Praveen Kumar, a former bowler for Mumbai Indians, holds the record for the most maiden overs in the IPL. This Indian medium-pacer bowled a total of 420 overs across 119 IPL matches, managing to deliver 14 maiden overs. He played for four different IPL teams before retiring in 2017.
In T20 cricket, dot balls are crucial. Since each team only has 120 balls to either set a score or chase a target, delivering maiden overs can be a game-changer. Achieving this in the Indian Premier League, known for its intense competitiveness, is especially commendable.
Here is a list of bowlers with the most maiden overs in the IPL to date.
Also Read: Fastest Century in IPL
List of Bowlers With the Most Maiden overs in IPL 2024
| Pos | Player | Matches | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Maidens | Avg | Econ |
| 1 | Praveen Kumar | 119 | 420 | 3251 | 90 | 14 | 36.12 | 7.72 |
| 2 | Irfan Pathan | 103 | 340 | 2649 | 80 | 10 | 33.11 | 7.77 |
| 3 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 132 | 491.3 | 3588 | 142 | 9 | 25.26 | 7.3 |
| 4 | Dhawal Kulkarni | 92 | 298 | 2474 | 86 | 8 | 28.76 | 8.3 |
| 5 | Lasith Malinga | 122 | 471 | 3366 | 170 | 8 | 19.8 | 7.14 |
| 6 | Sandeep Sharma | 99 | 366 | 2849 | 112 | 8 | 25.43 | 7.77 |
| 7 | Dale Steyn | 95 | 362 | 2508 | 97 | 7 | 25.85 | 6.91 |
| 8 | Deepak Chahar | 63 | 220.4 | 1722 | 59 | 6 | 29.18 | 7.8 |
| 9 | Amit Mishra | 154 | 541 | 3980 | 166 | 6 | 23.97 | 7.35 |
| 10 | Harbhajan Singh | 163 | 569.2 | 4030 | 150 | 6 | 26.86 | 7.07 |
Also Read: Best Bowling Figures in IPL
Player bowled the most maiden overs in IPL history
Praveen Kumar: 14 maiden overs bowled, 119 matches
Indian fast bowler Praveen Kumar played in the IPL from the second season until 2017. He was part of teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), and the now-defunct Gujarat Lions. During his IPL career, he played 119 matches, bowled 2,524 deliveries, and had a good economy rate of 7.73. He also holds the record for the most maiden overs in the IPL, with 14 in total.
Irfan Pathan: 10 Maidens Overs, 103 Matches
Irfan Pathan, a popular Indian fast bowler, was also known for his cost-effective bowling in the Indian Premier League. He played for five different IPL teams: Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiants, and Gujarat Lions. During his IPL career, he bowled 340 overs across 103 matches. Known for his skill in moving the ball early in the game, Pathan managed to bowl 10 maiden overs in the IPL.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 9 maiden overs, 132 matches
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, one of the three players on this list still actively playing in the IPL, could climb higher up the rankings with some standout performances. Like Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan, Bhuvneshwar is also a medium pace swing bowler known for his accurate deliveries that control the run flow. Affectionately known as Bhuvi by Indian cricket fans, he has bowled over 490 overs in the IPL and has nine maiden overs to his credit.
Dhawal Kulkarni: 8 maidens Overs, 92 matches
Dhawal Kulkarni may not be as famous as others on this list, but the former Rajasthan Royals player was highly sought after during his prime. Despite limited opportunities with the national team, Kulkarni has bowled more maiden overs in the IPL than the legendary Lasith Malinga. He achieved this feat in fewer than 100 IPL matches, delivering eight maiden overs and maintaining an economy rate of 8.3 by the end of his IPL career.
Lasith Malinga: 8 maiden overs, 122 matches
Lasith Malinga, who played for Mumbai Indians, is often considered the most skilled bowler on this list, thanks to his excellent mix of economy and ability to take wickets. The Sri Lankan fast bowler was masterful at controlling his line and length, and he frequently took wickets with his nearly unstoppable yorkers. It was not until IPL 2022 that Dwayne Bravo from CSK surpassed Malinga as the IPL’s top wicket-taker. Malinga bowled 471 overs in the IPL, delivered 8 maiden overs, and took a total of 170 wickets.
Dale Steyn, 7 maiden overs, 95 Matches
The South African fast bowler had a brief but memorable career in the IPL, playing less than 100 matches. He was part of four teams: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Gujarat Lions, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, managing to appear in only 95 games due to injuries. Despite his limited playtime, the formidable Proteas bowler made a strong impact each time he played, delivering seven maiden overs out of the 362 overs he bowled in the tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who bowled the first maiden over in IPL history?
Ans: The first maiden over in IPL history was bowled by Australian bowler Glenn McGrath during the third match of the first season between Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals. He also took a wicket in that over.
- Who bowled the most maiden overs in IPL 2024?
Ans: Trent Boult from Mumbai Indians bowled the most maiden overs in IPL 2024. He played 15 matches and bowled 57.2 overs, with three of them being maidens.
- Who has bowled the most dot balls in the IPL?
Ans: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has bowled the most dot balls in the history of the IPL.
- Who has bowled the most maiden overs in T20 cricket?
Ans: Jasprit Bumrah of India has bowled the most maiden overs in T20 international cricket, with eight maidens in the 57 overs he has bowled so far.
