 2 five-wicket hauls in his career. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 23 wickets in the 2016 season and 26 wickets in 2017 made him the only bowler to win the purple cap in consecutive seasons.

3. Trent Boult (11 Maidens)

The left-arm seamer from New Zealand is one of the most talented all-format bowlers. He made his IPL debut in 2015 and has featured for Sunrisers Hyderabad (2015-16), Kolkata Knight Riders (2017), Delhi Capitals (2018-19), Mumbai Indians (2021-22) and Rajasthan Royals.

Trent Boult has 105 wickets in 88 matches and has bowled 11 maiden overs in the competition. He picked up 25 wickets in the 2020 season for Mumbai Indians and was also adjudged the player of the final leading the bowling attack to the team’s fifth IPL title.

4. Irfan Pathan (10 Maidens)

Another great exponent of swing bowling, left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan was an effective allrounder with hard-hitting batting skills to back his accurate bowling. He made his IPL debut in 2008 for Kings XI Punjab and picked up 15 wickets in the first season.

Irfan Pathan has bowled 10 maiden overs in the tournament and stands fourth in the list of bowlers with the most maiden overs in IPL history. He also played for Delhi Daredevils (2011-13), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2014), Rising Pune Supergiants (2016) and Gujarat Lions (2017). His best figures in the league are 3/24 against Delhi Daredevils in the third season.

5. Lasith Malinga (8 Maidens)

Known as the king of Yorkers and one of the best fast bowlers to ever play the shortest format of the sport, Malinga is widely regarded for his impeccable Yorkers with a slingy action and pace in the high 130s.

Malinga made his debut in the 2009 season and played until 2017 for Mumbai Indians taking 170 wickets and playing key roles in their 3 IPL titles. He has bowled with a great economy of 7.14 bowling 8 maiden overs. Malinga won the Purple Cap in 2011 taking 28 wickets in 16 matches, the record of most in a season at that time.

6. Jasprit Bumrah (8 Maidens)

Another Mumbai Indians pace bowler with an unusual action, and accuracy to bowl Yorkers at a quick pace and lots of variations in his kitty, Jasprit Bumrah has equalled his senior pro’s record of bowling 8 maiden overs in the Indian Premier League.

Signed as a 19-year-old rookie in 2013, Bumrah soon became an important cog in the wheel and now is the leader of the attack having 145 wickets to his name in 120 matches. 5/10 against Kolkata Knight Riders is Bumrah’s best performance. He was the player of the final in MI’s victorious 2019 campaign.

7. Sandeep Sharma (8 Maidens)

The right-arm medium pacer from Punjab is a good operator of the new ball. He has brought innovations in his game with some slower ball variations and has become a good bowling option for his IPL franchise in every phase of the innings.

Sandeep Sharma has delivered 8 maiden overs in his IPL, equivalent to Lasith Malinga and Bumrah. He made his debut in the tournament for Kings XI Punjab in 2013 and picked up 18 wickets in 2014. In 2018, he was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad before playing the 2022 season again at Punjab Kings and for Rajasthan Royals as a replacement player in 2023.

8. Dhawal Kulkarni (8 Maidens)

The only Indian fast bowler to feature in every IPL season from 2008 to 2021, Kulkarni made his name as someone who bowls at tidy lines and lengths disallowing the batters to go big. He made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians and remained in the side for 5 years before being picked by Rajasthan Royals for 2 seasons in 2014. 

Kulkarni had his best IPL season in 2016 where playing for the Gujarat Lions he picked up 18 wickets, the most in a single IPL season for Kulkarni. He was picked by Royals again and after serving the side for a couple of seasons he moved to Mumbai Indians in 2020.

9. Dale Steyn (7 Maidens)

One of the fiercest fast bowlers of his generation, Dale Steyn the South African had a brilliant international and IPL career. With 97 wickets at an economy of 6.9, Steyn has bowled 7 maiden overs in the league.

 Steyn was first picked for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008 and featured for them in the first 3 seasons yielding 27 wickets in 28 matches. He was then picked by Deccan Chargers and graduated to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013. In 2016 he featured for Gujarat Lions in just 1 game and missed out the next couple of seasons before making a low-key return for RCB in 2019 when he featured in only 5 games across 2 seasons.