Yuzvendra Chahal holds the record for the most wickets in IPL history, having crossed 200 wickets for the first time by any bowler in the tournament’s history during the 2024 season. His 221 wickets across MI, RCB, RR, and PBKS cement his place as the greatest wicket-taker the competition has ever seen.
The IPL has produced some of the most consistent bowling performers in T20 cricket. From leg-spinners deceiving batters with variations to pace bowlers cramping batters for room with yorkers, the top 10 wicket-takers in IPL history represent a rich mix of styles, nationalities, and eras. In this article, we look at each of the 10 bowlers who have taken the most wickets across the tournament’s history.
Top 10 Most Wickets in IPL History
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Overs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | 4-wi | 5-wi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YS Chahal | MI/PBKS/RCB/RR | 2013–2025 | 174 | 631.5 | 221 | 5/40 | 22.76 | 7.96 | 8 | 1 |
| B Kumar | PWI/RCB/SRH | 2011–2025 | 190 | 703.4 | 198 | 5/19 | 27.33 | 7.69 | 2 | 2 |
| SP Narine | KKR | 2012–2025 | 189 | 724.1 | 192 | 5/19 | 25.63 | 6.79 | 7 | 1 |
| PP Chawla | CSK/KKR/KXIP/MI | 2008–2024 | 192 | 641.4 | 192 | 4/17 | 26.60 | 7.96 | 2 | 0 |
| R Ashwin | CSK/DC/KXIP/RPS/RR | 2009–2025 | 221 | 785.0 | 187 | 4/34 | 30.22 | 7.20 | 1 | 0 |
| JJ Bumrah | MI | 2013–2025 | 145 | 556.1 | 183 | 5/10 | 22.02 | 7.24 | 3 | 2 |
| DJ Bravo | CSK/GL/MI | 2008–2022 | 161 | 519.5 | 183 | 4/22 | 23.82 | 8.38 | 2 | 0 |
| A Mishra | DC/DCH/LSG/SRH | 2008–2024 | 162 | 561.5 | 174 | 5/17 | 23.82 | 7.37 | 4 | 1 |
| SL Malinga | MI | 2009–2019 | 122 | 471.1 | 170 | 5/13 | 19.79 | 7.14 | 6 | 1 |
| RA Jadeja | CSK/GL/Kochi/RR | 2008–2025 | 254 | 676.0 | 170 | 5/16 | 30.51 | 7.67 | 3 | 1 |
1. YS Chahal – 221 Wickets (MI/PBKS/RCB/RR)
Yuzvendra Chahal is the all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history, surpassing Dwayne Bravo in 2023 and becoming the first player ever to reach 200 IPL wickets in 2024.
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YS Chahal | MI/PBKS/RCB/RR | 2013–2025 | 174 | 221 | 5/40 | 22.76 | 7.96 | 17.15 |
Chahal began his IPL journey with the Mumbai Indians in 2011, but played just one game across three seasons before the Royal Challengers Bangalore signed him ahead of IPL 2014 for his base price. That move changed everything. Over eight seasons at RCB, he took 139 wickets across 113 matches, becoming the franchise’s all-time leading wicket-taker and Virat Kohli’s most trusted spinning weapon. He was the joint-second highest wicket-taker in the 2016 season when RCB reached the final, finishing with 21 scalps. After RCB surprisingly let him go at the 2022 mega-auction, Rajasthan Royals snapped him up for ₹6.5 crore.
Chahal responded by winning the Purple Cap with 27 wickets as the Royals reached the final, including a famous hat-trick against the Kolkata Knight Riders. He added 21 more wickets in 2023 and claimed the overall record before history was made in 2024 when he crossed 200, a milestone no bowler had reached before him. In the 2025 auction, Punjab Kings paid ₹18 crore for his services, a figure that said everything about how the market valued his wicket-taking ability even in his mid-thirties.
2. B Kumar – 198 Wickets (PWI/RCB/SRH)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the most prolific pace bowler in IPL history by wickets and the second-highest wicket-taker overall. He is the only seamer to hold the Purple Cap in consecutive seasons.
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B Kumar | PWI/RCB/SRH | 2011–2025 | 190 | 198 | 5/19 | 27.33 | 7.69 | 21.32 |
Bhuvneshwar’s IPL career shifted into a different gear when Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him ahead of the 2014 season. In his first four seasons at SRH, he took more than 18 wickets each year. In 2016, he claimed 23 wickets to win the Purple Cap and was central to SRH’s only IPL title, taking key wickets in the final against RCB while going for just 11 runs in two powerplay overs. He won the Purple Cap again in 2017 with 26 more wickets. His most effective zone was always the power play.
He holds the IPL record for most wickets taken in the first six overs, with 72, a number that speaks to his ability to swing the ball and consistently probe good-length areas. An intelligent bowler who reinvented himself over the years with slower deliveries and late-cutting yorkers, he remained SRH’s all-time leading wicket-taker until leaving the franchise after 2024. RCB bought him ahead of the 2025 season, and he contributed 17 wickets to their maiden IPL title win.
3. SP Narine – 192 Wickets (KKR)
Sunil Narine is the most economical bowler in the top 10 with an economy of 6.79, and the only player on this list to have represented just a single franchise. His 192 wickets have all come for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP Narine | KKR | 2012–2025 | 189 | 192 | 5/19 | 6.79 | 25.63 | 22.63 |
Narine arrived in the IPL in 2012 as one of the most feared mystery spinners in world cricket, and his first few seasons with KKR were transformative. He was a key figure in their title victories in 2012 and 2014, earning tournament MVP recognition in 2012 for consistently taking wickets in the powerplay at miserly rates. His off-breaks and carrom ball proved nearly unplayable in his prime, particularly in the first six overs when most batters had not yet picked his action.
After a dip in form during the mid-2010s, partly due to issues with his bowling action that required remediation, Narine reinvented himself. He became a genuine all-round weapon, opening the batting with tremendous effect while still contributing as a wicket-taker in the middle overs. With seven four-wicket hauls, he holds the record for most such performances in IPL history, and his economy of 6.79 remains the benchmark for economy among high-volume bowlers in the tournament.
4. PP Chawla – 192 Wickets (CSK/KKR/KXIP/MI)
Piyush Chawla shares third place with Sunil Narine on 192 wickets, but required 192 matches to get there, making him the only player in this list to have played as many matches as he has wickets.
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP Chawla | CSK/KKR/KXIP/MI | 2008–2024 | 192 | 192 | 4/17 | 26.60 | 7.96 | 20.05 |
Chawla has been one of the most durable players in IPL history, participating in the tournament since the inaugural 2008 edition. A leg-break and googly specialist, he made his name with Kings XI Punjab in the early years before joining Kolkata Knight Riders and later Chennai Super Kings. His role was not always as a first-choice wicket-taker; he often bowled in the middle overs, looking to break partnerships, but his longevity and consistency kept him at the top of IPL wicket-taker lists for many years.
While he does not have a five-wicket haul to his name, his four-wicket performances have come at critical moments across franchises. He was particularly effective for CSK under Dhoni, who favoured his ability to keep the run rate in check while still threatening with his variations. Chawla did not play in IPL 2025, and his chances of adding to his 192 tally are uncertain, but his place in the top four is already assured.
5. R Ashwin – 187 Wickets (CSK/DC/KXIP/RPS/RR)
Ravichandran Ashwin is one of only two players in the top 10 to have played over 200 IPL matches, and the most experienced bowler on this list, with 221 appearances more than any other bowler in the top 10.
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R Ashwin | CSK/DC/KXIP/RPS/RR | 2009–2025 | 221 | 187 | 4/34 | 30.22 | 7.20 | 25.18 |
Ashwin began his IPL career at Chennai Super Kings in 2009, benefiting enormously from the tactical guidance of MS Dhoni. Those early seasons at CSK shaped him into the off-spinner capable of bowling in the powerplay as well as in the death overs, a rarity for a spinner. He later captained Pune Rising Supergiant and Kings XI Punjab before returning to CSK and eventually moving to Rajasthan Royals.
He has a reputation in the IPL not only for his wicket-taking but also for his unconventional tactics. He controversially Mankaded Jos Buttler while captaining KXIP in 2019, sparking a fierce debate about the spirit of the game. His economy rate of 7.20 is the second-best among all five spinners in this list, reflecting his ability to be economical even across 221 matches spanning multiple eras of the game. He is the fifth-highest wicket-taker among off-spinners in T20 history.
6. JJ Bumrah – 183 Wickets (MI)
Jasprit Bumrah has taken all 183 of his IPL wickets for a single franchise, the Mumbai Indians, making him arguably the most impactful one-club bowler in the tournament. His average of 22.02 is the second-best in the top 10.
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JJ Bumrah | MI | 2013–2025 | 145 | 183 | 5/10 | 22.02 | 7.24 | 18.23 |
Bumrah made his IPL debut in 2013 at just 19, quickly establishing himself as the most difficult bowler to face in the death overs with his unorthodox action, disguised slower balls, and devastatingly accurate yorkers. He has been central to all five of Mumbai’s IPL title victories, with his skill in the final three overs consistently producing crucial wickets. His BBI of 5/10 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2022 stands as one of the most destructive individual bowling performances in the tournament’s history.
He has two five-wicket hauls in the IPL, the joint-most alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar among pacers in this top 10. In 2025, he equalled Malinga’s record of 170 wickets for the Mumbai Indians before eventually surpassing it to become MI’s all-time leading wicket-taker. His strike rate of 18.23 wickets per 18 balls on average is the third-best in the top 10, reflecting how regularly he converts good deliveries into wickets.
7. DJ Bravo – 183 Wickets (CSK/GL/MI)
Dwayne Bravo is the most prolific overseas wicket-taker in IPL history. He shares sixth position on the all-time list with Bumrah but required 16 more matches to reach the same total, his 183 wickets coming from 161 games.
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJ Bravo | CSK/GL/MI | 2008–2022 | 161 | 183 | 4/22 | 23.82 | 8.38 | 17.04 |
Bravo was the gold standard for death bowling in the IPL from 2013 through 2018. He won the Purple Cap in both 2013 and 2015, becoming only the second bowler after Malinga to win it twice. His slower ball was among the most effective deliveries in the format, a chest-high slower ball angled into right-handers that batters mistimed consistently, even when they knew it was coming.
Playing primarily for Chennai Super Kings, he contributed beyond wickets, with his fielding and lower-order hitting adding enormous all-round value. He was the all-time IPL wicket-taker record holder before Chahal surpassed him in May 2023. While his economy rate of 8.38 is the highest in the top 10, it reflects the phase he was most used in the death overs, where an economy above eight was standard for any bowler facing the best T20 batters in the world, with fielding restrictions lifted.
8. A Mishra – 174 Wickets (DC/DCH/LSG/SRH)
Amit Mishra is the third leg-spinner in this top 10 and the most experienced Indian leg-spinner in IPL history. His 5/17 against Deccan Chargers in the inaugural 2008 season remains one of the best bowling performances in IPL history.
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Mishra | DC/DCH/LSG/SRH | 2008–2024 | 162 | 174 | 5/17 | 23.82 | 7.37 | 19.37 |
Mishra played the majority of his IPL cricket for Delhi Capitals, becoming their all-time leading wicket-taker through consistent performances in the middle overs. A wristy leg-spinner who relied on sharp turn and his googly to beat batters, he was particularly dangerous on sticky pitches that offered even a little assistance.
He has taken four wicket hauls in the IPL, the joint-most among leg-spinners in the top 10 alongside Chahal. One of his most significant milestones came when he picked up three hat-tricks in the IPL, a record. He announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2025, ending a 16-year IPL career that began with Delhi Daredevils in 2008 and concluded with Lucknow Super Giants. His average of 23.82 is the joint-best among spinners in the top 10, matching Bravo’s average and underscoring the value he provided as a wicket-taker.
9. SL Malinga – 170 Wickets (MI)
Lasith Malinga is the most efficient bowler in the top 10. His average of 19.79 and strike rate of 16.62 are the best of any bowler on this list, and he achieved his 170 wickets in just 122 matches, fewer than any other player in the top 10.
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SL Malinga | MI | 2009–2019 | 122 | 170 | 5/13 | 19.79 | 7.14 | 16.62 |
Malinga was the player who defined death bowling in the IPL. His round-arm sling action, devastating toe-crushing yorkers, and unpredictable slower balls combined to make him the most feared white-ball bowler of his generation. He joined the Mumbai Indians in 2009 and stayed exclusively with the franchise throughout his entire IPL career. In the 2011 season, he was the joint-highest wicket-taker with 28 scalps and won the Purple Cap as MI went all the way.
He was the first bowler in IPL history to reach the 100-wicket mark and was the all-time leader for many years before being overtaken by Bravo and then Chahal. His final act for the Mumbai Indians was perhaps his most dramatic, a last-ball slower-ball yorker to dismiss Shardul Thakur in the 2019 IPL final, sealing MI’s fourth title by one run. His six four-wicket hauls are the most of any bowler who finished their IPL career with under 200 wickets.
10. RA Jadeja – 170 Wickets (CSK/GL/Kochi/RR)
Ravindra Jadeja shares ninth place with Malinga on 170 wickets, but is the only player in the top 10 primarily valued for his all-round contributions rather than pure wicket-taking. His 254 appearances are the most of any player on this list.
| Player | Teams | Span | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RA Jadeja | CSK/GL/Kochi/RR | 2008–2025 | 254 | 170 | 5/16 | 30.51 | 7.67 | 23.85 |
Jadeja is the only frontline left-arm spinner in the top 10, and his path to 170 wickets tells the story of a remarkable all-round career at CSK. His role was rarely that of an out-and-out wicket-taker. Dhoni typically used him to keep things tight in the middle overs, denying batters easy scoring opportunities rather than setting attacking fields. Yet his wickets came consistently enough over 17 seasons to place him among the elite.
His average of 30.51 is the highest in the top 10, but that statistic is partly a reflection of the role he played; when the captain’s primary instruction is to be economical, taking the extra risk to buy a wicket is not always the priority. His contribution to CSK’s multiple title wins was as a fielder and lower-order batter as much as it was as a bowler. He has not traditionally been defined by his IPL bowling, but with 170 wickets at an economy of 7.67 across a 17-year career, his sustained output earns him a place at the very top of the game.
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Conclusion: Chahal Stands Alone, But Bumrah’s Efficiency Stands Out
Yuzvendra Chahal’s 221 wickets place him in a class of his own as the IPL’s greatest wicket-taker, and at 34, he still has seasons left to extend that record further. What is striking about the top 10 is the balance of styles: three leg-spinners (Chahal, Chawla, Mishra), one off-spinner (Ashwin), one mystery spinner (Narine), one left-arm spinner (Jadeja), and four seamers (Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Bravo, Malinga).
