After 60 games in the much awaited IPL 2020, fans witnessed Mumbai Indians clinch the title for a record fifth time, as they defeated Delhi Capitals by 5 wickets in the finals to retain the crown. Before the start of the tournament, experts had opined that the slower bowlers would rule the charts in the United Arab Emirates, but it was the fast bowlers who left their mark, with only three spinners in the top ten highest wicket takers’ list.
A number of Indian bowlers impressed in this season, along with overseas bowlers like Kagiso Rabada and Trent Boult. We look at the most effective Indian bowlers from IPL 2020, who played a key role in the team’s performances this year.
Yuzvendra Chahal (Royal Challengers Bangalore):
The spinner, who has tasted considerable success at the flat Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru found the conditions in the UAE to his liking, and it was no surprise that he ended with yet another successful season. The leg-spinner carried the weight of the RCB bowling attack on his shoulders, and was Virat Kohli’s go-to bowler in the middle overs or whenever the team needed a wicket. Chahal ended IPL 2020 with 21 wickets at an impressive economy rate of just over 7. He was one of the best spinners on display in the league this season.
Varun Chakravarthy (Kolkata Knight Riders):
The Kolkata Knight Riders spinner was one of the few players from the team who left a mark in this year’s tournament. With Kuldeep Yadav’s poor run of form and Sunil Narine caught in controversy surrounding his bowling action, the onus of leading the spin attack fell on the Tamil Nadu player’s shoulders. Chakravarthy was a revelation as he picked up 17 wickets from 13 matches with an economy rate of 6.84. The mystery spinner was so effective that he was selected for the T20I team that will tour Australia later this month. However, he was eventually ruled out due to a shoulder injury.
Mohammed Shami (Kings XI Punjab):
Mohammed Shami never had a memorable IPL season, and was not even a regular in the T20I team. However, the Bengal fast bowler came of age in IPL 2020, as he impressed with the new ball and at the death. The Punjab player gave his team regular breakthroughs upfront and was lethal at the death as well, where he made life miserable for the rivals with his pin-point yorkers. Shami managed to pick up 20 wickets this year, and he ended the season as the joint-sixth highest wicket-takers of the season.
Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians):
The pacer did not have the greatest starts to the season as he leaked runs but found his groove as the IPL 2020 progressed. Bumrah was one of the major reasons why his team managed to defend the crown. The Baroda fast bowler was the go-to bowler whenever his team needed a wicket, and has been crucial in the middle overs and at the death. He ended the season with 27 wickets, and narrowly missed out on winning the Purple Cap. Moreover, he bowled with an economy rate of just 6.73, which is evidence of the kind of pressure that he put the opposition batsmen under.
Also Read: IPL 2020: 6 Indian batsmen who left a mark in the edition
