Bowlers with Most Wickets Against Mumbai Indians in IPL: Trouble for MI

Mumbai Indians have built some of the strongest batting lineups in IPL history. From Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya in the early years to Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan and other modern power-hitters, MI have rarely been an easy team to bowl against.

That makes repeated success against Mumbai especially valuable. The bowlers with the best records against MI have usually combined wicket-taking ability with the courage to attack during high-risk phases. Some have struck with the new ball, others have controlled the middle overs, while several death specialists have damaged Mumbai just when they tried to accelerate.

Through the completed 2026 IPL season, Dwayne Bravo and Mohit Sharma share the lead with 33 wickets each against Mumbai Indians. Yuzvendra Chahal follows with 31, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Sunil Narine have 27 apiece.

The list also includes several bowlers who have delivered some of the most dramatic spells ever produced against the five-time champions.

Bowlers with Most Wickets Against Mumbai Indians in IPL

Bravo and Mohit remain level at the top, but their records came in very different ways. Bravo relied heavily on slower balls and death-over variation, while Mohit combined hard lengths with off-cutters and precise execution. Chahal is the highest-ranked spinner among the current active contenders.

1. Dwayne Bravo – 33 Wickets

Dwayne Bravo is joint-top for the most wickets against Mumbai Indians.

He took 33 wickets in 22 innings against MI at an average of 18.66 and an economy of 7.96. His best figures in the matchup were 4/42.

Bravo’s record is especially interesting because he began his IPL career with Mumbai before becoming one of Chennai Super Kings’ most important bowlers.

Once he moved away from MI, he regularly became one of their biggest threats.

His method was built around variation rather than pace. Bravo used slower balls, wide yorkers and changes of length to make boundary-hitting difficult at the death.

Mumbai’s batting traditionally depended heavily on late acceleration through players such as Pollard and Hardik. That made Bravo’s overs particularly important because he often bowled exactly when MI were trying to increase the run rate.

His strike rate against Mumbai was excellent, with a wicket roughly every 14 balls.

That combination of wickets and control explains why Bravo remains level at the top of the all-time list even years after his retirement.

2. Mohit Sharma – 33 Wickets

Mohit Sharma also has 33 wickets against Mumbai Indians, but he reached the mark in only 21 matches.

His record includes the best bowling figures ever recorded against MI: 5/10 for Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2023.

That performance came in one of the biggest matches of the season.

Mumbai were chasing 234 for a place in the final and had enough batting power to threaten the target. Mohit destroyed that possibility.

He removed Suryakumar Yadav, Vishnu Vinod, Tim David, Chris Jordan and Kumar Kartikeya, finishing with five wickets from only 2.2 overs.

GT bowled Mumbai out for 171 and advanced to the final.

The spell was even more impressive because Mohit did not rely on raw speed. His slower deliveries and hard lengths repeatedly forced mistimed shots.

His overall record against MI includes three three-wicket hauls and one five-for, with an average of just over 20.

For a bowler who spent several years outside the IPL before returning successfully, finishing joint-top for wickets against Mumbai is a remarkable achievement.

3. Yuzvendra Chahal – 31 Wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal is the most successful specialist spinner against Mumbai Indians.

He has taken 31 wickets in 23 matches, with an economy rate of approximately 8.30.

Chahal’s record is particularly impressive because MI have historically been strong players of spin.

Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Pollard and several other middle-order batters were capable of attacking leg-spin, yet Chahal still found ways to take wickets.

His best figures against Mumbai are 4/38.

Chahal’s success comes from attacking rather than simply defending. He often bowls slower through the air, inviting batters to hit against the turn and forcing catches in the deep.

He has also been effective against both right- and left-handed batters because of his googly.

Even when his economy rises, Chahal remains dangerous because he keeps looking for wickets.

That mentality has also helped him become the IPL’s overall all-time leading wicket-taker.

Against Mumbai specifically, his 31 wickets place him only two behind Bravo and Mohit.

4. Ravichandran Ashwin – 27 Wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin finished his IPL career with 27 wickets in 36 innings against Mumbai Indians.

His most impressive number, however, is his economy rate of just 6.80.

That is exceptional against a franchise known for aggressive batting.

Ashwin’s approach was tactical.

He varied his release point, pace, line and trajectory constantly. Instead of allowing MI’s batters to settle into predictable patterns, he made every over feel different.

Ashwin also had the confidence to bowl inside the Powerplay.

That allowed his captains to save fast bowlers for later phases while still attacking Mumbai’s top order.

His best figures against MI were 3/29.

He did not produce a five-wicket spectacle like Mohit or Russell, but his long-term consistency made him one of Mumbai’s most difficult matchups.

Ashwin’s ability to concede fewer than seven runs per over across so many meetings gives his 27 wickets even greater value.

5. Sunil Narine – 27 Wickets

Sunil Narine also has 27 wickets against Mumbai Indians, with an economy rate of just 7.02.

For much of his career, Narine was Kolkata Knight Riders’ biggest weapon through the middle overs.

Mumbai often entered that phase with attacking batters set at the crease, yet Narine repeatedly slowed them down.

His mystery spin created uncertainty.

Batters struggled to read his off-break, carrom-style variations and subtle changes of pace, making cross-batted hitting risky.

His best figures against MI are 4/15, and he has recorded multiple four-wicket performances in the matchup.

What makes Narine’s record impressive is the balance between attack and control.

He has not simply collected wickets because batters tried to hit him. He has also restricted scoring across a long period.

Even as IPL batting became more aggressive, his economy against Mumbai remained close to seven.

That makes Narine one of the strongest examples of a bowler who can hurt MI without relying on pace.

Best Bowling Figures Against Mumbai Indians in IPL

The record for the best bowling figures against Mumbai belongs to Mohit Sharma.

His 5/10 in Qualifier 2 in 2023 remains the benchmark.

Andre Russell’s 5/15 was remarkable because it came in only two overs. He entered the attack late and took five wickets across the 18th and 20th overs as MI collapsed to 152.

Sandeep Sharma’s 5/18 in 2024 was equally impressive for different reasons. He struck with both the new ball and at the death, helping Rajasthan Royals control Mumbai from start to finish.

Harshal Patel’s 5/27 was historically important because he became the first bowler to take an IPL five-for against Mumbai Indians.

Famous Bowling Spells Against MI

Mohit Sharma’s 5/10 in Qualifier 2

Mohit’s spell came under enormous pressure.

Mumbai were chasing 234 and still had Suryakumar Yadav at the crease.

Mohit removed him and then ran through the lower order.

The five-for ended MI’s chase and sent Gujarat Titans into the 2023 IPL final.

Because it came in a knockout match, it remains one of the most important bowling spells ever produced against Mumbai.

Andre Russell’s 5/15 in Two Overs

Russell bowled only two overs against MI in Chennai in 2021.

He took two wickets in his first over and three more in the 20th.

Mumbai lost their final seven wickets for 37 runs and were bowled out for 152.

The spell showed how quickly a death bowler can change a T20 innings.

Harshal Patel’s 5/27

Harshal Patel produced his first IPL five-for in the opening match of the 2021 season.

He removed several middle- and lower-order batters and prevented Mumbai from finishing strongly.

RCB later won from the final ball.

Harshal then troubled MI again later in the same season, taking 4/17 and completing a hat-trick as Bengaluru won by 54 runs.

Across two games in one season, he took nine wickets against Mumbai.

Sandeep Sharma’s 5/18

Sandeep returned from injury to produce a career-best 5/18 against Mumbai in 2024.

He dismissed Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav with the new ball before returning later to remove Tilak Varma, Tim David and Gerald Coetzee.

The spell demonstrated why Sandeep has remained effective without extreme pace.

His control of seam, slower deliveries and yorkers allowed him to succeed in different phases.

Narine’s 4/15

Narine’s best spell against Mumbai showcased mystery spin at its best.

He attacked a strong MI batting order through the middle overs and prevented them from building the partnerships they usually rely on.

For a spinner, producing 4/15 against Mumbai is especially notable because MI have traditionally selected several batters who play spin aggressively.

How Bowling Has Shaped Matches Against MI

Mumbai Indians’ batting strength has often forced opponents to think differently.

Simply trying to contain MI rarely works.

Their middle order has historically contained enough power to make up for slow starts, while finishers such as Pollard and Hardik could add 50 or more runs in the final few overs.

Successful bowling plans therefore depend heavily on wickets.

The best attacks against MI have usually struck in clusters.

Russell’s 2021 spell is a perfect example. Mumbai did not lose because they were slowly restricted. They lost because seven wickets fell in a short period.

Mohit’s 2023 Qualifier 2 produced a similar collapse.

Spin has also been crucial.

Ashwin, Narine and Chahal have combined for more than 80 wickets against Mumbai. Their ability to break partnerships between overs seven and fifteen prevents MI from carrying too many wickets into the death overs.

New-ball wickets matter just as much.

Sandeep Sharma has repeatedly shown how dangerous MI can become when their openers survive, so dismissing top-order batters early changes the structure of the innings.

This is why the bowlers with the best records against Mumbai are not all the same type.

Bravo and Mohit succeeded with pace variation.

Chahal attacked with leg-spin.

Ashwin and Narine controlled the middle overs.

Sandeep moved the new ball and changed pace late.

Different methods have worked, but the common factor is wickets.

Why MI Have Been a Difficult Team to Bowl Against

Mumbai’s long-term batting depth makes these records more impressive.

Many IPL sides have depended heavily on two or three star batters. MI, at their best, could attack throughout the order.

Rohit could dominate the Powerplay.

Suryakumar could increase the scoring rate in the middle overs.

Pollard and Hardik could finish.

That left bowlers with very few easy phases.

A bowler who survived the Powerplay still had to deal with aggressive middle-order batting. A spinner who bowled economically could then face finishers attacking from the first delivery.

The leading wicket-takers against MI succeeded because they continued attacking even when boundaries came.

That approach created opportunities for catches, bowled dismissals and miscued shots.

It also explains why economy alone does not define success against Mumbai.

Mohit’s economy is higher than Ashwin’s, but his 33 wickets and 5/10 show the value of taking wickets at crucial moments.

FAQs

### Which bowler has taken the most wickets against Mumbai Indians in IPL history?

Dwayne Bravo and Mohit Sharma share the record with 33 wickets each against Mumbai Indians.

Which spinner has taken the most wickets against MI?

Yuzvendra Chahal leads the specialist spinners with 31 wickets against Mumbai Indians in 23 matches.

Who has the best bowling figures against Mumbai Indians?

Mohit Sharma holds the record with 5/10 for Gujarat Titans against MI in Qualifier 2 of the 2023 IPL.

How many wickets has Sunil Narine taken against MI?

Sunil Narine has taken 27 wickets against Mumbai Indians, with best figures of 4/15 and an economy close to seven.

Who was the first bowler to take an IPL five-for against MI?

Harshal Patel became the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians when he recorded 5/27 for RCB in 2021.

What are Sandeep Sharma’s best figures against Mumbai Indians?

Sandeep Sharma’s best figures against MI are 5/18, achieved for Rajasthan Royals in 2024.