Which Bowler Has Delivered the Fastest Ball in IPL History?
In the history of the Indian Premier League from the Indian side, Umran Malik bowled the fastest ball of the tournament, becoming the first Indian to clock 153 kmph. Bowling fast is an art form in itself, and only the best of the best can push it to its limits. In this article, we will take a look at the top 5 fastest balls ever bowled in the IPL.
There is no doubt that the Indian Premier League is the pinnacle of all domestic stages. It is here where we see those limits being pushed to their limits. During this stage, the best bowlers from all over the world take the field.

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Fastest Ball in IPL History
There are many legends in the game from Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, to those that have only appeared recently, such as Dale Steyn, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Jofra Archer, Lockie Ferguson, Navdeep Saini, Pat Cummins. Umran Malik, a pacer for the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, has also made waves recently due to his speed and accuracy. Throughout the history of cricket, there have been a number of bowlers who have bowled deliveries exceeding 150 kmph.
Here are the 5 fastest balls bowled in IPL.
Fastest bowler in IPL: Shaun Tait – 157.71 kmph
Shaun Tait, a legendary Australian fast bowler, is widely regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history. During his time with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he became the holder of the record for the fastest ball in IPL history, clocked at a staggering 157.71 km/h (97.9 mph). Tait’s exceptional pace and swing made him a fearsome competitor in the IPL.
In the four IPL seasons he played for RR (2010-2013), Tait appeared in 21 games and took 23 wickets. He achieved the record for the fastest delivery in IPL history in 2011, when he sent a rocketing ball at 157.7 kmph to Aaron Finch, who was then playing for Delhi Daredevils (now, Delhi Capitals).
Even a decade later, Tait still holds the record for the fastest ball in IPL history, which is also the highest ball speed in IPL and the fastest delivery in IPL history. His record remains a remarkable feat and a testament to his talent as a bowler.
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Fastest ball in IPL 2022: Umran Malik: Sunrisers Hyderabad, India
Umran Malik’s piece in the 5th match of the TATA IPL 2022 earned him the distinction of having the ability to bowl the fastest bowl ever bowled in IPL history. Umran Malik’s feat comes second only to the best one done by Indian bowler Navdeep Saini, who bowled a 156 in the Next article of RCB against DC.
Fastest bowler in IPL:Anrich Nortje – 156.22 kmph
Anrich Nortje, a South African fast bowler who represents the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is known for his exceptional pace and swing. He has delivered the second-fastest ball in IPL history, clocked at 156.22 km/h (97.1 mph). His performances in the IPL have cemented his status as one of the top bowlers in the world.
In his first IPL season, Nortje astonished everyone with his blazing speed and became the fastest bowler in the tournament. DC had discovered a gem in Nortje, and he broke all the pace records in the IPL. Nortje is the ideal partner for his fellow countryman Rabada in DC’s lineup.
Nortje currently holds three of the top three spots for the fastest ball in IPL history, with some bullet-like deliveries that have left batsmen stunned. In the 2016 IPL, he recorded 22 wickets from 16 games, showcasing his skill as a world-class fast bowler.
Fastest bowler in IPL – Dale Steyn – 154.4 kmph
Dale Steyn’s inclusion in this list of the top bowlers of the IPL is no surprise since he has been responsible for some of the fastest deliveries in its history. Dale Steyn, a South African fast bowler who played for the Deccan Chargers in the 2010 season, delivers the third-fastest ball in IPL history at 154.4 km/h (96 mph).
Steyn is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, and his pace and swing have made him a key player for a number of teams in various domestic and international tournaments. As far as fast bowlers are concerned, he was probably one of the best of his generation. He has been extremely consistent regardless of whether he is playing red-ball cricket or white-ball cricket.
As well as picking wickets, he also releases some absolute thunderbolts when it comes to bowling. At his peak, he was regarded as one of the fastest drivers and was able to consistently go over 150 kilometers per hour. In the Indian Premier League, Steyn has clocked one of the fastest deliveries in the competition. While playing for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in the 2012 season, he sent a ball down that clocked 154.40 kmph, which is the fifth-fastest-ever ball in the history of this cash-rich Indian T20 league.
Despite being injured most of the time, Steyn still has an excellent record in the Indian Premier League. During the course of the tournament, the South African legend has managed to pick up 97 wickets at an economy rate of 6.91. Furthermore, he has also delivered some of the fastest balls in the tournament at a top speed of 154.4 kmph.
Fastest bowler in IPL-Kagiso Rabada – 154.23 kmph, 153.91 kmph
Kagiso Rabada, the South African fast bowler, proved to be a valuable asset for the Delhi Capitals in the previous season of the IPL, delivering impressive performances that helped the team to victory in the final. He emerged as the highest wicket-taker of the season, claiming the coveted purple cap with a total of 30 wickets from 17 games. Rabada established himself as one of the top performers in the league and a promising prospect for the future.
In addition to his impressive performances, Rabada consistently achieved speeds over 150 kmph in the last few seasons. According to iplt20.com stats, he has exceeded this speed 16 times in the history of the IPL. Some of these deliveries even made it to the top 10, including one at 154.23 kmph, which places him in the top five for such deliveries, and another at 153.91 kmph. Rabada’s exceptional speed and accuracy make him a formidable opponent on the field, and a player to watch in the IPL.
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Lockie Ferguson – 153.84 kmph
The way Lockie Ferguson plays for New Zealand means he should be given more recognition, as he probably is one of the most underrated pacers in the game at the moment. As a result of his pace during the middle and the death overs over the past couple of years, he has been extremely important for them.
Although he didn’t play a lot of matches, he was still able to bowl one delivery with a velocity of 153.84 km/h, which made him one of the top 5 fastest bowlers of the IPL 2020. Ferguson has also breached the 150 kmph mark on several occasions during the 2020 season. In fact, Ferguson has recorded one of the fastest deliveries in the history of the IPL during this season. The average speed that he achieved during the season was 153.84 kmph, which places him in the top ten fastest deliveries of all time.
Fastest Ball in IPL History by an Indian
BOWLER | SPEED (in kmph) | OPPOSITION | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Shaun Tait | 157.7 | Delhi Capitals | 2011 |
Umran Malik | 157 | Delhi Capitals | 2022 |
Anrich Nortje | 156.2 | Rajasthan Royals | 2020 |
Umran Malik | 156 | Delhi Capitals | 2022 |
Anrich Nortje | 155.1 | Rajasthan Royals | 2020 |
Umran Malik | 154.8 | Delhi Capitals | 2022 |
Anrich Nortje | 154.7 | Rajasthan Royals | 2020 |
Dale Steyn | 154.4 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 2012 |
Kagiso Rabada | 154.2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2019 |
Umran Malik | 154 | Chennai Super Kings | 2022 |
Umran Malik: 152.95kph, 152.05kph
Just three appearances in the IPL have attracted attention to this Jammu-Kashmir pacer from SRH. Even though he picked up only two wickets in 2021, he was impressed with the raw pace and accuracy he displayed, as is the case with many fast bowlers. Malik put up an impressive performance against Virat Kohli and his Royal Challengers Bangalore team, helping him earn a call-up to the Indian team for the T20 World Cup as a net bowler.
Who has delivered the fastest ball in IPL history?
The fastest ball in IPL history was delivered by Shaun Tait of the Rajasthan Royals, with a speed of 157.71 km/h (97.9 mph).
Which team has had the most bowlers deliver the fastest ball in the IPL?
The Delhi Capitals have had two bowlers deliver the fastest ball in the IPL: Anrich Nortje (156.22 km/h) and Kagiso Rabada (154.23 km/h, 153.91 km/h).
Who are the top 5 fastest bowlers in IPL history?
The top 5 fastest bowlers in IPL history are Shaun Tait, Anrich Nortje, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, and Lockie Ferguson.
How have the performances of the fastest bowlers in the IPL impacted their careers?
The performances of the fastest bowlers in the IPL have contributed to their reputations as some of the best bowlers in the world and have made them valuable assets for their teams in various domestic and international tournaments.

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.