Dwayne Bravo holds the record for the most wickets in death overs in IPL history, with 102 wickets in overs 17 to 20. No other bowler has reached 100 wickets in this phase of an innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar follows him with 93 wickets, while Lasith Malinga sits third with 90 wickets. These three names have shaped how teams plan the last four overs of an IPL innings.
Death overs are the hardest overs to bowl in T20 cricket. Batters are set, the field is spread, and every ball can go for a boundary. A bowler who takes wickets in this phase does more than stop runs. He breaks partnerships, forces new batters to start from zero, and changes the total a team can reach. This article lists the top 10 bowlers with the most wickets in death overs in IPL history, explains how the record has changed over the years, and looks at what makes a great death bowler.
In this article, death overs mean overs 17 to 20, the last four overs of an innings. Some guides use overs 16 to 20 as the death phase, so totals can differ slightly between sources. The ranking below follows the overs 17 to 20 definition used in published IPL death overs leaderboards.
Most Wickets in Death Overs in IPL Overview
The death overs leaderboard is led by a West Indies all rounder who made slower balls his trademark. Dwayne Bravo took 102 wickets between overs 17 and 20 across his IPL career. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the leading Indian bowler on the list, has 93 wickets. Lasith Malinga, famous for his yorkers, took 90 wickets at the best economy rate among the leaders.
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record holder | Dwayne Bravo |
| Death overs wickets | 102 |
| Death overs definition | Overs 17 to 20 |
| Second on the list | Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 93 wickets |
| Best economy among leaders | Lasith Malinga at 7.82 runs per over |
| Only bowler past 100 | Dwayne Bravo |
More than half of Bravo’s career IPL wickets came in the death overs. He finished his IPL career with 183 wickets in total, so his 102 death overs wickets make up 55.73 percent of that tally. Malinga’s 90 death overs wickets make up 52.94 percent of his 170 career wickets. Both men built their value around the final four overs.
Top 10 Most Wickets in Death Overs in IPL
The table below lists the 10 bowlers with the most wickets in overs 17 to 20 in IPL history. The economy rate shown is for death overs only, not for a bowler’s full IPL career.
| Rank | Bowler | Death Overs Wickets | Teams | Death Overs Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dwayne Bravo | 102 | Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Lions, Mumbai Indians | 9.73 |
| 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 93 | Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Pune Warriors India | 9.50 |
| 3 | Lasith Malinga | 90 | Mumbai Indians | 7.82 |
| 4 | Jasprit Bumrah | 86 | Mumbai Indians | 8.34 |
| 5 | Harshal Patel | 70 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad | 10.24 |
| 6 | Sunil Narine | 61 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 7.99 |
| 7 | Mohit Sharma | 61 | Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals | 10.40 |
| 8 | Mohammed Shami | 58 | Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad | 10.87 |
| 9 | Chris Morris | 55 | Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 8.55 |
| 10 | Kagiso Rabada | 53 | Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans | 9.81 |
The list mixes pace bowlers and one spinner. Sunil Narine is the only spinner in the top 10, with 61 wickets at an economy of 7.99. That is rare, because captains do not often trust spinners with the final overs. Narine’s flat trajectory and mystery spin let Kolkata Knight Riders use him far later in an innings than most spinners.
For readers tracking bowling by phase, our guide to the best economy rate in death overs ranks the same phase by control rather than wickets, while the most wickets in the middle overs list covers overs 7 to 16.
Record History
Lasith Malinga led this record for a long time. Before the 2020 season, Malinga had 90 death overs wickets, well clear of Dwayne Bravo on 77 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar on 66. Sunil Narine was fourth at that stage with 48 wickets. Malinga’s yorkers had set the standard for death bowling in the early years of the IPL.
Bravo then moved past Malinga and kept going. By 2023, Bravo had reached 102 wickets in overs 17 to 20, a mark no other bowler has matched. He retired from the IPL after the 2022 season, so his total of 102 is now fixed. It will take a long and successful career at the death for any active bowler to catch him.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has climbed steadily behind him. He had 66 death overs wickets before 2020, 77 by 2023, and now stands on 93. Jasprit Bumrah has risen in the same way, from 53 wickets in 2021 to 70 in 2023 and 86 now. Bumrah is still active for Mumbai Indians, so he is the most likely challenger to Bravo’s record in the coming seasons.
Harshal Patel is the newest name near the top. His slower ball method brought him 32 wickets in the 2021 season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, equalling the then record for most wickets in a single IPL season. He has since reached 70 death overs wickets and fifth place on the all time list. Mohit Sharma’s revival with Gujarat Titans also lifted him to 61 wickets, level with Narine in sixth place.
The table below shows how the leading totals moved between 2020 and now for the bowlers with the longest records at the death.
| Bowler | Before 2020 Season | By 2023 | Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwayne Bravo | 77 | 102 | 102 |
| Lasith Malinga | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 66 | 77 | 93 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Not in top four | 70 | 86 |
| Sunil Narine | 48 | 55 | 61 |
Some famous spells sit behind these numbers. Malinga’s last ball of the 2019 final is the best known. Chennai Super Kings needed two runs from the final ball, and Malinga dismissed Shardul Thakur lbw with a slower ball to give Mumbai Indians a one run win. Jasprit Bumrah’s 5 for 10 against Kolkata Knight Riders is one of the great death bowling spells, and the most wickets in the 20th over list shows which bowlers own the very last over itself. Two bowlers have even taken five wickets in the death overs of a single match, Adam Zampa in 2016 and Jaydev Unadkat in 2017, both for Rising Pune Supergiant against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
What This Record Tells Us
The first lesson is that wickets matter more than economy at the death. Bravo’s economy of 9.73 is the highest among the top four, yet he leads the list by nine wickets. A wicket in the 18th or 19th over removes a set batter and forces a new player to start without time to settle. That can cut 10 to 20 runs from a projected total, which is worth more than saving a boundary or two.
The second lesson is that control still separates the great from the good. Malinga’s economy of 7.82 is the lowest among bowlers with 50 or more death overs wickets, and his bowling average of 13.28 in this phase is the best in that group. Bumrah pairs 86 wickets with an economy of 8.34, which is why many judges rate him the most complete modern death bowler even though he sits fourth on wickets.
The third lesson is variety. Bravo relied on slower balls and cutters. Malinga relied on yorkers. Harshal Patel and Mohit Sharma built their totals on pace variation. Bumrah mixes yorkers, wide yorkers, slower balls and short balls. There is no single way to bowl at the death, but every bowler on this list had at least two reliable deliveries and the nerve to use them with the match on the line.
Finally, the record is still open. Bravo’s 102 cannot grow, and Malinga’s 90 is fixed. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar on 93, Bumrah on 86 and Harshal Patel on 70 are all active. If Bumrah keeps his current pace at the death, Bravo’s record is the one to watch in the next few seasons. Readers who follow single match impact can also check the most wickets in a losing cause list, where great spells do not always end in a win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has taken the most wickets in death overs in IPL?
Dwayne Bravo has taken the most wickets in death overs in IPL history, with 102 wickets in overs 17 to 20. He is the only bowler to pass 100 wickets in this phase.
What are death overs in IPL?
Death overs are the final overs of an innings, when batters attack hard to score as many runs as possible. This article uses overs 17 to 20 as the death overs phase. Some guides use overs 16 to 20, which gives slightly different totals.
Who has the best economy rate among the leading death bowlers?
Lasith Malinga has the best economy rate among the leading death bowlers, conceding 7.82 runs per over in overs 17 to 20. His bowling average of 13.28 in this phase is also the best among bowlers with 50 or more death overs wickets. See also our best bowling average in IPL list for the full career picture.
Who is the leading Indian bowler for death overs wickets?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the leading Indian bowler for death overs wickets, with 93 wickets in overs 17 to 20. Jasprit Bumrah follows him with 86 wickets.
How many death overs wickets has Jasprit Bumrah taken?
Jasprit Bumrah has taken 86 wickets in overs 17 to 20 in the IPL, all for Mumbai Indians, at an economy rate of 8.34. He is the most likely active bowler to challenge Dwayne Bravo’s record of 102.
Which spinner has the most wickets in death overs in IPL?
Sunil Narine has the most wickets in death overs among spinners, with 61 wickets in overs 17 to 20 for Kolkata Knight Riders at an economy rate of 7.99. He is the only spinner in the top 10.
Can these death overs records change?
Yes. The totals of retired bowlers like Bravo and Malinga are fixed, but active bowlers such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel, Sunil Narine, Mohammed Shami, Kagiso Rabada and Mohit Sharma can still add wickets. Bowlers who master the first over and the maiden over arts often build long careers, but the death overs remain the phase where matches are won and lost.
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Statistics updated through: October 2026
