The Indian Premier League (IPL) is more than a cricket tournament – it’s a celebration of sport, emotion, and unpredictability. In every IPL season, we are reminded of these exciting moments when an over can swing a match dramatically – sometimes for the batters and other times, beyond what the bowlers might imagine.
The IPL can be a reminder of how brutal T20 cricket can be with the most expensive spell in IPL it only takes a few choices that didn’t go as planned or a few missed yorkers, and it can turn into a nightmare for a brilliant bowler. However, this is what also defines resilience, determination, and the fact that cricket is not all about perfection, it is about comebacks.
Now, let’s delve into what the definition of the most expensive spell in IPL means and the bowlers who have put themselves at risk on the biggest stage of T20.
What is Meant by The Most Expensive Spell in IPL?
Put simply, the most expensive spell in IPL is when a bowler gives away the most runs in a single match within their 4 allocated overs. In T20 cricket, a bowler bowls a maximum of 4 overs (24 balls). If they give away a lot of runs if they end up taking no wickets, then it is said to be expensive. So when we say “the most expensive spell in the IPL”, we mean the bowler who has given away the most runs ever in a spell in the history of the Indian Premier League.
Most Expensive Spell in IPL History 2008 to 2025
The most expensive spell in IPL history reminds us that even the best bowlers can have tough days in T20 cricket. Here’s a detailed look at the top bowling figures where bowlers conceded the most runs in their four-over spells.
| Rank | Bowler | Team | Opponent | Figures | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jofra Archer | Rajasthan Royals | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 0/76 (4) | Hyderabad | 2025 |
| 2 | Mohammed Shami | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Punjab Kings | 0/75 (4) | Hyderabad | 2025 |
| 3 | W’O Rourke | Lucknow Super Giants | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 2/74 (4) | Lucknow | 2025 |
| 4 | Mohit Sharma | Gujarat Titans | Delhi Capitals | 0/73 (4) | Delhi | 2024 |
| 5 | Basil Thampi | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 0/70 (4) | Bengaluru | 2018 |
| 6 | Yash Dayal | Gujarat Titans | Kolkata Knight Riders | 0/69 (4) | Ahmedabad | 2023 |
| 7 | Reece Topley | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1/68 (4) | Bengaluru | 2024 |
| 8 | L. Wood | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals | 1/68 (4) | New Delhi | 2024 |
| 9 | Ishant Sharma | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Chennai Super Kings | 0/66 (4) | Hyderabad | 2013 |
| 10 | Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Kings XI Punjab | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 0/66 (4) | Hyderabad | 2019 |
These performances represent the most expensive spell in IPL history – proving that even elite bowlers can face difficult days. Yet, every challenging spell becomes a stepping stone for a stronger comeback in the world’s most competitive T20 league.
1. Jofra Archer – 0/76 in 4 Overs (RR vs SRH, 2025)
England speedster Jofra Archer, famous for his searing pace and lethal yorkers, had one of those rare off days when he conceded 76 runs in four overs without picking up a wicket against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Travis Head tore through the powerplay, blasting 23 in a single over. 0/76 [Archer] is now the most expensive spell in IPL history, and shows that even the world’s best bowlers can have tough days.
2. Mohammed Shami – 0/75 in 4 Overs (SRH vs PBKS, 2025)
Indian speedster Mohammed Shami, known for pin-point accuracy and finicky seam movement, was at the other end of it during an IPL 2025 encounter against Punjab Kings.
For Shami, those four overs cost him 75 runs as Punjab hammered together a total of 245-6 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. His innings contained six fours and seven sixes – a painful day at the office for one of India’s finest fast bowlers.
3. W’O Rourke – 2/74 in 4 Overs (LSG vs RCB, 2025)
Bowlers at the receiving end This is not new for any bowler though -Lucknow Super Giants’ W’O Rourke was hammered for 74 runs off four overs by Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
While taking two wickets, Rourke bled runs as RCB’s power hitters attacked him in the death overs and it turned out to be one of those expensive spells we have witnessed in the recent IPL seasons.
4. Mohit Sharma – 0/73 in 4 Overs (GT vs DC, 2024)
Overseas bowler Mohit Sharma came a cropper for the Gujarat Titans, and his form was symptomatic of how bad things got for them on their night out on Tuesday against Delhi Capitals.
Mohit, who is famous for his variations of slower balls couldn’t deliver them with precision and was taken for 73 runs in the process – one of the top-5 costliest spells in the history of IPL.
5. Basil Thampi – 0/70 in 4 Overs (SRH vs RCB, 2018)
Last year, Basil Thampi of Sunrisers Hyderabad bore the brunt of the star-studded RCB, which boasted of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
Thampi leaked 70 runs in four overs, figures that is one of the worst in the history of IPL. His whirlwind was not enough to match RCB’s power hitting at bat in the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
6. Yash Dayal – 0/69 in 4 Overs (GT vs KKR, 2023)
Arguably, one of the most memorable moments in the history of the IPL would be when Yash Dayal was smashed for five sixes in a row by Rinku Singh off the final over.
The Gujarat Titans bowler ended with figures of 0/69 as KKR secured an improbable win in 2023. That spell became an apt metaphor for the unpredictable drama that is the IPL.
7. Recee Topley – 1/68 in 4 Overs (RCB vs SRH, 2024)
At the high-scoring Chinnaswamy Stadium, there was a lack of control in Recee Topley’s performance when Abhishek Sharma and Abdul Samad went on the rampage.
While Topley struck early in Sharma’s innings, his final over yielded 24 runs and he finished with figures of 1/68. Sunrisers reached a record 263 in total.
8. L. Wood – 1/68 in 4 Overs (MI vs DC, 2024)
Mumbai Indians’ L. Wood with 68 runs off four overs against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, also enters the list.
While he picked a wicket, there was no respite for the MI pacer on a batting-friendly track courtesy DC’s new-found aggression in their middle order.
9. Ishant Sharma – 0/66 in 4 Overs (SRH vs CSK, 2013)
Veteran Indian bowler Ishant Sharma had one of his torrid matches in the IPL against Chennai Super Kings in 2013.
He was hit for 66 runs in four overs at Hyderabad, where CSK’s formidable hitters dominated from the outset. Ishant was expensive, though, with his pace that night.
10. Mujeeb Ur Rahman – 0/66 in 4 Overs (KXIP vs SRH, 2019)
With the ball, Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman was dismantled by Sunrisers Hyderabad batsmen in 2019.
He finished with figures of 0/66, unable to stem the flow of runs in a flat Hyderabad wicket. This is still among the most expensive spells by a spinner in IPL.
Final Thoughts
Any bowler who holds the record for the highest scoring over in the IPL does not represent failure – even the very best bowlers can experience a day that goes against their abilities in a batter-dominated sport. What is important is how the players learn, grow, and inspire millions of fans.
FAQs on Most Expensive Spell in IPL History
Q1. What is considered an expensive spell in IPL?
Ans: Any bowling spell where a bowler concedes 50 runs or more in 4 overs is generally considered expensive in T20 cricket.
Q2. Can bowlers recover after delivering an expensive spell?
Ans: Absolutely! Many bowlers use such experiences to analyze their mistakes, improve their line and length, and come back stronger in future games.
Q3. Why do bowlers still enjoy playing in the IPL despite tough spells?
Ans: Because IPL is a stage of growth, competition, and opportunity. Even bad days are lessons that help bowlers evolve and adapt in the high-pressure world of T20 cricket.
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