When Runs Rained: Bowlers Under Fire in IPL History
If you thought the IPL was all about massive sixes and lightning-fast fifties, you’re not wrong. But for every batting hero, there’s been a bowler on the wrong end of punishment. Some of the most expensive spells in IPL history have been a rollercoaster—brutal for the bowlers and edge-of-the-seat stuff for everyone else.
Picture this: Rajasthan Royals' Jofra Archer running in with the new ball against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2025. He’s known for his pace and precision, but on that night, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen turned the tables. Archer’s overs went for a shocking 76 runs, with Head launching him for a 23-run over almost out of nowhere. Even after Head got out, there was no let-up. Ishan Kishan and Nitish Reddy kept finding the boundary, leaving Archer with the highest runs conceded in a four-over spell in IPL history. That record still stings.
Move over Archer, and you’ll find Mohammed Shami with a night he’d rather forget—75 runs conceded in four overs in 2025 while turning out for the Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings. Shami is usually Mr. Reliable, but Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya tore into him from the start, with Marcus Stoinis hammering home four sixes in an unbelievable final over. Just one run separated Shami from Archer’s unwanted record.
Mohit Sharma, representing Gujarat Titans, also felt the heat in 2024. Delhi Capitals’ Rishabh Pant went on a rampage, smashing Sharma for four sixes in a row in the final over. Mohit’s 73-run spell, at the time, was the worst in the league. Rishabh Pant’s clean hitting wasn’t just entertaining—it highlighted the near-impossible job of bowling at the death against set batters.
And who can forget Yash Dayal’s 2023 nightmare against Kolkata Knight Riders? Gujarat was defending 29 runs with Dayal in charge of the last over. Rinku Singh decided to put on a show, sending five balls sailing for six—an almost surreal finish. Dayal’s 0/69 figures became part of IPL folklore overnight, proving how quickly things can unravel for bowlers in this format.
Batting-Friendly Pitches and Record-Breaking Chases
Reece Topley’s 1/68 in 2024 underlines another problem bowlers face—pitches that turn even average batters into superstars. Travis Head struck a century for Sunrisers Hyderabad, powering the team to an IPL record 287/3. For bowlers, there’s often nowhere to hide on nights like these, no matter how hard they try to hit the right lines or mix up their pace.
- IPL spells can turn ugly quickly, especially in the last few overs, where teams target their biggest hitters for a late onslaught.
- It’s not just about the batters; these tough nights show how crucial tactics and nerves are for bowlers. Lose your length for even a couple of balls, and things can spiral out of control.
- Records like Archer’s 0/76 or Dayal’s 0/69 aren’t just numbers—they’re lived experiences, sometimes shaping careers and team strategies for seasons to come.
IPL’s high-scoring culture isn’t going anywhere. Bowlers will keep taking risks, hoping for that one breakthrough over. But as the league’s history shows, anyone—rookie or veteran—can end up with an unwanted entry on this list of most expensive spells, driving home just how unpredictable and relentless T20 cricket can be.
