The IPL's Top 10 bowlers after the league stage

The league stage in the ongoing seventh edition of the Indian Premier League dismissed the notion that Twenty20 cricket is all about bat winning over ball. A close look at the matches in the UAE and India shows that bowlers too can win matches.

As expected, Kolkata Knight Riders’ mystery spinner Sunil Narine goes into the play-offs as the leading bowler with 20 wickets in 14 matches.

Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar shares the top rung with the West Indian despite his team failing to make it among the last four teams.

Ahead of the play-offs we take a look at the top wicket-takers in the league stage.

Sunil Narine:

Sunil Narine continues to flummox batsmen in the IPL. Few were able to read what was coming out of the West Indies spinner’s hand. Not surprisingly did he end up with a massive haul of 20 wickets in 14 games.

The most amazing part was his economy rate. It was below six runs per over, 5.91 to be exact, despite bowling in the Powerplay and death overs most of the time.

No other bowler who played more than three games in IPL 7 was below the six runs-per-over mark.

Kolkata Knight Riders will be hoping he maintains the same consistency in the play-offs as they chase a second title.

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar:

Without doubt, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was one of the best pace bowlers in IPL 7. More importantly, he outperformed his illustrious Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Dale Steyn.

At the end of the league stage he was the joint highest wicket-taker with 20 victims in 14 matches, at an economy rate of 6.65. He was far more effective than any other bowler, both with the new ball and in the final overs.

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Mohit Sharma:

Young Mohit Sharma made huge strides last year in the IPL and continues to excel with the ball this year too.

In Chennai Super Kings’ team, full of international heavyweights, he made sure he didn’t go unnoticed, picking 19 wickets in 14 matches.

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Ravindra Jadeja:

Ravindra Jadeja underlined his utility with another good showing with the ball for Chennai Super Kings.

He did better than Ravichandran Ashwin, claiming 17 wickets in 14 matches, including two four-wicket hauls.

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Sandeep Sharma:

Sandeep Sharma went from an unknown entity to star performer in the space of a few games with scintillating performances for Kings XI Punjab.

Bowling with the new ball, he made the most of opportunity, striking early in almost every game he played.

The 20-year-old pacer played a crucial role in Punjab registering five straight victories in the first leg in the UAE.

Going into the play-offs, his tally reads: 17 wickets in 10 matches, and a high economy rate of 8.66.

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Lasith Malinga:

Lasith Malinga was again one of the most difficult bowlers to play. The Sri Lankan pacer deserves high praise for finishing with an economy rate of 6.45 despite bowling mostly in the Powerplay and death overs.

Malinga had to leave Mumbai Indians mid-way through the tournament, after taking 16 wickets in 10 games, to join Sri Lanka’s squad on their of England.

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Varun Aaron:

Varun Aaron used speed as his primary weapon to finish with a creditable return of 16 wickets from 10 matches.

However, the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowler lacked control and variation and went for plenty of runs as his economy rate of 8.15 indicates.

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Pravin Tambe:

Pravin Tambe inspired Rajasthan Royals with his never-say-die attitude. He may not be a preferred option for his state team, Mumbai, but he is the No. 1 spinner for Rajasthan’s when it comes to the IPL.

The 41-year-old leg-spinner proved that age is no bar as he continued to dish out consistent performances with the ball game after game.

He finished with 15 wickets from 13 matches, and an economy rate of 7.26.

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Karn Sharma:

Leg-spinner Karn Sharma was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs. 3.75 crore and proved he was worth the money.

At a time when Amit Mishra, his senior spinning partner, failed to deliver with the ball, he came to Hyderabad’s rescue with some good performances.

He finished with 15 wickets in 14 matches, at an economy rate of 7.42.

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Akshar Patel:

Akshar Patel was one of the surprise packages in this season’s IPL. The 20-year-old Gujarat left-arm spinner proved his utility with consistent performances with the ball and also played a couple of good innings with the bat.

He was Punjab’s preferred spinner throughout the league stage, ahead of senior pro Murali Kartik, and finished with 14 wickets in as many matches and a decent economy rate of 6.48.