IPL Records: Top 5 Overseas Bowlers with Most Wickets ft. Sunil

Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) is all set to open with the blockbuster clash between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28.

While batters have often grabbed the spotlight with their power-hitting abilities, bowlers’ role in the shortest format has always been overlooked. 

Ever since the IPL’s inauguration in 2008, there have been countless matches where the overseas bowlers have proven to be the game changers under pressure.

With a few days left for IPL season 19 to kick off, let’s take a look at those top five foreign players who bagged the most wickets in the tournament, with Sunil Narine leading the charts.

Also Read: Where and How to Book IPL 2026 Tickets Online?

1. Sunil Narine: 192 Wickets

Former West Indies legendary spinner Sunil Narine boasts the record of the leading overseas wicket-taker in IPL. With 192 wickets in 189 matches, the 37-year-old has been a core part of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling line-up since his debut season in 2012.

Having averaged 25.63 and an economy of 6.79, Narine claimed seven 4-fers and 1 five-fer, which includes his best bowling figures of 5/19 against the Punjab Kings back in 2012.

It’s worth mentioning that the KKR’s reliable player played a pivotal role in each of his team’s three-title winning campaigns.

Here is a season-wise analysis that explains how the spin-bowling all-rounder claimed 192 wickets in his IPL career so far, having played only for the Knight Riders franchise:

2. Dwayne Bravo: 183 Wickets

Another Caribbean star bowler who ranks after Sunil Narine is none other than the former West Indies skipper Dwayne Bravo.

At an average of 23.82 and an economy of 8.38, the pace bowling all-rounder took 183 wickets, including 2 four-fers.

Since Bravo’s IPL debut in 2008, he represented three different teams— Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Gujarat Lions (GL). Here is the 42-year-old’s year-by-year journey in claiming 183 wickets till his last IPL season in 2022:

3. Lasith Malinga: 170 Wickets

Former Sri Lankan pace bowling stalwart is yet another overseas bowler like Sunil Narine who played only for a single franchise — the Mumbai Indians (MI). He was part of the winning squad under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in 2013, 2015, and 2017.

At an average of 19.79 and an economy rate of 7.14, the right-arm pacer bagged 170 wickets in 122 innings. His career best bowling figures of 5/13 came against the now-defunct Deccan Chargers back in 2011 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

From debut in 2009 to dominance till 2019, Malinga’s journey to 170 IPL wickets can be analyzed year by year:

 4. Rashid Khan: 158 Wickets

Afghanistan leg-spinner specialist Rashid Khan represented two IPL teams— Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Gujarat Titans (GT) since his IPL debut in 2017.

Averaging 23.83, the 27-year-old claimed 158 wickets in 136 matches by maintaining an economy of 7.08, which includes two 4-fers. His notable bowling figures include 4/30 against the Mumbai Indians back in the 2023 edition.

The Afghan cricketer was part of the Gujarat Titans triumphant squad that lifted its maiden IPL trophy under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy in its debut season in 2022.

Here is how Rashid’s contribution each season added upto 158 IPL wickets:

5. Trent Boult: 143 Wickets

Former New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult represented five different IPL franchises since his debut in 2015 till the previous edition in 2025. It includes teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Capitals (DC), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Mumbai Indians (MI).

Notably, Trent was part of the SRH squad that won its maiden IPL title in the 2016 season.

At an average of 26.20 and an economy of 8.37, the Kiwi pacer bagged 143 wickets in 120 matches, including his top-notch bowling figures of 4/18 against Chennai Super Kings.

As Boult continues to play for Mumbai in IPL 2026, here is his IPL wicket haul of 143 wickets categorized through a yearly analysis: