IPL 2024: Top 5 Best Bowling Performances in The Tournament
The recently concluded IPL 2024 was a season filled with nail-biting finishes and individual brilliance. While big runs stole the headlines often, some exceptional bowling performances turned the tide of matches and deserve recognition. Here’s a look at the top 5 bowling spells that left everyone awestruck:
Mitchell Starc’s Magical Spell (3 for 34)
The Australian speedster, Mitchell Starc, was at his fiery best in the Qualifier 1 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Starc produced a match-winning spell of 3 for 34 in just 4 overs. His accurate deliveries put pressure on the SRH batting line-up. A peach of a yorker dismissed the dangerous Travis Head, followed by quick dismissals of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed, leaving SRH reeling. This bowling masterclass restricted SRH to a manageable total, paving the way for a comfortable win for KKR.
Starc Strikes Again (2 for 14)
Mitchell Starc proved his big-match temperament once again in the IPL 2024 finals. This time Starc ripped through the SRH batting order with figures of 2 for 14 in 4 overs. He started with a dream dismissal, dismissing the in-form Abhishek Sharma in the very first over. He followed it up with the crucial wicket of Rahul Tripathi, putting SRH on the back foot early on. Starc’s disciplined bowling with perfect lengths and lines choked the flow of runs for SRH, eventually leading to their collapse for a paltry 113 runs. His exceptional bowling performance was a key factor in KKR’s dominant victory.
Sandeep Sharma’s Career-Defining Spell (5 for 18)
Rajasthan Royals pacer Sandeep Sharma had a night to remember against Mumbai Indians at the Sawai M Singh Stadium in Jaipur. He scripted the best bowling figures of IPL 2024, a sensational haul of 5 wickets for just 18 runs in 4 overs. Brought in as a replacement player, Sandeep Sharma grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He dismissed crucial batsmen like Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in the powerplay overs, putting Mumbai Indians on the back foot. Sandeep continued his brilliance in the death overs, picking up the wickets of Tilak Varma, Gerald Coetzee, and Tim David, restricting a strong Mumbai batting line-up to a mere 179 runs. This match-winning performance not only earned him a Player of the Match award but also cemented his place in the Royals’ squad.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Lethal Display (5 for 21)
The ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah proved his worth yet again, leading the Mumbai Indians attack with a fiery spell against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Electing to field first, Bumrah started with a bang, dismissing the prolific Virat Kohli with a beautiful delivery. He then got rid of the well-set RCB captain Faf du Plessis, putting a dent in their batting plans. Bumrah continued his dominance in the death overs, picking up crucial wickets of Mahipal Lomror, Saurav Chauhan, and Vijaykumar Vyshak. His exceptional bowling spell restricted RCB to a total of 196 runs, making the chase a cakewalk for Mumbai Indians. For his match-winning effort of 5 wickets for just 21 runs in 4 overs, Bumrah was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match.
R Sai Kishore’s Rise (4 for 33)
Left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore, a consistent performer in domestic cricket, finally got his chance to shine in the IPL for the Gujarat Titans. His best performance came against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. After Punjab Kings stole victory from the jaws of defeat in their previous encounter, Sai Kishore ensured a different outcome this time. He dismissed the dangerous duo of Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank Singh cheaply, derailing the Punjab Kings batting. He continued his wicket-taking spree, rattling the stumps of Jitesh Sharma and later dismissing Harpreet Brar. Sai Kishore’s impactful spell of 4 wickets for just 33 runs in 4 overs not only helped Gujarat Titans win the match but also earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
These top 5 bowling spells were a testament to the exceptional talent present in the IPL. From Starc’s fiery pace to Sandeep Sharma’s career-defining performance, these bowlers not only changed the course of matches but also left a lasting