Fast bowling is an art form in itself, and only the best of the best can push it to the limits. The biggest domestic stage of all, the Indian Premier League is the pinnacle where we see those limits being pushed. All the best bowlers from around the globe bowl at this stage. The raw and brutal pace of fast bowlers can dictate how the match is played. Let’s take a look at the top 10 fastest bowler in IPL history and special mentions in IPL 2021 who are spearheading the extravagant league.
Full list of top 10 fastest ball in IPL history
| S.n | fastest bowler in IPL history | fastest ball in IPL history |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anrich Nortje | 156.22 km/h |
| 2 | Anrich Nortje | 155.21 km/h |
| 3 | Anrich Nortje | 154.74 km/h |
| 4 | Dale Steyn | 154.40 km/h |
| 5 | Kagiso Rabada | 154.23 km/h |
| 6 | Anrich Nortje | 154.21 km/h |
| 7 | Kagiso Rabada | 153.91 km/h |
| 8 | Lockie Ferguson | 153.84 km/h |
| 9 | Anrich Nortje | 153.72 km/h |
| 10 | Lockie Ferguson | 153.63 km/h |
1Fastest bowler in IPL: Anrich Nortje: Delhi Capitals, South Africa
The South African Pacer was initially brought in as a replacement for Chris Woakes in IPL 2020. Nortje surprised everyone with his belting pace and turned out to be the fastest bowler in IPL. He went on to break all the pace records in IPL, and DC found a gem of a bowler in Nortje. Nortje is the ideal partner to his fellow countryman Rabada in the DC lineup.
He ignited the season with some really bullet-like deliveries and currently takes all 3 spots at the fastest ball in IPL. Nortje had figures of 22 wickets from 16 games.
Anrich Nortje IPL Stats: The Fastest bowler in IPL
| Bowling | Mat | Balls | Runs | WKTS | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 24 | 548 | 699 | 34 | 3/33 | 20.55 | 7.65 | 16.11 | – | – |
| 2021 | 8 | 182 | 187 | 12 | 2/12 | 15.58 | 6.16 | 15.16 | – | – |
| 2020 | 16 | 366 | 512 | 22 | 3/33 | 23.27 | 8.39 | 16.63 | – | – |
2Fastest bowler in IPL: Kagiso Rabada: Delhi Capitals, South Africa
Another gem of a pacer is Kagiso Rabada of South Africa. He turned out to be a trump card for DC last season with his blitzkrieg deliveries. He was key to Delhi’s march to the final. Rabada claimed the purple cap for the highest wicket-taker in the season with 30 wickets in 17 matches that established himself as one of the finest in the league.
Kagiso Rabada IPL Stats: The fastest bowler in IPL
| Bowling | Mat | Balls | Runs | WKTS | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 50 | 1,140 | 1,560 | 76 | 4/21 | 20.52 | 8.21 | 15.00 | 4 | – |
| 2021 | 15 | 336 | 456 | 15 | 3/36 | 30.40 | 8.14 | 22.40 | 0 | – |
| 2020 | 17 | 394 | 548 | 30 | 4/24 | 18.26 | 8.34 | 13.13 | 2 | – |
| 2019 | 12 | 282 | 368 | 25 | 4/21 | 14.72 | 7.82 | 11.28 | 2 | – |
| 2017 | 6 | 128 | 188 | 6 | 2/20 | 31.33 | 8.81 | 21.33 | 0 | – |
3Fastest bowler in IPL: Pat Cummins: Kolkata Knight Riders, Australia
The Australian turned out to be a fine purchase for KKR last season for 16 crores.
He consistently clocked 145 plus clicks throughout the season. He had a 4 wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals last season. And at times the tall Aussie can spearhead 150 plus deliveries to rattle the batsmen.
Pat Cummins IPL Stats: The fastest bowler in IPL
| Bowling | Mat | Balls | Runs | WKTS | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 37 | 834 | 1,145 | 38 | 4/34 | 30.13 | 8.23 | 21.94 | 1 | – |
| 2021 | 7 | 161 | 237 | 9 | 3/24 | 26.33 | 8.83 | 17.88 | 0 | – |
| 2020 | 14 | 312 | 409 | 12 | 4/34 | 34.08 | 7.86 | 26.00 | 1 | – |
| 2017 | 12 | 277 | 373 | 15 | 2/20 | 24.86 | 8.07 | 18.46 | – | – |
| 2015 | 3 | 60 | 97 | 1 | 1/54 | 97.00 | 9.70 | 60.00 | – | – |
| 2014 | 1 | 24 | 29 | 1 | 1/29 | 29.00 | 7.25 | 24.00 | – | – |
4Jasprit Bumrah: Mumbai Indians, India
The top bowlers’ list cannot be complete without India’s Star bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
He has been at the epicenter of it since he broke into the IPL in 2013. He has the ability to consistently hit 148 clicks. Bumrah also can destabilize any batting order on a given day with his yorkers. He narrowly missed out on the Purple Cap in IPL 2020 after ending with 27 wickets, 3 short of winner Rabada. He has played a total of 106 IPL matches with 130 wickets to his name and has an average of around 23.
Jasprit Bumrah IPL Stats
| Bowling | Mat | Balls | Runs | WKTS | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 106 | 2,422 | 2,995 | 130 | 4/14 | 23.03 | 7.41 | 18.63 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 14 | 330 | 410 | 21 | 3/36 | 19.52 | 7.45 | 15.71 | 0 | – |
| 2020 | 15 | 360 | 404 | 27 | 4/14 | 14.96 | 6.73 | 13.33 | 2 | – |
| 2019 | 16 | 370 | 409 | 19 | 3/20 | 21.52 | 6.63 | 19.47 | – | – |
| 2018 | 14 | 324 | 372 | 17 | 3/15 | 21.88 | 6.88 | 19.05 | – | – |
| 2017 | 16 | 356 | 439 | 20 | 3/7 | 21.95 | 7.39 | 17.80 | – | – |
| 2016 | 14 | 312 | 406 | 15 | 3/13 | 27.06 | 7.80 | 20.80 | – | – |
| 2015 | 4 | 90 | 184 | 3 | 1/38 | 61.33 | 12.26 | 30.00 | – | – |
| 2014 | 11 | 238 | 301 | 5 | 2/22 | 60.20 | 7.58 | 47.60 | – | – |
| 2013 | 2 | 42 | 70 | 3 | 3/32 | 23.33 | 10.00 | 14.00 | – | – |
5Fastest ball in IPL 2021: Umran Malik: Sunrisers Hyderabad, India
The debutant J&K pacer clocked a whopping 153 clicks vs RCB a few days ago. With that he bowled the fastest bowled by an Indian in IPL, previously held by Navdeep Saini of RCB. The young pacer has a promising career ahead.
Umran Malik IPL Stats
| Bowling | Mat | Balls | Runs | WKTS | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 3 | 72 | 96 | 2 | 1/21 | 48.00 | 8.00 | 36.00 | – | – |
| 2021 | 3 | 72 | 96 | 2 | 1/21 | 48.00 | 8.00 | 36.00 | – | – |
6Harshal Patel: Royal Challengers Bangalore, India
The RCB speedster is in his best shape and had a record-breaking season. He equalled Dwayne Bravo’s record of most wickets taken in a single season with 32 wickets to his name. He also broke Bumrah’s record of most wickets taken by an Indian in an IPL season. This season’s purple cap seems nailed on for him. Reports have also suggested, BCCI wants him to stay back in UAE as he could be named as a potential reserve in the upcoming T20 world cup, if changes are made to the squad.
Harshal Patel IP Stats
| Bowling | Mat | Balls | Runs | WKTS | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 63 | 1,264 | 1,808 | 78 | 5/27 | 23.17 | 8.58 | 16.20 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 15 | 338 | 459 | 32 | 5/27 | 14.34 | 8.14 | 10.56 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 | 90 | 134 | 3 | 2/34 | 44.66 | 8.93 | 30.00 | – | – |
| 2019 | 2 | 48 | 77 | 2 | 2/40 | 38.50 | 9.62 | 24.00 | – | – |
| 2018 | 5 | 105 | 167 | 7 | 3/28 | 23.85 | 9.54 | 15.00 | – | – |
| 2017 | 1 | 24 | 43 | 3 | 3/43 | 14.33 | 10.75 | 8.00 | – | – |
| 2016 | 5 | 84 | 147 | 1 | 1/46 | 147.00 | 10.50 | 84.00 | – | – |
| 2015 | 15 | 263 | 328 | 17 | 2/12 | 19.29 | 7.48 | 15.47 | – | – |
| 2014 | 3 | 66 | 113 | 4 | 2/56 | 28.25 | 10.27 | 16.50 | – | – |
| 2012 | 12 | 246 | 340 | 9 | 2/24 | 37.77 | 8.29 | 27.33 | – | – |
