Dwayne Bravo leads the list of IPL best death bowlers, holding the record for the most wickets in death overs with 102 wickets. His smart variations and calm bowling in the final overs helped him succeed across many seasons.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Lasith Malinga follow him on the list with 93 and 90 wickets, respectively. Both bowlers built strong reputations in death overs by using accurate yorkers and clever bowling plans.
This article lists the top 10 IPL best death bowlers, based on total wickets taken between overs 17 and 20.
IPL Best Death Bowlers- Overview
| Rank | Player | Death Overs Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dwayne Bravo | 102 |
| 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 93 |
| 3 | Lasith Malinga | 90 |
| 4 | Jasprit Bumrah | 86 |
| 5 | Harshal Patel | 70 |
| 6 | Sunil Narine | 61 |
| 7 | Mohit Sharma | 61 |
| 8 | Mohammed Shami | 58 |
| 9 | Chris Morris | 55 |
| 10 | Kagiso Rabada | 53 |
1. Dwayne Bravo – 102 Death Over Wickets in IPL
Dwayne Bravo leads the IPL best death bowlers list with 102 wickets, the highest taken in overs 17 to 20 in IPL history. He delivered these wickets across 125 innings, showing how frequently teams trusted him in the toughest overs.
His bowling average of 17.74 reflects how regularly he dismissed batters without allowing them to settle in the final phase.
In death overs, Bravo bowled 1,115 balls and conceded 1,810 runs, maintaining an economy rate of 9.73, which is considered controlled in high-scoring situations.
His 344 dot balls played a major role in building pressure, often forcing batters into risky shots during the closing overs.
Bravo’s ability to mix slower balls and yorkers helped him take wickets consistently, which is why he still holds the top position among IPL’s best death bowlers.
2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 93 Death Over Wickets in IPL
Bhuvneshwar Kumar ranks second among IPL’s best death bowlers with 93 wickets in the final overs phase. He bowled in 151 innings, showing how regularly teams depended on him to control scoring at the end.
His bowling average of 21.62 reflects steady wicket-taking ability, even when batters tried to attack heavily in overs 17 to 20.
During death overs, he delivered 1,269 balls and conceded 2,011 runs, maintaining an economy rate of 9.50, which remains effective in high-pressure overs.
He also bowled 376 dot balls, which helped slow scoring and force mistakes from batters looking to accelerate in the closing stages.
Accurate yorkers and a disciplined line made scoring difficult in the final overs, helping Bhuvneshwar Kumar stay reliable in pressure situations across many seasons.
3. Lasith Malinga – 90 Death Over Wickets in IPL
Lasith Malinga ranks third among IPL’s best death bowlers with 90 wickets in the final overs, proving how effective he was under pressure. He bowled in 109 innings, showing how often he handled the toughest overs.
His bowling average of 13.28 stands out as one of the best among death specialists, highlighting his ability to remove batters without conceding too many runs.
In death overs, Malinga delivered 917 balls and conceded 1,196 runs, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 7.82, which is excellent for this phase of T20 cricket.
He also produced 320 dot balls, helping control scoring and forcing batters to take risks in the closing overs. Malinga’s deadly yorkers and sling-arm action made him one of the hardest bowlers to score against in the final overs.
4. Jasprit Bumrah – 86 Death Over Wickets in IPL
With 86 wickets in IPL death overs, Jasprit Bumrah has built a strong record as a reliable finisher with the ball. He handled this role in 132 innings, showing how regularly teams trusted him in tight situations.
His bowling average of 19.52 reflects steady wicket-taking during the final overs. Across death overs, Bumrah delivered 1,207 balls and conceded 1,679 runs, maintaining an economy rate of 8.34, which is very effective in this phase.
He also bowled 403 dot balls, which helped control scoring when batters looked to attack. Tight yorkers and calm execution under pressure made him one of the toughest bowlers to face late in the innings.
5. Harshal Patel – 70 Death Over Wickets in IPL
Harshal Patel holds 70 wickets in IPL death overs, making him one of the most effective wicket-takers in recent seasons. He performed this role in 81 innings, showing how quickly he became a trusted option at the end of innings.
His bowling average of 16.82 stands out, highlighting how frequently he removed batters during attacking phases.
During death overs, he bowled 690 balls and conceded 1,178 runs, resulting in an economy rate of 10.24. He also delivered 233 dot balls, which helped slow scoring and forced batters to take risks while chasing quick runs.
6. Sunil Narine – 61 Death Over Wickets in IPL
Unlike many fast bowlers on this list, Sunil Narine claimed 61 wickets in IPL death overs using spin instead of pace. He handled this role in 99 innings, showing how teams trusted his control even in the toughest overs.
His bowling average of 16.54 highlights how effectively he removed batters while limiting big partnerships late in the innings.
In death overs, Narine bowled 757 balls and conceded 1,009 runs, maintaining an economy rate of 7.99, which is excellent for the final phase.
He also produced 280 dot balls, helping slow scoring and building pressure when batters looked to attack. Harshal Patel relies heavily on slower balls and clever pace changes, often forcing mistimed shots in the closing overs.
7. Mohit Sharma – 61 Death Over Wickets in IPL
Mohit Sharma recorded 61 wickets in IPL death overs, showing steady performance during the toughest phase of matches. He handled this role over 86 innings, proving his effectiveness in the closing overs across seasons.
His bowling average of 20.47 shows that he regularly picked wickets when batters were trying to score quickly.
He bowled 720 balls in death overs and conceded 1,249 runs, finishing with an economy rate of 10.40. He also delivered 196 dot balls, which helped slow scoring and forced batters to take risks in pressure situations.
His success came from well-disguised slower balls and clever changes in pace that disturbed timing in the final overs.
8. Mohammed Shami – 58 Death Over Wickets in IPL
Mohammed Shami picked up 58 wickets in IPL death overs, showing strong wicket-taking ability in high-pressure moments. He handled this role in 77 innings, proving his usefulness during the final phase of matches.
His bowling average of 17.87 reflects his ability to remove batters at key stages when teams looked to score quickly.
He delivered 572 balls in death overs and conceded 1,037 runs, resulting in an economy rate of 10.87. Along the way, he produced 163 dot balls, which helped slow scoring and forced batters into risky shots while chasing late runs.
Mohammed Shami depended on sharp seam movement and hard lengths that often rushed batters in the closing overs. His ability to generate pace off the pitch made clean hitting difficult during pressure situations.
9. Chris Morris – 55 Death Over Wickets in IPL
Chris Morris made a strong impact with 55 wickets in IPL death overs. He handled this role in 65 innings, showing his usefulness during tight finishing stages.
His bowling average of 15.20 clearly shows how often he broke partnerships when batters tried to accelerate late in the innings.
Across death overs, he bowled 586 balls and conceded 836 runs, maintaining an economy rate of 8.55, which is quite effective for this phase.
He also delivered 185 dot balls, helping reduce scoring momentum and forcing risky shots near the end. His pace on the surface made power hitting harder when quick runs were needed.
10. Kagiso Rabada – 53 Death Over Wickets in IPL
Kagiso Rabada rounds off this list with 53 wickets in IPL death overs, showing a strong impact as a pace bowler in the closing stages.
He handled this responsibility in 68 innings, proving his value in tense match situations. His bowling average of 15.73 highlights his ability to take wickets regularly when batters push hard for late runs.
During death overs, he delivered 510 balls and conceded 834 runs, finishing with an economy rate of 9.81, which reflects steady control in the final phase.
He also bowled 187 dot balls, helping slow scoring and build pressure when batting sides aimed to finish strongly.
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Conclusion: Dwayne Bravo Is The Best Death Bowler In The IPL!
Dwayne Bravo stands as the top death bowler in IPL history with 102 wickets in the final overs. His consistency over many seasons made him one of the most trusted bowlers in tight matches.
Death bowling remains one of the toughest skills in the Indian Premier League. Bowlers who control runs and take wickets late in an innings often decide the results of close and high-pressure matches.
With IPL 2026 now underway, the season promises many exciting finishes. It will be interesting to see which new bowler steps up and builds a strong reputation in the final overs.
