Yuzvendra Chahal, the leg-spinner from India, has made history by becoming the leading wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He surpassed Dwayne Bravo’s record of 183 wickets to achieve this feat, further solidifying his position as one of the best spinners in the world.
The wrist spinner achieved the record of highest wicket taker in IPL, in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on May 11 2023. Yuzvendra Chahal bowled brilliantly under pressure in a must win game for the Rajasthan Royals, picked four wickets conceding just twenty-four runs in his four overs.
Chahal’s journey in the IPL has been nothing short of remarkable. He made his debut in the league in 2013 for the Mumbai Indians but found his footing with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) till IPL 2021 and later with Rajasthan Royals from 2022. Over the years, he has been a consistent performer for the franchise, providing crucial breakthroughs and containing the opposition’s run-scoring.
What makes Chahal’s achievement even more impressive is the fact that he has played fewer matches than most of the other top wicket-takers in the league. While West Indian legend all-rounder Dwayne Bravo played 161 games to reach his tally, Yuzvendra Chahal has taken just 187 wickets in just 143 matches. This shows that Chahal’s impact on the game has been immense and he has always been a vital cog in the RCB and RR wheel.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s rise to the list of top 10 highest wicket-taking charts is his unique skill, hard work, variations and consistency. He has consistently troubled the best batters in the world with his variations and guile. His ability to bowl the perfect googly and his control over his line and length have made him a formidable force in the league.
Let’s have a look at the list of top 10 highest wicket-takers in IPL history:
| S No | Player | Span | Mat | Balls | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR |
| 1 | Yuzvendra Chahal (MI/RCB/RR) | 2013-2023 | 143 | 3125 | 520.5 | 4 | 3979 | 187 | 5/40 | 21.27 | 7.63 | 16.71 |
| 2 | Dwayne Bravo (CSK/GL/MI) | 2008-2022 | 161 | 3119 | 519.5 | 3 | 4360 | 183 | 45038 | 23.82 | 8.38 | 17.04 |
| 3 | Piyush Chawla (CSK/KKR/KXIP/MI) | 2008-2023 | 177* | 3532 | 588.4 | 2 | 4622 | 174 | 45033 | 26.56 | 7.85 | 20.29 |
| 4 | Amit Mishra (DC/LSG/SRH) | 2008-2023 | 160 | 3335 | 555.5 | 6 | 4085 | 172 | 45063 | 23.75 | 7.34 | 19.38 |
| 5 | Ravichandran Ashwin (CSK/DC/KXIP/RPS/RR) | 2009-2023 | 196 | 4170 | 695 | 4 | 4869 | 171 | 4/34 | 28.47 | 7 | 24.38 |
| 6 | Lasith Malinga (MI) | 2009-2019 | 122 | 2827 | 471.1 | 8 | 3365 | 170 | 45059 | 19.79 | 7.14 | 16.62 |
| 7 | Bhuvneshvar Kumar (PWI/SRH) | 2011-2023 | 156 | 3472 | 578.4 | 12 | 4262 | 163 | 45065 | 26.14 | 7.36 | 21.3 |
| 8 | Sunil Narine (KKR) | 2012-2023 | 160 | 3697 | 616.1 | 3 | 4160 | 159 | 45065 | 26.16 | 6.75 | 23.25 |
| 9 | Harbhajan Singh (CSK/KKR/MI) | 2008-2021 | 163 | 3416 | 569.2 | 6 | 4030 | 150 | 45064 | 26.86 | 7.07 | 22.77 |
| 10 | Ravindra Jadeja (CSK/GL/Kochi/RR) | 2008-2023 | 222 | 3463 | 577.1 | 2 | 4371 | 148 | 45062 | 29.53 | 7.57 | 23.39 |
Chahal’s success is also a reflection of the growing dominance of spinners in the IPL. Over the years, we have seen an increase in the number of spinners in the league, and they have been able to make a significant impact on the game. The conditions in India are tailor-made for spin bowling, and this has given rise to a new breed of spinners who can exploit these conditions to their advantage.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s achievement in becoming the highest wicket-taker in the IPL is a remarkable feat. He has been a key member of the RCB and RR franchises and his success is a reflection of the growing dominance of spinners in the IPL. With several years of cricket still left in him, it will be interesting to see how many more wickets Chahal can add to his tally and further cement his legacy as one of the best spinners in the game.
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