David Willey IPL Stats, Wickets, Price, Age, Debut, Team, Salary
David Willey’s IPL career is a short but memorable one. A left-arm swing bowler with England pedigree, Willey arrived in the league in 2018 as an injury replacement for Chennai Super Kings and immediately picked up an IPL winner’s medal.
His opportunities on the field were limited, and he never played more than four matches in a single campaign. Even so, his name kept coming up at auctions because teams valued exactly what he offered: genuine new-ball swing and useful lower-order hitting. Through 2023, Willey had taken 6 wickets in 11 IPL matches, and his auction price of INR 2 crore made him a popular budget swing-bowling option.
David Willey IPL Career Overview
Willey entered the IPL in 2018 when Chennai Super Kings signed him as a replacement for the injured Kedar Jadhav. He played 3 matches and took 2 wickets, but more importantly he became part of a championship-winning dressing room under MS Dhoni.
After a quiet 2019 with no games for CSK, he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore at the 2022 mega auction for INR 2 crore and spent two seasons there. Lucknow Super Giants bought him for the same price at the IPL 2024 auction, but he withdrew from the season for personal reasons before playing a game.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| — | — |
| Full Name | David Jonathan Willey |
| Date of Birth | 28 February 1990 |
| Birthplace | Northampton, England |
| Role | Bowling All-rounder |
| Batting Style | Left-handed |
| Bowling Style | Left-arm fast-medium |
| IPL Debut | 2018 (Chennai Super Kings) |
| IPL Teams | Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| Base Price | INR 2 crore |
| IPL Titles | 1 (2018, with CSK) |
David Willey Early Life and England Career
Cricket runs deep in the Willey family. David is the son of former England cricketer Peter Willey, and he came through the Northamptonshire system before establishing himself as one of England’s premier white-ball swing bowlers.
Willey played international cricket for England from 2015 to 2023. He retired after the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he was England’s second-highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets in 6 games. Beyond England, he became one of the most travelled T20 cricketers in the world, playing everywhere from the Vitality Blast and the Big Bash to the SA20 and the ILT20.
David Willey IPL Debut: Chennai Super Kings 2018
Willey’s IPL journey began through the side door. When Chennai Super Kings lost all-rounder Kedar Jadhav to a hamstring injury early in the 2018 season, they turned to Willey as his replacement. For an English swing bowler who had built his reputation in conditions very different from Chennai’s heat, it was a huge opportunity.
He played 3 matches in the 2018 campaign and took 2 wickets. His most notable outing came against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he held his nerve at the death in a famous victory. He did not play in the final, but he finished the season as an IPL champion as CSK beat Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede to secure their third title.
CSK retained him for the 2019 season, but the side was settled and deep in bowling options, and Willey did not play a single match that year. Ahead of the 2020 auction, Chennai released him, ending his first IPL stint.
The RCB Years
At the 2022 mega auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore bought Willey for his base price of INR 2 crore. RCB were looking for a left-arm swing option to complement their attack, and Willey fitted the template: experienced, skilful with the new ball and available for the full season.
The 2022 season gave him 4 matches and just 1 wicket, though his economy rate of 6.55 showed he was far from expensive. His best figures that year were 1 for 29.
In 2023 he played 4 matches for RCB and took 3 wickets at an economy of 7.00, with best figures of 2 for 16. His season was cut short by a toe injury, and in a twist of fate, it was Kedar Jadhav who was signed as his replacement, the same player whose injury had first opened the IPL door for Willey five years earlier. Across the two RCB seasons, Willey took 4 wickets in 8 matches.
David Willey IPL Season-by-Season Bowling Stats
| Season | Team | Matches | Wickets | Best | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | CSK | 3 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 2019 | CSK | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | RCB | 4 | 1 | 1/29 | — | 6.55 |
| 2023 | RCB | 4 | 3 | 2/16 | — | 7.00 |
| 2024 | LSG | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| Career | — | 11 | 6 | 2/16 | 45.33 | 7.56 |
The headline numbers underline how little Willey actually bowled in the IPL: 11 matches across four active seasons. His career economy rate of 7.56 is respectable for a new-ball bowler in T20 cricket, and his 2 for 16 for RCB in 2023 remains his best IPL spell. With the bat, he scored 53 runs in the league with a highest score of 20 not out and an average of 26.50.
David Willey IPL Price and Auction History
Willey’s auction story is one of remarkable consistency. He never went for big money, but teams kept calling his name at the same base price, a sign of how dependable his skill set was considered.
| Year | Team | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | Replacement | Signed for injured Kedar Jadhav |
| 2019 | Chennai Super Kings | INR 2.00 crore | Retained, played no matches |
| 2022 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | INR 2.00 crore | Bought at base price, mega auction |
| 2023 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | INR 2.00 crore | Retained |
| 2024 | Lucknow Super Giants | INR 2.00 crore | Bought at base price, withdrew before season |
| 2025 | — | — | Released, went unsold |
| 2026 | — | INR 2.00 crore | Registered at base price |
The INR 2 crore figure followed Willey through his IPL career like a signature. He was bought at exactly his base price at the 2022 and 2024 auctions, which suited the budget-conscious teams that valued his new-ball swing.
David Willey Bowling Style and Strengths
Willey is a classic left-arm fast-medium swing bowler. His greatest strength is moving the new ball both ways at a good pace, which made him particularly dangerous in the powerplay when conditions offered even a hint of swing. Bowlers of his type are rare in the IPL, and that scarcity is what kept franchises interested despite his modest returns.
He is also a smart death bowler who varies his pace, as his economy rate of 7.56 across 11 IPL matches suggests. He adds value in the field and with the bat too: he is an athletic outfielder and a left-handed lower-order hitter capable of clearing the ropes.
His limitations in the IPL were circumstantial rather than technical. At CSK he sat behind a settled bowling attack, and at RCB he never quite got the long run of games that swing bowlers often need to find their rhythm. With only 11 matches in four seasons, the league never saw the best of him.
David Willey Memorable IPL Performances
Willey’s standout IPL moment came in 2018 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, when he held his nerve bowling at the death in a thrilling Chennai victory, showing the composure that would become his trademark in franchise cricket.
For Royal Challengers Bangalore, his best spell was the 2 for 16 in 2023, a reminder of what he could do with the new ball when given the chance. His season was ended early by a toe injury, a genuine loss for an RCB side that needed his swing.
Off the field, his proudest IPL memory must be the 2018 title. Players who join mid-season as replacements rarely get to call themselves champions, but Willey earned his medal with CSK.
David Willey Records and Milestones
Willey’s IPL numbers are modest, but his wider career carries the weight of a top-level international seamer. His 11 wickets in 6 games at the 2023 ODI World Cup made him England’s second-highest wicket-taker at the tournament, a remarkable farewell to international cricket at the age of 33.
In T20 franchise cricket, he ranks among the most travelled left-arm swing bowlers of his generation, with starring roles across the Vitality Blast, the Big Bash, the SA20 and the ILT20. His IPL medal from 2018 with Chennai Super Kings remains one of his proudest team honours.
FAQs
When did David Willey make his IPL debut?
David Willey made his IPL debut in 2018 for Chennai Super Kings, who signed him as an injury replacement for Kedar Jadhav. He played 3 matches that season and finished it as an IPL champion.
Which IPL teams has David Willey played for?
David Willey has played for Chennai Super Kings (2018, 2019) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (2022, 2023). He was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2024 but withdrew from the season for personal reasons.
How many wickets has David Willey taken in the IPL?
David Willey has taken 6 wickets in 11 IPL matches at an average of 45.33 and an economy rate of 7.56, with best figures of 2 for 16.
What is David Willey’s IPL auction price?
David Willey was consistently bought at his base price of INR 2 crore: by Royal Challengers Bangalore at the 2022 mega auction and by Lucknow Super Giants at the 2024 auction. He was registered at the same base price for 2026.
Why did David Willey withdraw from IPL 2024?
David Willey withdrew from the IPL 2024 season for personal reasons after being bought by Lucknow Super Giants for INR 2 crore, and he did not play any match that year.
Did David Willey win the IPL with CSK?
Yes. David Willey was part of the Chennai Super Kings squad that won the IPL in 2018, the season he joined the side as a replacement for the injured Kedar Jadhav.
Rivcky John
A prominent figure in sports journalism for the last two decades. Cricket Analyst & Writing News, Features, Match Previews/Reviews/Reports, And Opinion Pieces on Cricket. You can connect with him on Facebook also.