Chris Woakes IPL stats belong to one of the league’s interesting what-if stories. An outstanding new-ball bowler for England, Woakes arrived in the IPL with a strong reputation in 2017, picked up 17 wickets in his debut season with Kolkata Knight Riders, and then never quite found a permanent home. Across six auction cycles he has turned out for four franchises, withdrawn twice, and played just 21 matches in total.
His numbers reflect that stop-start journey: 30 wickets at an average of 21.93, best figures of 3 for 6, and 78 runs with the bat. The 2024 season summed it up — bought by Punjab Kings for 4.2 crore rupees, he did not play a single match while dealing with the death of his father. With Woakes now having retired from international cricket and opting out of recent IPL auctions, his league career may already be complete.
Chris Woakes IPL Stats Overview
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Christopher Roger Woakes |
| IPL Debut | 2017 (Kolkata Knight Riders) |
| Role | Bowling all-rounder |
| Batting Style | Right-hand bat |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Nationality | England |
| IPL Matches | 21 |
| IPL Runs | 78 |
| Highest Score | 18 |
| IPL Wickets | 30 |
| Best Bowling | 3/6 |
| IPL 2027 Team | Not officially confirmed |
| IPL 2027 Price | Not officially confirmed |
Who Is Chris Woakes?
Christopher Roger Woakes, born 2 March 1989 in Birmingham, is an England bowling all-rounder who played international cricket from 2011 to 2025. A right-arm fast-medium bowler who hits the seam hard and swings the new ball, he was a key part of England’s 2019 World Cup-winning side and finished with 192 Test wickets and 173 ODI wickets. His batting made him a genuine all-rounder: a Test century against India at Lord’s in 2018 stands as the highlight. In franchise cricket he has represented Warwickshire for nearly two decades and turned out in T20 leagues in Australia, the UAE, South Africa and England. He announced his retirement from international cricket in September 2025 after a final Test series against India, during which he famously walked out to bat with a dislocated shoulder on the last day at The Oval.
Chris Woakes IPL Teams
| Season | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | – | Not officially confirmed |
| 2026 | – | Did not register for the auction |
| 2025 | – | Did not play |
| 2024 | Punjab Kings | Bought for 4.2 crore, played no matches |
| 2021 | Delhi Capitals | Played 3 matches |
| 2020 | Delhi Capitals | Withdrew before the tournament, played no matches |
| 2019 | – | Unsold at the auction |
| 2018 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Played 5 matches |
| 2017 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Played 13 matches |
Woakes has never spent two consecutive playing seasons with the same franchise. His only season as a first-choice starter was his debut year, 2017, when Kolkata used him in 13 of 14 matches. The big-money move to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2018 did not work out, Delhi Capitals bought him in 2020 but he withdrew to stay fresh for England’s Test summer, and after three games for Delhi in 2021 he was back on the market again. Punjab Kings signed him for 4.2 crore ahead of 2024 to join fellow England players Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow, but he never made the playing eleven that season.
Chris Woakes IPL 2024 Stats
Woakes did not play a single match in IPL 2024. Punjab Kings had bought him for 4.2 crore rupees at the mini auction and he stayed with the squad all season, but he never featured in the playing eleven. In June he revealed that his father had passed away at the beginning of May, during the tournament, and that he had stepped back to be with his family.
Chris Woakes IPL 2025 Stats
Woakes did not play in IPL 2025. Punjab Kings released him after the 2024 season, and he was not part of any franchise squad that year.
Chris Woakes IPL 2026 Stats
Woakes did not register for the IPL 2026 auction and did not play in the 2026 season.
Chris Woakes IPL 2027 Stats
IPL 2027 statistics are not available yet because the season has not started.
Chris Woakes IPL 2027 Team and Price
Chris Woakes does not have a confirmed IPL 2027 team. His 2027 price is not officially confirmed. He did not register for the IPL 2026 auction, so a return to the league would require him to enter a future auction.
Chris Woakes IPL Career Batting Stats
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 12 | 6 | 78 | 18 | 13.00 | 101.30 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
Chris Woakes IPL Career Bowling Stats
| Mat | Inns | Overs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 21 | 73.2 | 30 | 3/6 | 21.93 | 8.97 | 14.67 |
Chris Woakes IPL Stats by Year
| Season | Team | Mat | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | Wkts | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 13 | 46 | 18 | 11.50 | 97.87 | 17 | 8.77 |
| 2018 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 5 | 17 | 11 | 8.50 | 89.47 | 8 | 10.44 |
| 2020 | Delhi Capitals | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | Delhi Capitals | 3 | 15 | 15* | – | 136.36 | 5 | 7.45 |
| 2024 | Punjab Kings | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Woakes withdrew before the 2020 tournament and played no matches for Punjab Kings in 2024 despite being in the squad.
Chris Woakes IPL Highest Score
Woakes’ highest IPL score is 18, made for Kolkata Knight Riders during the 2017 season. He never made a half-century in the league, with his only unbeaten knock of note being 15 not out for Delhi Capitals in 2021.
Chris Woakes IPL Wickets and Best Bowling
Woakes has taken 30 IPL wickets in 21 matches at an average of 21.93 and an economy rate of 8.97. His best figures are 3 for 6, recorded for Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2017 season — the year he took 17 of his 30 career IPL wickets and established himself as one of KKR’s most reliable new-ball options. He took 8 wickets in 5 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2018 and 5 wickets in 3 matches for Delhi Capitals in 2021.
Chris Woakes IPL Batting Records
Woakes holds no major IPL batting records. His highest score of 18 and a career strike rate of 101.30 reflect his role as a bowling all-rounder used mainly in the lower order.
Chris Woakes IPL Auction Price History
| Season | Team | Price (INR crore) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 4.2 | Auction |
| 2018 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7.4 | Auction |
| 2019 | – | – | Unsold |
| 2020 | Delhi Capitals | 1.5 | Auction (withdrew before the tournament) |
| 2021 | Delhi Capitals | 1.5 | Retention |
| 2024 | Punjab Kings | 4.2 | Auction (played no matches) |
The 2018 auction was his peak market moment: after 17 wickets for KKR the previous season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru paid 7.4 crore for him, making him one of the most expensive overseas players that year. He never justified that price, conceding more than ten runs an over in 2018.
Chris Woakes IPL Records and Achievements
Woakes’ standout IPL achievement is his 2017 debut season with Kolkata Knight Riders: 17 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 22.71 and an economy of 8.77, including best figures of 3 for 6. He was a regular in a KKR attack that leaned heavily on its all-round options in Sunil Narine and Andre Russell. Beyond the league, he was part of England’s 2019 World Cup-winning squad and won the 2022 T20 World Cup, and he was named England’s player of the series in the 2023 Ashes.
Chris Woakes’s IPL Performance Analysis
The numbers tell a clear story of one good season and missed chances after it. In 2017, Woakes bowled 13 matches with real consistency for Kolkata, striking every 14 balls and conceding a respectable 8.77 an over. The 7.4 crore price tag in 2018 changed the equation: five matches at an economy of 10.44 made him look expensive, and Bengaluru released him.
The small sample from 2021 hints at what might have been. For Delhi Capitals under Rishabh Pant‘s captaincy, Woakes took 5 wickets in 3 matches at an economy of just 7.45, bowling alongside Axar Patel and Kagiso Rabada. But Delhi did not persist with him, and his 2024 return with Punjab Kings — where Arshdeep Singh led the pace attack — produced zero appearances in tragic circumstances. A wicket-taking average of 21.93 across 21 matches suggests a better bowler than his 21-match career implies, but franchises consistently preferred younger or quicker overseas options. With his international retirement and his decision to skip the 2026 auction, the IPL chapter of his career looks closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Chris Woakes make his IPL debut?
Chris Woakes made his IPL debut in 2017 for Kolkata Knight Riders, who bought him for 4.2 crore rupees at the auction.
How many wickets has Chris Woakes taken in the IPL?
Chris Woakes has taken 30 wickets in 21 IPL matches, at an average of 21.93 and an economy rate of 8.97.
What are Chris Woakes’ best IPL bowling figures?
His best IPL figures are 3 for 6, recorded for Kolkata Knight Riders during the 2017 season.
Why did Chris Woakes not play any match in IPL 2024?
Although Punjab Kings bought him for 4.2 crore, Woakes never made the playing eleven in 2024. He later revealed that his father had passed away at the beginning of May, during the tournament, and he stepped back from cricket to be with his family.
Which teams has Chris Woakes played for in the IPL?
He has played for Kolkata Knight Riders (2017), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2018), Delhi Capitals (2021) and Punjab Kings (2024, without playing a match). He was also bought by Delhi Capitals in 2020 but withdrew before the tournament.
What is Chris Woakes’ highest IPL auction price?
His highest auction price was 7.4 crore rupees, paid by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2018 after his strong debut season with KKR.
Will Chris Woakes play in IPL 2027?
That is not officially confirmed. He did not register for the IPL 2026 auction and retired from international cricket in 2025, so a return would require him to enter a future auction.
Sources and Data Notes
Player profile and career statistics were checked against ESPNcricinfo’s player profile, the official IPL website (iplt20.com), CricTracker, myKhel and CricFacts, with season figures cross-checked across those sources. Transfer and auction prices were verified against contemporary auction reporting. Statistics and player information are checked against available reliable sources and may be updated as new IPL matches, transfers, or official announcements are confirmed.
Statistics updated through: 17 October 2026
