YUZVENDRA CHAHAL's hat-trick on Monday (30) added another entry to his record in the IPL and brought the focus back on bowling spells that have shaped matches in the tournament.
Chahal is among the few bowlers to have taken more than one hat-trick in the IPL, and he also holds the record for the most four-wicket hauls in the competition.
In a format where scoring rates remain high and totals often cross 180, bowling performances are usually defined by impact within limited overs.
Only a small group of spells stand out on numbers alone, and the list of best bowling figures in the IPL has remained unchanged at the top over the years.
Here is a look at the top bowling performances in IPL history:
Alzarri Joseph – 6 for 12 (Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2019)
Alzarri Joseph recorded 6 for 12 for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad in 2019. These remain the best bowling figures in IPL history.
He bowled 3.4 overs, including one maiden, and conceded 12 runs while taking six wickets. Joseph took a wicket with his first ball and continued through the innings, removing batters across phases.
Sunrisers Hyderabad were bowled out for 96 in 17.4 overs. Mumbai Indians had scored 136 for 7 and won the match by 40 runs. Joseph’s figures remain the highest wicket return in a single IPL innings.
Sohail Tanvir – 6 for 14 (Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, 2008)
Sohail Tanvir took 6 for 14 for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in Jaipur in 2008. This was the first six-wicket haul in IPL history.
He bowled four overs and conceded 14 runs while taking six wickets. Tanvir’s spell led to Chennai Super Kings being bowled out for 109.
Rajasthan Royals chased the target and won the match. Tanvir’s figures stood as the best in the IPL until 2019 and remain the second-best overall.
Adam Zampa – 6 for 19 (Rising Pune Supergiant vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2016)
Adam Zampa registered 6 for 19 for Rising Pune Supergiant against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Visakhapatnam in 2016.
He bowled four overs and conceded 19 runs while taking six wickets. His spell restricted Sunrisers Hyderabad to 137 for 8.
Rising Pune Supergiant chased the target and won the match. Zampa remains one of only three bowlers to have taken six wickets in a single IPL innings.
Anil Kumble – 5 for 5 (Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals, 2009)
Anil Kumble returned 5 for 5 for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Rajasthan Royals in Cape Town in 2009.
He bowled 3.1 overs and conceded five runs while taking five wickets. These figures are the joint-lowest runs conceded in a five-wicket haul in the IPL.
Despite the spell, Royal Challengers Bangalore lost the match, as Rajasthan Royals chased down the target.
Akash Madhwal – 5 for 5 (Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants, 2023)
Akash Madhwal recorded 5 for 5 for Mumbai Indians against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator in 2023.
He bowled 3.3 overs and conceded five runs while taking five wickets. His spell led to Lucknow Super Giants being bowled out for 101.
Mumbai Indians won the match and advanced to the next stage. His figures are the joint-lowest runs conceded in a five-wicket haul in the IPL.
Jasprit Bumrah – 5 for 10 (Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2022)
Jasprit Bumrah took 5 for 10 for Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022.
He bowled four overs and conceded 10 runs while taking five wickets. His spell helped restrict Kolkata Knight Riders to 165 for 9.
Mumbai Indians chased the target and won the match. This was Bumrah’s first five-wicket haul in the IPL.
Yuzvendra Chahal – hat-tricks and four-wicket hauls
Yuzvendra Chahal’s hat-trick on March 30, 2026, added to his record in the IPL. He is among the bowlers with more than one hat-trick in the tournament.
He also holds the record for the most four-wicket hauls in the IPL. His performances over multiple seasons have placed him among the leading wicket-takers in the competition.
His latest spell does not enter the list of best figures in an innings but adds to his overall record in terms of match-impact performances.
