Yuzvendra Chahal became the first bowler in the history of the Indian Premier League to scale the 200-wicket mark. The Rajasthan Royals spinner, who is the highest wicket-taker in the cash-rich league, has been a revelation for several years, making a huge presence with his match-winning skills. Chahal attained the milestone when RR faced Mumbai Indians in Match 38 of the IPL 2024 season in Jaipur. Chahal took the crucial wicket of Mohammad Nabi to smash the record. RR went on to beat MI by nine wickets after chasing down a 180-run target. RR must thank Chahal, who has once again been stupendous in the 2024 campaign.
Chahal is no doubt India’s best spinner in the 20-over format. He is also set to scale 350 T20 wickets and become the first Indian bowler to do so. With the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 coming right after the IPL, Chahal has boosted his chances to feature in India’s squad.
Here, we present seven spinners with the most wickets in IPL history.
Yuzvendra Chahal (200 IPL wickets)
Chahal owns 200 IPL wickets from 153 matches since making his debut for MI in 2013. He averages 21.60 and carries an economy rate of 7.73. He has claimed the most four-wicket hauls (6) among Indian bowlers in the competition’s history. Overall, veteran West Indian spinner Sunil Narine has the most four-wicket hauls (7). For the Royals, Chahal has claimed 61 wickets at 20.06. He has played in 39 matches for the Pink Brigade since making a move in 2022. He is the side’s most successful spinner and, overall, the joint second-highest wicket-taker. Chahal won the prestigious Purple Cap in his debut season for RR, claiming 27 scalps in IPL 2022. He has already bagged 13 wickets this season.
Chahal was a legend for his former side, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In 113 matches for the franchise, he finished with 139 wickets at 22.03. He remains the highest wicket-taker for RCB. Notably, Chahal played only one match for MI, finishing with 0/34 from his four overs.
Piyush Chawla (182 IPL wickets)
Piyush Chawla has been playing in the IPL since the inaugural edition. The current MI spinner has represented four teams in the IPL. In 186 matches, Chawla owns a total of 182 wickets at 27.16. His economy rate is 7.96. The right-arm spinner has two four-wicket hauls. Chawla, who had a remarkable IPL 2023 season for MI, has been sparsely used this time. He is on the verge of becoming the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL history and needs two scalps to surpass Lasith Malinga (183). Chawla has 26 wickets from 22 matches at 26.19 for his current franchise, MI.
He played seven matches for Chennai Super Kings before this, taking six wickets. Chawla enjoyed success with the Kolkata Knight Riders. In 70 games, he managed 66 wickets at 27.80. Before that, he played for Punjab Kings, taking 84 wickets in 87 matches at 26.63.
Amit Mishra (173 IPL wickets)
41-year-old Amit Mishra has enjoyed a long career in the IPL. Playing for the Lucknow Super Giants, Mishra is yet to play a match this season. The veteran right-arm spinner has collected 173 IPL wickets at an average of 23.84. He made his debut in IPL 2008 and played until 2023. Mishra has represented four franchises in the IPL. He owns four four-wicket hauls and a fifer. Notably, Mishra is the only bowler with three IPL hat-tricks.
For LSG, Mishra owns seven wickets from seven matches. He played mainly for Delhi Capitals and claimed 106 wickets from 99 matches at 23.65. Mishra also plied his trade in 27 games for Sunrisers Hyderabad, taking 28 wickets at 26.21. He started his IPL stint with Deccan Chargers, taking 32 scalps from 28 matches at 22.96.
Sunil Narine (172 IPL wickets)
Sunil Narine is a one-club man who has spent all his time in KKR colours. Since making his IPL debut in 2012, Narine has left a stamp with his heroics as a spinner. Still going strong at 35 years of age, Narine has claimed 172 wickets from 169 matches at 25.59. His economy rate of 6.74 is stupendous. His ER is the best among bowlers, with 150-plus IPL wickets. Narine owns the most wickets by a spinner for a single franchise in the IPL.
His first three seasons saw him take 24, 22 and 21 wickets, respectively, as KKR won the title in 2012 and 2014. Narine owns seven four-wicket hauls and a fifer. This season, he is KKR’s joint-highest wicket-taker. Narine is also a sound pinch-hitter. He has smashed 1332 runs with the willow.
Ravichandran Ashwin (172 IPL wickets)
Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been a constant presence since debuting in 2009. A player with over 200 IPL matches, Ashwin has claimed 172 wickets at 29.89. He plays for the Royals, having managed 27 wickets from 37 games at 41.14. Ashwin is no longer a mighty threat, as his wickets have dried up. He has only one wicket this season, and his economy rate is close to 9.
He started his career with Chennai, taking 90 scalps in 97 matches at 24.22. This was where he was superb. In 2016, Ashwin played for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant, taking 10 wickets from 14 matches. He missed the IPL 2017 season before being snapped up by Punjab Kings. He played 28 matches for the Kings and took 25 scalps at 32.40. He joined DC next and featured in 28 matches, taking 20 scalps at 36.10.
Ravindra Jadeja (156 IPL wickets)
Ravindra Jadeja is the most successful left-arm spinner in IPL history and is the only one to claim 150-plus wickets. Having been featured in 234 matches, Jadeja has 156 wickets, averaging around 30 or more. One of the finest all-rounders, Jadeja has three four-wicket hauls and a fifer under his belt. Jadeja has been a legend for the Men in Yellow. In 166 matches, he owns 129 wickets for Chennai.
In the two seasons when CSK were suspended, he played for Gujarat Lions, claiming 13 scalps from 27 matches. He played one season for Kochi Tuskers and took eight scalps. Jadeja started his IPL career with RR. He played 27 matches and took six wickets.
The star left-handed batter has scored 2849 runs at 27.39. He owns three fifties. Notably, Jadeja has smoked 101 sixes across 179 innings.