Top 10 Most Expensive Bowling Figures in IPL History: play99 Complete Guide

The Indian Premier League is known for explosive batting, massive sixes, and high-scoring matches. While batters often receive attention for their outstanding performances, bowlers sometimes experience difficult days when opposition players attack every delivery. Even experienced international bowlers can struggle against aggressive batting lineups.

An expensive bowling spell can completely change the direction of a match. When batters dominate the powerplay and death overs, bowlers face enormous pressure to control runs and take wickets.

The IPL has witnessed several unwanted bowling records over the years. Some bowlers have conceded more than 60 runs in just four overs, creating memorable moments for completely different reasons.

For cricket enthusiasts exploring IPL statistics through play99, these records provide an interesting look at the challenges faced by bowlers in modern T20 cricket.

What Are Expensive Bowling Figures?

Bowling figures represent the number of wickets taken and runs conceded by a bowler during an innings.

For example, figures of 0/76 mean that the bowler did not take any wickets and conceded 76 runs.

In T20 cricket, bowlers generally deliver a maximum of four overs. Conceding more than 50 runs during this period is usually considered expensive.

However, the difficulty increases when batters attack from the beginning and consistently find boundaries.

Top 10 Most Expensive Bowling Figures in IPL History

The following list includes notable expensive four-over spells recorded through IPL 2026.

1. Jofra Archer – 0/76 against SRH (2025).

2. Mohammed Shami – 0/75 against PBKS (2025).

3. Will O'Rourke – 2/74 against RCB (2025).

4. Mohit Sharma – 0/73 against DC (2024).

5. Basil Thampi – 0/70 against RCB (2018).

6. Yash Dayal – 0/69 against KKR (2023).

7. Xavier Bartlett – 1/69 against DC (2026).

8. Reece Topley – 1/68 against SRH (2024).

9. Luke Wood – 1/68 against DC (2024).

10. Arshdeep Singh – 1/68 against RR (2026).

These bowling performances demonstrate how challenging modern T20 cricket can become for bowlers.

1. Jofra Archer – 0/76 Against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Jofra Archer holds the unwanted record for the most expensive bowling figures in IPL history.

Representing Rajasthan Royals, Archer conceded 76 runs in four overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2025.

The match took place at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Sunrisers Hyderabad produced an extraordinary batting performance, scoring 286/6 in 20 overs.

Travis Head attacked the bowling from the beginning, while Ishan Kishan scored an outstanding unbeaten century.

Archer struggled to control the scoring rate and conceded several boundaries throughout his spell.

His economy rate reached 19 runs per over, making it one of the most difficult bowling performances in IPL history.

2. Mohammed Shami – 0/75 Against Punjab Kings

Mohammed Shami experienced a difficult outing against Punjab Kings during IPL 2025.

Representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shami conceded 75 runs in four overs without taking a wicket.

Punjab's batters attacked him throughout the innings.

Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, and Marcus Stoinis contributed to the aggressive batting performance.

Stoinis was particularly destructive during the final over, hitting four consecutive sixes.

The performance became one of the most expensive bowling spells in IPL history.

3. Will O'Rourke – 2/74 Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Will O'Rourke recorded expensive bowling figures while representing Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025.

He conceded 74 runs in four overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Although he managed to take two wickets, RCB's aggressive batting approach made it difficult to control the scoring rate.

His performance demonstrates that taking wickets does not always prevent a bowler from having an expensive spell.

4. Mohit Sharma – 0/73 Against Delhi Capitals

Mohit Sharma held the record for the most expensive IPL bowling figures before Archer surpassed it in 2025.

Playing for Gujarat Titans in 2024, Mohit conceded 73 runs against Delhi Capitals.

Rishabh Pant and Jake Fraser-McGurk were among the batters who attacked the Gujarat bowling lineup.

Pant produced an impressive innings, while Delhi reached a massive total.

Mohit's performance became one of the most discussed bowling records of the season.

5. Basil Thampi – 0/70 Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Basil Thampi recorded expensive bowling figures against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2018.

Representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, he conceded 70 runs in four overs.

RCB's batters attacked aggressively, taking advantage of scoring opportunities throughout the innings.

The match became another example of how difficult bowling can become on a batting-friendly surface.

6. Yash Dayal – 0/69 Against Kolkata Knight Riders

Yash Dayal experienced one of the most unforgettable bowling spells in IPL history during 2023.

Representing Gujarat Titans, he conceded 69 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Rinku Singh produced an extraordinary finishing performance by hitting five consecutive sixes in the final over.

His powerful hitting completely changed the match and helped Kolkata achieve a remarkable victory.

The contest became one of the most memorable moments of the season.

7. Xavier Bartlett – 1/69 Against Delhi Capitals

Xavier Bartlett recorded an expensive four-over spell for Punjab Kings against Delhi Capitals in 2026.

He conceded 69 runs while taking one wicket.

The match reflected the increasing scoring rates in modern IPL cricket.

Aggressive batting combinations can put even talented international bowlers under significant pressure.

8. Reece Topley – 1/68 Against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Reece Topley had a difficult outing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2024.

He conceded 68 runs in four overs while taking one wicket.

Hyderabad's aggressive batters targeted the bowling attack and produced a remarkable scoring performance.

The match became part of a record-breaking season for high-scoring encounters.

9. Luke Wood – 1/68 Against Delhi Capitals

Luke Wood recorded expensive bowling figures while representing Mumbai Indians in 2024.

He conceded 68 runs in four overs and managed to take one wicket.

Delhi's batting lineup took advantage of the conditions and scored heavily.

The performance highlights how challenging death-over bowling can become when batters are in excellent form.

10. Arshdeep Singh – 1/68 Against Rajasthan Royals

Arshdeep Singh experienced an expensive spell against Rajasthan Royals in 2026.

Representing Punjab Kings, he conceded 68 runs in four overs while taking one wicket.

The match demonstrated the aggressive nature of modern T20 batting.

Even established international bowlers can struggle when opposition batters consistently attack their deliveries.

Why Do Bowlers Concede So Many Runs in IPL?

Aggressive Batting

Modern IPL batters regularly target boundaries from the beginning of an innings.

Difficult Pitch Conditions

Flat pitches and fast outfields can make it easier for batters to score runs.

Short Boundaries

Some stadiums have relatively short boundaries, allowing batters to clear the ropes more frequently.

Pressure During Death Overs

The final overs are particularly challenging because batters attempt to maximise scoring opportunities.

Lack of Execution

Poor line, length, and slower-ball execution can allow batters to attack effectively.

How Can Bowlers Improve Their Performance?

Bowlers can reduce expensive spells by maintaining accurate lines and lengths.

Using slower deliveries, yorkers, and variations can make it difficult for batters to predict the next delivery.

Captains also play an important role by choosing appropriate bowling changes and setting effective field placements.

For cricket enthusiasts following play99, these records demonstrate why bowling strategy remains an essential part of T20 cricket.

Conclusion

The most expensive bowling figures in IPL history highlight the challenges faced by bowlers in a competition dominated by aggressive batting.

Jofra Archer's 0/76 remains the most expensive spell, followed by Mohammed Shami's 0/75 and Will O'Rourke's 2/74.

Other bowlers, including Mohit Sharma, Basil Thampi, and Yash Dayal, have also experienced difficult performances.

Despite these unwanted records, every expensive spell provides valuable lessons about adapting to modern T20 cricket. Following these statistics through play99 helps supporters understand the importance of bowling discipline and match strategy.