Best Bowling Figures in IPL History: Alzarri Joseph’s 6/12 and Every Top Spell Listed
🚨 Alzarri Joseph’s 6/12 on his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians against SRH in 2019 is the best bowling figures in IPL history, a performance so extraordinary it came in his very first match. IPL 2026 starts March 28 and the complete IPL 2026 match schedule is live with every fixture date and venue.
Best Bowling Figures in IPL: Top 20 Spells Ever
| Rank | Player | Figures | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alzarri Joseph | 6/12 | SRH | 2019 |
| 2 | Sohail Tanvir | 6/14 | CSK | 2008 |
| 3 | Adam Zampa | 6/19 | SRH | 2016 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | 5/5 | RR | 2009 |
| 5 | Akash Madhwal | 5/5 | LSG | 2023 |
| 6 | Jasprit Bumrah | 5/10 | KKR | 2022 |
| 7 | Mohit Sharma | 5/10 | MI | 2023 |
| 8 | Ishant Sharma | 5/12 | KTK | 2011 |
| 9 | Lasith Malinga | 5/13 | DC | 2011 |
| 10 | Mark Wood | 5/14 | DC | 2023 |
| 11 | Ankit Rajpoot | 5/14 | SRH | 2018 |
| 12 | Andre Russell | 5/15 | MI | 2021 |
| 13 | Ravindra Jadeja | 5/16 | DEC | 2012 |
| 14 | James Faulkner | 5/16 | SRH | 2013 |
| 15 | Andrew Tye | 5/17 | RPS | 2017 |
| 16 | Amit Mishra | 5/17 | DEC | 2008 |
| 17 | Wanindu Hasaranga | 5/18 | SRH | 2022 |
| 18 | Harbhajan Singh | 5/18 | CSK | 2011 |
| 19 | Sandeep Sharma | 5/18 | MI | 2024 |
| 20 | Sunil Narine | 5/19 | PBKS | 2012 |
Alzarri Joseph’s 6/12: The Most Devastating IPL Debut Ever
April 6, 2019. Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai Indians versus Sunrisers Hyderabad. A 22-year-old West Indian pacer stepped onto an IPL ground for the very first time and proceeded to bowl the greatest spell in the tournament’s history.
Joseph came on to bowl in the 8th over with SRH looking comfortable at 40/1. What happened next was something no IPL fan had ever seen before. He dismissed Jonny Bairstow, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Yusuf Pathan, Rashid Khan and Siddarth Kaul in a spell of 3.4 overs. SRH collapsed from 40/1 to 96 all out. Mumbai Indians won easily.
Alzarri Joseph’s Record Spell Breakdown
| Detail | Stats |
|---|---|
| Figures | 6/12 |
| Overs Bowled | 3.4 |
| Match | MI vs SRH |
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium |
| Date | April 6, 2019 |
| Occasion | IPL Debut |
The fact that he did it on debut made the moment even more unforgettable. He broke the previous record of 6/14 held by Sohail Tanvir since the very first IPL season in 2008. Nobody has come close to 6 wickets in an innings since.
Sohail Tanvir’s 6/14: The Record That Stood for 11 Years
Before Joseph, it was Sohail Tanvir who held the best bowling figures in IPL history. His 6/14 for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings on May 4, 2008 came during the inaugural IPL season when the format was still completely new to everyone.
Tanvir was unplayable that day at Sawai Mansingh Stadium. He used his left-arm angle and reverse swing to completely deceive a strong CSK batting lineup. Rajasthan Royals went on to win the first ever IPL title that year and Tanvir’s bowling was central to their campaign throughout.
His record survived 11 years until Joseph arrived and broke it by just two runs with the same wicket tally. It remains one of the most remarkable pieces of bowling consistency in T20 history.
Five Wicket Hauls: The Complete Picture
Five-wicket hauls in T20 cricket are extremely rare because bowlers only get four overs. When a bowler takes five wickets in those four overs it usually means the batting side has completely collapsed and the bowler was simply unplayable.
The most impressive five-wicket hauls on the list beyond the top two are:
- Anil Kumble’s 5/5 against Rajasthan Royals in 2009, bowling with incredible accuracy at Newlands in Cape Town where IPL matches were held during that edition
- Akash Madhwal’s 5/5 for MI against LSG in the 2023 Eliminator at Chepauk, a pressure knockout game where he dismantled a quality batting lineup
- Jasprit Bumrah’s 5/10 against KKR in 2022, a reminder that the world’s best fast bowler can produce something special at any moment
Check the Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians and all IPL 2026 team rosters to see which of these bowlers are active this season. Stay updated with every bowling performance and wicket record through the IPL 2026 live scores and match stats all season long.
FAQs
What are the best bowling figures in IPL history?
Alzarri Joseph’s 6/12 for Mumbai Indians against SRH on April 6, 2019 is the best bowling figures in IPL history. He achieved this on his IPL debut at Wankhede Stadium.
Who held the best bowling figures record before Alzarri Joseph?
Sohail Tanvir held the record with 6/14 for Rajasthan Royals against CSK in the inaugural IPL season in 2008. His record stood for 11 years before Joseph broke it.
Has any bowler taken more than 6 wickets in an IPL innings?
No. 6 wickets is the maximum taken in a single IPL innings and both Alzarri Joseph and Sohail Tanvir hold this feat. No bowler has ever taken 7 wickets in an IPL game.
Which is the most economical five-wicket haul in IPL history?
Anil Kumble’s 5/5 against Rajasthan Royals in 2009 and Akash Madhwal’s 5/5 for MI against LSG in 2023 are jointly the most economical five-wicket hauls in IPL history.
Which team has suffered the best bowling figures against them most often?
SRH have been on the receiving end of the two best bowling figures in IPL history. Alzarri Joseph’s 6/12 and Adam Zampa’s 6/19 were both taken against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Are any of the bowlers with best figures in IPL playing in IPL 2026?
Yes. Jasprit Bumrah with 5/10, Andre Russell with 5/15, Ravindra Jadeja with 5/16 and Mitchell Starc with 5/35 are all active in IPL 2026 this season.
