Most 4-Wicket Hauls in IPL History: Bowling Records

Taking four wickets in a T20 innings is one of the clearest signs that a bowler has controlled a match. An IPL bowler can deliver a maximum of only four overs, so claiming four or more wickets means averaging at least one dismissal per over. In a competition filled with aggressive batters, short boundaries and high scoring rates, producing such spells repeatedly requires exceptional skill.

For this record, a 4-wicket haul means an innings in which a bowler takes four or more wickets. Therefore, five-wicket and six-wicket performances also count toward the total. This is different from statistical tables that show “4W” and “5W” separately.

Yuzvendra Chahal leads the all-time IPL list with nine innings of four or more wickets through the completed 2026 season. Sunil Narine follows with eight, while Lasith Malinga is next with seven. Kagiso Rabada has six despite playing considerably fewer IPL matches than several other names near the top.

Most 4-Wicket Hauls in IPL History

The totals above combine innings of exactly four wickets with five-or-more-wicket performances. Chahal, for example, has eight innings with exactly four wickets plus one five-wicket haul, giving him nine 4+ wicket performances overall. Narine has seven four-fors and one five-for.

1. Yuzvendra Chahal – 9 Hauls

Yuzvendra Chahal sits alone at the top with nine IPL innings of four or more wickets. The leg-spinner has taken eight exact four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul, producing a career-best 5/40.

Chahal’s success is particularly impressive because leg-spinners often bowl when batters are actively looking for boundaries. Instead of avoiding risk, he uses flight, changes of pace and wider lines to encourage attacking shots. That approach has helped him become the highest wicket-taker in IPL history as well as the leader in 4+ wicket hauls.

His 5/40 for Rajasthan Royals against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022 included a memorable hat-trick and completely changed a high-scoring contest. By the end of the 2026 season, Chahal had reached 233 IPL wickets.

2. Sunil Narine – 8 Hauls

Sunil Narine has eight IPL innings with at least four wickets, all while representing Kolkata Knight Riders. Seven were exact four-wicket hauls, while his career-best 5/19 adds another performance to the 4+ total.

Narine has remained difficult to attack because batters struggle to read his variations early. During his peak years, he could control the scoring rate and take wickets in the same spell, giving KKR an enormous advantage through the middle overs.

His 5/19 came against Punjab in 2012 and remains one of the most economical five-wicket performances in IPL history. Narine’s ability to continue producing wickets across different eras has taken him beyond 200 career IPL wickets.

3. Lasith Malinga – 7 Hauls

Lasith Malinga finished his IPL career with seven innings of four or more wickets. Six were four-wicket performances, while his famous 5/13 gave him a seventh 4+ haul.

Malinga’s record becomes even more impressive when his role is considered. Mumbai Indians frequently used him at the death, where every delivery carried boundary risk. His yorker, slower ball and unusual slingy release allowed him to take wickets even when batters knew they had to attack.

He finished with 170 wickets in 122 IPL matches. His combination of strike rate, economy and match-winning spells made him the standard against which IPL death bowlers were measured for many years.

4. Kagiso Rabada – 6 Hauls

most IPL wickets without five-for. His career-best IPL return is 4/21.

Rabada’s frequency is exceptional. Through the 2026 season, he had six 4+ wicket innings in just over 100 bowling appearances, giving him one of the best rates of major wicket hauls among bowlers with long IPL careers.

His pace and ability to take wickets in both the powerplay and death overs make him particularly dangerous. Rabada does not need favorable conditions to create chances; hard lengths, yorkers and changes of pace have allowed him to strike in different phases.

5. Amit Mishra – 5 Hauls

Amit Mishra recorded five innings of four or more wickets during his IPL career. Four were exact four-wicket hauls, while his 5/17 gives him a fifth 4+ performance.

Mishra was one of the IPL’s most effective traditional leg-spinners. He attacked batters with flight rather than relying only on defensive lines, and his willingness to invite big shots helped him collect 174 wickets.

His 5/17 remains his best IPL performance. Mishra also holds a unique place in league history because of his multiple hat-tricks, further highlighting his ability to take wickets in clusters.

Most 4-Wicket Hauls in a Single IPL Season

Producing one four-wicket spell is difficult. Doing it three times in the same season is even rarer.

Andrew Tye became the first bowler to take three four-wicket hauls in one IPL edition when he achieved the feat for Kings XI Punjab in 2018. His three spells came against Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians. He finished the season with 24 wickets and won the Purple Cap.

The record has since been matched. Using the four-or-more definition, three 4+ wicket innings in one season remains the IPL benchmark.

Mohit Sharma’s 2023 record included two four-wicket hauls and his spectacular 5/10 against Mumbai Indians. Chahal also recorded three 4+ wicket performances during the same season.

The 2022 season produced 21 individual innings of four or more wickets across the competition, the highest total for any IPL season through 2026. The following season produced another 19, showing how aggressive modern batting can also create opportunities for bowlers to collect wickets in clusters.

Best 4-Wicket Spells in IPL History

Not every great four-wicket spell needs a fifth wicket. Some bowlers have produced extraordinary figures while finishing with exactly four dismissals.

Lasith Malinga’s 4/16 is a classic example of a fast bowler combining wickets with excellent control. Andrew Tye also recorded 4/16 during his outstanding 2018 campaign.

Piyush Chawla’s career-best 4/17 showed the value of attacking leg-spin, while Yuzvendra Chahal has produced several similar performances during his long IPL career.

Kuldeep Yadav’s 4/14 ranks among the most economical four-wicket spells by a leading modern spinner. His ability to beat batters in the air and off the surface has made him particularly effective when opponents try to accelerate through the middle overs.

Jasprit Bumrah has also recorded exceptional four-wicket innings alongside his two five-wicket hauls. His ability to strike with the new ball, through the middle and at the death explains why he has repeatedly delivered major wicket-taking performances for Mumbai Indians.

Famous 4-Wicket Performances in IPL

Andrew Tye’s 4/16 Against Mumbai Indians

Tye’s 4/16 against Mumbai Indians in 2018 completed an extraordinary individual sequence. It was his third four-wicket haul of that IPL season, making him the first bowler in league history to achieve three in one edition.

Although Kings XI Punjab lost the match by three runs, Tye’s spell restricted Mumbai and strengthened his grip on the Purple Cap. He eventually finished the season with 24 wickets.

Kagiso Rabada’s 4/21

Rabada’s best IPL figures of 4/21 reflect the quality that has made him one of the competition’s most consistent strike bowlers.

Unlike several players above him on the all-time wicket list, Rabada has never taken an IPL five-for. Instead, he has repeatedly reached four wickets, producing six 4+ hauls across his career. That frequency places him behind only Chahal, Narine and Malinga in the all-time standings.

Kuldeep Yadav’s 4/14

Kuldeep’s 4/14 is one of the best spells of his IPL career. Left-arm wrist-spin creates a difficult angle for both right- and left-handed batters, while his improved pace and control have made him harder to attack.

Kuldeep has produced four career innings with at least four wickets, placing him among the leading IPL bowlers in this category through 2026.

Mohit Sharma’s 5/10 in the Playoffs

Because this article defines a four-wicket haul as four or more wickets, Mohit Sharma’s 5/10 against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 of the 2023 IPL counts toward his total.

Mohit entered the attack late and destroyed Mumbai’s chase, taking five wickets for only 10 runs. The spell helped Gujarat Titans reach the final and completed a remarkable comeback season for the experienced seamer.

Most 4-Wicket Hauls in IPL: Bowlers and Records

A four-wicket haul has greater tactical significance in T20 cricket than the same number might suggest in longer formats. One bowler removing four batters accounts for 40 percent of the maximum wickets available in an innings.

Historical IPL data also shows how strongly these performances correlate with winning. Across the first 19 seasons, teams featuring a bowler who took four or more wickets won roughly 79 percent of those matches.

That makes repeated four-wicket hauls an important way to identify genuine match-winning bowlers. Chahal and Narine often strike through the middle overs. Malinga and Rabada have done much of their damage with pace. Bumrah can operate successfully in virtually any phase.

Their methods differ, but the result is the same: one bowler takes enough wickets to reshape an entire innings.

FAQs

Who has the most 4-wicket hauls in IPL history?

Yuzvendra Chahal holds the record with nine innings of four or more wickets through the completed 2026 IPL season. His total consists of eight exact four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul.

How many 4-wicket hauls does Sunil Narine have in the IPL?

Sunil Narine has eight innings with four or more wickets. Seven were exact four-wicket hauls, while his 5/19 counts as another 4+ wicket performance.

Which fast bowler has the most 4+ wicket hauls in the IPL?

Lasith Malinga leads the fast bowlers with seven IPL innings of four or more wickets. Kagiso Rabada follows closely with six.

Who has the most 4-wicket hauls in a single IPL season?

Andrew Tye, Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohit Sharma have each produced three 4+ wicket performances in a single IPL season. Tye was the first to achieve the feat, doing so in 2018.

Does a five-wicket haul count as a 4-wicket haul?

For this article, yes. A 4-wicket haul means a bowler took at least four wickets in an innings, so performances of five or six wickets are included in the 4+ total. Some statistical databases list exact four-wicket and five-wicket hauls separately.

How many IPL 4+ wicket hauls does Kagiso Rabada have?

Rabada has six innings of four or more wickets. All six are four-wicket hauls, with career-best figures of 4/21.