Most Expensive Bowling Figures in WPL History

T20 cricket can be brutal for bowlers. Even the world's best have endured days when nothing works: the ball disappears to all parts, plans unravel, and the figures make for painful reading. The most expensive bowling figures in WPL history are a reminder that no bowler is immune.

What makes this list fascinating is the quality of the names on it. World-class internationals, proven match-winners and even some of the league's greatest all-rounders have all suffered. In T20 cricket, the margin between a great spell and a disastrous one is often just a few balls.

Here are the most expensive bowling figures ever recorded in the WPL.

Top 10 Most Expensive Bowling Figures in WPL History

Sutherland's 2/56: The Unwanted Record

Annabel Sutherland holds the unfortunate record for the most expensive bowling figures in WPL history, conceding 56 runs in her four overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Brabourne on 8 March 2023. The Australian all-rounder did take two wickets, but the runs flowed relentlessly.

Brabourne's small boundaries and true pitch offered no margin for error that day, and RCB's batters were in devastating form. Sutherland's experience shows how quickly a T20 innings can spiral, even for a bowler of genuine quality.

Devine and Schutt: Great Bowlers, Bad Days

Sophie Devine's 0 for 55 against UP Warriorz and Megan Schutt's 0 for 53 against Gujarat Giants are striking entries because both are outstanding bowlers. Devine is one of the finest all-rounders in women's cricket, while Schutt has been among the world's best new-ball bowlers for a decade.

Their presence on this list illustrates a fundamental truth about T20 cricket. When batters commit fully to attack and conditions favor them, even the best-laid plans can be dismantled. There is no shame in it; it is the nature of the format.

Perry's Rare Off Day

Ellyse Perry's 2 for 53 against Mumbai Indians is particularly notable because Perry also holds the record for the best bowling figures in WPL history, her 6/15 against the same opposition. To own both extremes is a perfect illustration of T20 cricket's volatility.

The contrast between Perry's two spells, one magical and one miserable, both against Mumbai Indians, shows how much context matters. Form, conditions, match situation and sheer luck all play their part.

The Indian Bowlers' Struggles

Shikha Pandey (0/53), Arundhati Reddy (2/52), Amanjot Kaur (1/51), Tanuja Kanwar (0/50) and Deepti Sharma (3/50) all feature, showing that Indian bowlers have had their share of difficult days. Deepti's entry is remarkable because she took three wickets while conceding fifty, the classic sign of a bowler who kept attacking despite the punishment.

Tanuja Kanwar's 0/50 came in just three overs, making it the most expensive on a per-over basis among the entries.

Brabourne: The Bowlers' Graveyard

Brabourne Stadium appears four times in the top ten, confirming its reputation as the most batting-friendly venue in the league. The short boundaries and excellent pitch mean bowlers have almost no margin for error, and the entries from Sutherland, Schutt and Perry all came there.

Vadodara also features three times, suggesting it too favors the batters when conditions are right.

Why Expensive Spells Happen

Several factors combine to produce these figures. Small grounds and flat pitches are the obvious ones, but match situation matters enormously. Bowlers asked to defend the indefensible, or bowling to set batters in the death overs, are always vulnerable.

What separates good bowlers from great ones is not avoiding these days entirely, because nobody can, but how they respond. The best use the experience to adjust their plans, while lesser bowlers let one bad spell affect the next.

The Flip Side of Bowling Greatness

This list is best read alongside the best bowling figures in WPL history. The contrast is instructive: Perry's 6/15 and 2/53, Kapp's brilliance and occasional punishment, the same bowlers appearing on both lists. Greatness in T20 bowling is not about never failing; it is about the ratio of triumphs to disasters.

The connection to the highest team totals in WPL history is equally clear. Expensive spells are the building blocks of record totals. Sutherland's 2/56 contributed to a massive RCB score, just as the bowlers who suffered during UPW's 225 will remember their figures with a shudder. Every batting record has a bowling victim.

For young bowlers entering the league, this list carries an important message. Even the best in the world have been hit for 50-plus. What matters is having the courage to keep running in, the intelligence to learn from punishment, and the resilience to come back stronger. The bowlers who do that are the ones who end up with the most wickets, not the ones who never get hit.

These expensive spells are now part of Women's Premier League folklore. Fans remember the great bowling as well as the great hitting, and the stories of bowlers who bounced back from these hammerings to win matches are among the most inspiring in the league's short history.

FAQs

What are the most expensive bowling figures in WPL history?

Annabel Sutherland's 2 for 56 against RCB at Brabourne on 8 March 2023 are the most expensive bowling figures in WPL history.

Which bowler holds both the best and most expensive figures records?

Ellyse Perry holds the best figures (6/15) and also features among the most expensive (2/53), both against Mumbai Indians.

Which venue has seen the most expensive bowling spells?

Brabourne Stadium appears four times in the top ten, making it the toughest venue for bowlers in the league.

Has any bowler conceded 50+ runs in 3 overs?

Tanuja Kanwar conceded 0/50 in just 3 overs against RCB, the most expensive on a per-over basis.

Which great bowlers feature on the expensive list?

Sophie Devine (0/55), Megan Schutt (0/53), Ellyse Perry (2/53) and Deepti Sharma (3/50) all feature despite being world-class bowlers.

What is the most recent 50+ runs conceded spell?

Shikha Pandey's 0/53 and Amanjot Kaur's 1/51, both in January 2026, are among the most recent entries.