The IPL 2020 Final was a prime example of why powerplays are really important for both sides. We have always heard captains saying that we will be looking for early wickets so that we can put the opposition under pressure and that’s what exactly happened in the Final. DC could have reached 180-190 had they not lost wickets in the powerplay but because they were 22-3, they had to rebuild, and hence they couldn’t reach the par score. There is a stat which says that if a batting team loses three wickets in the powerplay then there is more than 70% chance that they will lose the game and this stat just tells us why early wickets are important. On that note, let’s have a look at the bowlers who have taken most wickets in powerplays in an IPL season.
6. Umesh Yadav – 14 wickets (2018)
In IPL 2018, Umesh Yadav was bowling with real pace and was swinging the ball upfront. The RCB management as well used him well as he bowled three overs in the powerplay and one around the 12th or 13th over. On many occasions, he took 2 wickets in an over in the powerplay which just demolishes the opposition. He took a total of 20 wickets out of which 14 came in the powerplay.
5. Dhawal Kulkarni – 14 wickets (2016)
In IPL 2016, while playing for Gujarat Lions, Dhawal Kulkarni was brilliant with the new ball, He has always been a new ball bowler and he was asked to play that role for his team. He took 18 wickets in that season out of which 14 came in the powerplay. In the famous Qualifier 1 against RCB, he had picked up wickets of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul in the powerplay. Kulkarni has never replicated this kind of performance for any other team.
4. Mohit Sharma – 15 wickets (2013)
CSK had a set pattern in 2013. Mohit Sharma was their new-ball bowler and Dwayne Bravo was their death bowler and both of them picked up wickets. Sharma picked up 20 wickets in that season out of which 15 came in the powerplay. He has always been a great performer for CSK and he did well in 2013 which helped CSK reach the Finals.
3. Deepak Chahar – 15 wickets (2019)
Another new ball bowler from the Dhoni school. MS Dhoni used Deepak Chahar perfectly as he was asked to bowl three in the powerplay where he would get swing with the new ball. In IPL 2019, Chahar picked up 21 wickets out of which 15 came in the powerplay. Chahar and Tahir were the main reasons for CSK reaching the Finals in 2019.
2. Mitchell Johnson – 16 wickets (2013)
In the same season in which Mohit Sharma picked up 15 wickets in the powerplays for CSK, Johnson was one step ahead as he picked up 16 for Mumbai Indians. Johnson being a left-armer always helps to trouble the right-handed batsmen with the angle. He was brilliant in the Final as he partnered with Malinga to blow away CSK in the 2013 IPL Final.
1. Trent Boult – 16 wickets (2020)
Mumbai Indians have always picked up left-arm swing bowlers and they were lucky to get Trent Boult from the Delhi Capitals. The pitches in UAE suited Boult as there was some swing on offer in the initial overs. He picked up wickets in the powerplay consistently which helped the spinners and the other bowlers. Boult was phenomenal in the Final as he picked up a wicket of his first ball and even got the wicket of Rahane in the powerplay. It was a great trade for Mumbai Indians but not a great choice from the Delhi Capitals.
