Indian Premier League is the most glamorous and eye-catching league around the world. IPL is nothing less than a festival in India. There is a reason it is called "India ka Tyohaar." For players, it is a platform to showcase talent. The tussle of two teams for 40 overs, lots of action-packed cricket, enormous sixes, scintillating boundaries, gravity-defying catches, and entertainment throughout the tournament. The tagline of IPL is "Where talent meets opportunity." From sixes galore to nerve-wracking run chases, from jaw-dropping batting exhibitions to furniture disturbing deliveries, IPL has everything. Let us rewind some of the fastest deliveries of the Indian Premier League.
1. Shaun Tait - 157.7 km/hr
Shaun Tait, also known as "The Wild Thing" is the Australian pacer who has played for Rajasthan Royals in IPL. RR was playing against the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2011 when he bowled a thunderbolt to his countryman Aaron Finch. The speedometer clocked 157.7km/hr, which remains the fastest ever ball bowled in the IPL history even after more than a decade. He played his last IPL match in 2013. His career was short-lived because of injuries. Nevertheless, he entertained everybody with his scintillating pace.
2. Lockie Ferguson - 157.3 km/hr
Lockie Ferguson is a Kiwi fast bowler who currently represents Gujrat Titans. In the recently concluded TATA IPL 2022, Lockie clocked a ball that reads 157.3 km/hr to Jos Buttler when both faced each other in the tournament's finale. Buttler was the leading run-scorer & Lockie Ferguson was the quickest bowler of the IPL 2022. It was also the fastest ball of that tournament.
3. Umran Malik - 157 kmph
Umran Malik is a young pace sensation who made headlines in the IPL 2021 with his express pace. Umran hails from Srinagar, India. He got drafted into the Hyderabad side as a temporary Covid-19 replacement for T Natarajan. Due to his ability to generate raw pace, Umran was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad before the IPL 2022 mega-auction at INR 4 crore. His 157 km/hr delivery came in the 50th match of Tata IPL 2022 against Delhi Capitals' Rovman Powell.
4. Anrich Nortje - 156.2 kmph
Anrich Nortje is a South African right-arm pacer. Nortje got his maiden call to represent the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL, but a shoulder injury cost him the spot on the team. Anrich got a second chance when he was included in the Delhi Capitals squad in IPL 2020. In this tournament, Nortje proved his potential as a fast bowler when he clocked 4-deliveries above 150 km/hr, including a 156.22 km/hr delivery, in a single over to Jos Buttler against Rajasthan Royals.
5. Umran Malik - 155.8 kmph
Umran Malik continues to impress everyone with his sheer pace. It was the same match where Umran registered the fastest delivery by an Indian pacer. A ball after that, he bowled a 155.8 km/hr delivery which features 5th in this list.
6. Anrich Nortje - 155.21 kmph
Anrich Nortje bowled this 155.21 km/hr delivery to Jos Buttler in Rajasthan Royals v/s Delhi Capitals match. Buttler ramped his previous delivery for a boundary. But Nortje responded in style and rattled Buttler's stumps with a full-length delivery clocking at 155.21 km/hr.
7. Umran Malik - 154.8 km/hr
Umran Malik registered the delivery clocking at 154.8 km/hr in the 65th match of Tata IPL 2022 against Mumbai Indians. It was a free-hit & Rohit Sharma was ready to smoke it out of the park but missed the flick & the ball smashed his pads. He was beaten for pace. Malik registered a figure of 3/23 in his spell in the match.
8. Anrich Nortje - 154.74 km/hr
Anrich Nortje, with the composure to bowl at 150-clicks, achieved this feat in a match against Rajasthan Royals when he bowled a delivery at 154.74 km/hr. Anrich Nortje recorded a figure of 2/33. Delhi Capitals won by 13 runs & Nortje was adjudged the player-of-the-match. Anrich went unsold in IPL 2020 auction but made it to Delhi's squad as an injury replacement for Chris Woakes. He picked 22 wickets in the season for Delhi Capitals.
9. Dale Steyn - 154.4 km/hr
Dale Steyn had everything that a fast bowler could dream of. Repetitive action, rhythmic run-up, pace, swing, line, length, and the most important weapon of a fast bowler's arsenal- aggression. Steyn is one of the best fast bowlers of this generation. The South African legend was representing Deccan Chargers in 2012 when he clocked a ball speeding 154.4 km/hr.
10. Kagiso Rabada - 154.23 km/hr
Another prodigy from a South African fast bowling factory, Kagiso Rabada, is a premier fast bowler that every team would want to have in their playing 11. Rabada's consistency with his impeccable line and length makes him difficult to hit for the batters. He is a genuine wicket-taker and can operate at any phase in the game. He clocked this pacy delivery when he was playing for Delhi Capitals.
