Most Wickets in Powerplay Overs in IPL: New-Ball Masters

Taking wickets in the Powerplay is one of the most valuable skills a bowler can offer in the Indian Premier League. The first six overs give batters only two fielders outside the 30-yard circle, so openers are encouraged to attack. For bowlers, that creates both danger and opportunity.

The best new-ball specialists use swing, seam movement, pace and changes of angle to strike before the batting side can establish control. An early wicket can expose the middle order, slow the scoring rate and completely change how a team approaches the remaining 14 overs.

No bowler has been more successful in this phase than Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Through the completed 2026 IPL season, he has taken 97 wickets inside the first six overs. Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult are joint-second with 72 each, while Sandeep Sharma, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami follow.

The numbers also show how specialized Powerplay bowling has become. Most of the leading names have spent a large part of their careers taking the new ball rather than simply appearing occasionally during the opening overs.

Most Wickets in Powerplay Overs in IPL History

The table below ranks the leading wicket-takers specifically in overs 1-6 through the completed 2026 IPL season.

The wicket column counts only dismissals taken during the Powerplay. The best-bowling column refers to the bowler’s best overall IPL innings figures.

Bhuvneshwar’s lead is enormous. He is 25 wickets ahead of both Chahar and Boult, which underlines how consistently he has bowled with the new ball across a career lasting well over a decade.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 97 Powerplay Wickets

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the greatest Powerplay wicket-taker in IPL history.

He has taken 97 wickets in overs 1-6 while conceding only around 6.5 runs per over during that phase.

That combination of wickets and economy separates him from almost every other new-ball bowler.

Bhuvneshwar’s method is built around control rather than extreme pace. At his best, he can move the ball both ways while maintaining a full enough length to bring the stumps and outside edge into play.

For many seasons at Sunrisers Hyderabad, he automatically received the first over.

Even when conditions offered little swing, his ability to use the seam and change pace made him difficult to attack.

His Powerplay success continued after moving to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In 2026, he took 17 wickets during the first six overs, equalling Mohammed Shami’s previous Indian single-season record.

One of his best new-ball performances came against Delhi Capitals in 2026, when he removed Pathum Nissanka, Karun Nair and Sameer Rizvi in the Powerplay.

Deepak Chahar – 72 Powerplay Wickets

Deepak Chahar is joint-second with 72 Powerplay wickets.

Few IPL bowlers have depended on new-ball swing as heavily as Chahar.

During his best years with Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni often gave him three overs inside the Powerplay because his value decreased once the ball stopped moving.

That was not a weakness. It was smart role specialization.

Chahar’s full length tempted openers to drive while the ball was still swinging. He was particularly dangerous to right-handers when he could move the ball away and then bring one back into the pads.

His 2019 season was a major example of his new-ball quality. Chahar repeatedly struck early as CSK reached the final.

He also produced memorable spells against teams such as Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, often removing multiple top-order batters before the field spread.

Trent Boult – 72 Powerplay Wickets

Trent Boult shares second place with Chahar on 72 wickets.

The New Zealand left-arm quick gives batters a different challenge.

His natural angle takes the ball across right-handers, while his ability to swing it back toward the stumps makes leaving the ball risky.

Boult has played for several franchises, but his new-ball work for Mumbai Indians was particularly important.

During Mumbai’s 2020 championship campaign, Boult repeatedly struck in the first over.

His most devastating performance came against Chennai Super Kings.

Boult removed Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis early and later took Ravindra Jadeja during a collapse that left CSK five wickets down inside the Powerplay.

Boult finished the match with 4/18.

His 16 Powerplay wickets during the 2020 season stood among the best single-season figures at the time.

Sandeep Sharma – 64 Powerplay Wickets

Sandeep Sharma has built one of the most underrated new-ball records in IPL history.

He has taken 64 Powerplay wickets while maintaining an economy rate close to seven runs per over during the phase.

Sandeep does not rely on high pace.

Instead, he uses seam position, swing and subtle changes in angle.

That has allowed him to dismiss some of the IPL’s greatest top-order batters.

Virat Kohli has been one of his most notable matchups, with Sandeep repeatedly finding ways to dismiss the RCB star.

His career has also demonstrated the value of adaptability.

After years of taking the new ball for Punjab and Sunrisers, he later developed into a bowler capable of handling death overs for Rajasthan Royals.

Even so, his Powerplay record remains the strongest part of his IPL legacy.

Mohammed Siraj – 60 Powerplay Wickets

Mohammed Siraj has developed into one of the IPL’s most dangerous Powerplay fast bowlers.

He has taken 60 wickets during the first six overs.

Siraj’s effectiveness comes from pace combined with upright seam movement.

When he finds rhythm, he can challenge both edges of the bat without sacrificing speed.

His best seasons have usually come when he strikes early.

During his RCB years, Siraj frequently bowled two or three overs in the Powerplay because the franchise depended on him to break opening partnerships.

He later continued that new-ball role after moving to Gujarat Titans.

Siraj can occasionally become expensive because he attacks the stumps and fuller lengths, but that risk is part of what creates his wicket opportunities.

Mohammed Shami – 60 Powerplay Wickets

Mohammed Shami is level with Siraj on 60 Powerplay wickets.

Shami is one of the purest seam bowlers on the list.

His upright release and ability to hit the seam repeatedly make him dangerous even when there is little conventional swing.

The 2023 season with Gujarat Titans was one of the greatest new-ball campaigns in IPL history.

Shami took 17 Powerplay wickets, setting the Indian record for most wickets in the phase during a single season.

He eventually finished with 28 wickets overall and won the Purple Cap.

His best overall figures that season were 4/11.

Shami’s method shows why Powerplay wickets do not always require extravagant movement. Repeatedly hitting a difficult length at high pace can be enough to create edges, lbw chances and bowled dismissals.

Most Powerplay Wickets in a Single IPL Season

Kagiso Rabada set a new record in 2026 by taking 19 wickets during overs 1-6 for Gujarat Titans.

Rabada’s 2026 campaign pushed the Powerplay record into new territory.

He took three wickets during the first six overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad in one of his strongest new-ball performances of the season.

Bhuvneshwar also had an outstanding 2026 campaign.

He reached 17 Powerplay wickets during the final against Gujarat Titans, matching Shami’s Indian record.

The fact that two bowlers reached at least 17 in the same season reflects the increasingly aggressive nature of modern Powerplay batting.

Batters now score faster but also take more risks.

Why Powerplay Wickets Are Increasing Again

IPL Powerplay scoring has changed dramatically.

In 2013, teams scored at fewer than seven runs per over during the opening phase.

By 2026, the rate had climbed above 10.

That sounds disastrous for bowlers, but greater aggression also creates more wicket opportunities.

Batters are no longer satisfied with simply reaching 45/1 after six overs.

Many teams now target 65, 70 or even 80.

That forces openers to attack good deliveries.

New-ball bowlers therefore concede more boundaries but can also collect wickets through catches in the ring, top edges and aggressive drives.

Rabada’s 19 wickets in 2026 are a perfect example of that modern trade-off.

Best Powerplay Bowling Spells in IPL History

Some of the IPL’s most memorable collapses have been created almost entirely during the first six overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Mumbai Indians, 2026

Bhuvneshwar produced a new-ball masterclass for RCB against Mumbai Indians.

He removed Ryan Rickelton before dismissing Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav.

Mumbai were reduced to 34/3 in the fourth over.

Bhuvneshwar later returned to take another wicket and finished with 4/23.

The spell showed why he remains the benchmark for IPL Powerplay bowling even late in his career.

Trent Boult vs Chennai Super Kings, 2020

Boult’s 2020 spell against CSK remains one of the most destructive Powerplay performances.

Mumbai reduced Chennai to 3/4 and then 21/5 inside the first six overs.

Boult removed Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis and Ravindra Jadeja during the collapse.

Jasprit Bumrah supported him by dismissing Ambati Rayudu and N Jagadeesan from consecutive balls.

Boult eventually finished with 4/18 as CSK managed only 114/9.

Deepak Chahar vs Delhi Capitals, 2020

Delhi were chasing 180 when Chahar immediately removed Prithvi Shaw.

He then dismissed Ajinkya Rahane inside the Powerplay.

Delhi reached only 42/2 after six overs.

Although Shikhar Dhawan later produced a match-winning century, Chahar’s early work demonstrated how quickly he could create pressure with the new ball.

Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Destroy Delhi, 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced one of the most extraordinary Powerplay bowling performances in league history against Delhi Capitals in 2026.

Delhi collapsed to 13/6 after six overs, the lowest Powerplay score in IPL history at the time.

Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar caused most of the damage.

Hazlewood eventually finished with 4/12, while Bhuvneshwar returned 3/5 from three overs.

Delhi were bowled out for 75.

Few matches have demonstrated the impact of early wickets more clearly.

Famous New-Ball Performances in IPL History

Mitchell Johnson in Mumbai’s 2013 Title Run

Mitchell Johnson was one of Mumbai Indians’ major new-ball weapons during their first championship season.

He took 16 wickets in the Powerplay across the tournament.

Johnson’s left-arm angle, pace and bounce allowed Mumbai to attack opening batters rather than simply contain them.

His work with Lasith Malinga gave Mumbai two completely different fast-bowling threats.

Johnson attacked early, while Malinga became more dangerous at the death.

That balance was a major factor in Mumbai winning their first IPL title.

Shami’s 2023 Purple Cap Season

Mohammed Shami’s 2023 campaign was one of the finest seasons by a new-ball bowler.

He took 28 wickets overall and 17 during the Powerplay.

Shami regularly gave Gujarat Titans control before Rashid Khan entered during the middle overs.

That combination made GT difficult to attack in every phase.

Even though Gujarat lost the final to CSK, Shami finished the season with the Purple Cap.

Boult Strikes in Finals

Boult has built a reputation for taking wickets in the first over of major matches.

His ability to swing the ball immediately makes him especially dangerous before batters have settled.

During Mumbai’s 2020 championship run, his early wickets repeatedly prevented opponents from using the Powerplay aggressively.

The value of that skill goes beyond the wicket itself.

A team losing its opener in the first over often spends the next two or three overs rebuilding, reducing the advantage created by fielding restrictions.

Ravichandran Ashwin – The Spin Exception

Almost every bowler near the top of the Powerplay wicket list is a seamer.

Ravichandran Ashwin is the major exception.

He has taken 50 Powerplay wickets despite being an off-spinner.

Chennai frequently used Ashwin with the new ball, particularly at Chepauk.

The tactic worked because right-handed batters were often reluctant to take immediate risks against him, while his variations in pace and angle made attacking difficult.

Ashwin also used the fielding restrictions intelligently.

Rather than searching for huge turn, he attacked the stumps and forced batters to manufacture boundary shots.

His record remains one of the clearest examples of how tactical creativity can challenge conventional Powerplay bowling roles.

What Makes a Great IPL New-Ball Bowler?

Swing helps, but it is not the only requirement.

Bhuvneshwar succeeds through movement and control.

Boult adds a left-arm angle.

Shami relies heavily on seam movement and accuracy.

Rabada brings high pace and bounce.

Chahar uses fuller lengths and conventional swing.

The common feature is wicket intent.

The best Powerplay bowlers do not simply try to survive the field restrictions.

They attack the batter while the ball is new.

A captain also needs confidence to keep slips or attacking catchers in place even after boundaries.

That is difficult in T20 cricket, where one expensive over can immediately change momentum.

Yet the career records show that early wickets remain worth the risk.

Conclusion

Bhuvneshwar Kumar holds the record for the most Powerplay wickets in IPL history with 97.

Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult are joint-second with 72 each, followed by Sandeep Sharma with 64. Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami share fifth place with 60.

Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ravichandran Ashwin and Dhawal Kulkarni are also among the leading wicket-takers during overs 1-6.

Rabada owns the single-season record after taking 19 Powerplay wickets for Gujarat Titans in 2026.

Shami’s 17 in 2023 and Bhuvneshwar’s 17 in 2026 are the best season totals by Indian bowlers.

Modern IPL Powerplays are faster and more aggressive than ever, but that has not made new-ball bowlers less important.

If anything, early wickets have become even more valuable.

Breaking an opening partnership before the batting side can exploit the fielding restrictions remains one of the quickest ways to take control of an IPL match.

FAQs

Who has taken the most Powerplay wickets in IPL history?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar holds the record with 97 wickets during overs 1-6 through the completed 2026 IPL season.

Who is second for most Powerplay wickets in the IPL?

Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult share second place with 72 wickets each.

Who has taken the most Powerplay wickets in one IPL season?

Kagiso Rabada holds the record with 19 Powerplay wickets for Gujarat Titans in the 2026 season.

### What is the Indian record for most Powerplay wickets in one IPL season?

Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar share the Indian record with 17 wickets, achieved in 2023 and 2026 respectively.

Which spinner has taken the most Powerplay wickets in IPL history?

Ravichandran Ashwin leads the spin bowlers with 50 wickets during the first six overs.

Why is Bhuvneshwar Kumar so successful in the IPL Powerplay?

His ability to swing and seam the new ball while maintaining a tight line has allowed him to combine early wickets with an exceptional Powerplay economy rate.