Top 5 Most Expensive Spells In The IPL History Ft. William O’Rourke

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is renowned worldwide as the most exhilarating cricket tournament, a breathtaking blend of strategy, skill, and sheer power. It’s a stage where legends are born, and careers are made or broken under the glare of millions. While it’s often the batters who grab headlines with their towering sixes and blistering strike rates, the bowlers are the unsung heroes – or sometimes, the unfortunate villains.

In this high-voltage contest, some bowlers have faced nights so brutal that their spells have gone down in IPL history for all the wrong reasons. These are the spells where runs flowed like torrents, patience shattered like glass, and the scoreboard mercilessly piled up against the unfortunate bowler.

Today, we delve into the top five most expensive bowling spells in IPL history, exploring the moments when bowlers were overwhelmed, the match situations that exacerbated their woes, and the harrowing lessons cricket taught them on these unforgettable days.

5. Basil Thampi – 0/70 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Bengaluru, IPL 2018)

Basil Thampi entered the IPL scene as one of India’s most promising fast bowling prospects. With raw pace and fiery aggression, many believed he had the potential to terrorize the best batters in the world. However, on a sweltering day at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2018, Basil’s promise met a harsh reality check.

Facing the formidable Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lineup, featuring the mercurial AB de Villiers and the elegant Moeen Ali, Thampi’s night quickly spiraled out of control. His early overs showed promise, with decent pace and line, but the RCB batsmen soon picked up on his predictable lengths and lack of variation.

Thampi’s yorkers, intended to deceive, often turned into full tosses, gift-wrapped for the batsmen to dispatch. His short balls, instead of unsettling the batsmen, sat up nicely, inviting brutal assaults. Moeen Ali was relentless, unleashing a barrage of sixes that set the tone, while AB de Villiers played with his trademark audacity — lofting balls over the extra cover and fine leg fences.

The 19th over became the symbol of Thampi’s torment, leaking an astonishing 30 runs — a cocktail of boundaries and wayward deliveries that crushed any hopes of a comeback. When his spell ended, the scoreboard read 0 wickets for 70 runs in 4 overs, a day to forget for the young pacer.

This spell is a reminder of the brutal scrutiny in IPL — where a bowler’s flaws are ruthlessly exposed under pressure, and the margin for error shrinks to zero.

4. Mohit Sharma – 0/73 vs Delhi Capitals (Delhi, IPL 2024)

Mohit Sharma, a seasoned campaigner known for his clever variations and tactical acumen, was expected to be a pillar in the death overs. His ability to bowl subtle slower balls and outfox batters with changes of pace had earned him respect. But in a tense IPL 2024 clash against Gujarat Titans, Mohit faced one of the darkest days of his IPL career.

The Titans had just introduced Rishabh Pant to the crease, and the explosive batter wasted no time. Mohit’s first over went for 20 runs, as Pant unleashed his brutal hitting with disdainful ease. Despite the poor start, the Titans stuck with Mohit through the death overs — a decision that would soon backfire spectacularly.

Mohit was handed the ball for the 16th, 18th, and 20th overs — crucial phases where death bowling skills are paramount. Unfortunately, he lacked both the pace and the sharpness on that day. Each over turned into a nightmare, leaking over 20 runs apiece, including multiple sixes and boundaries.

The 20th over was particularly disastrous, featuring a no-ball that only added insult to injury. Pant and his teammates toyed with Mohit’s deliveries, punishing any errant ball with ruthless intent. Mohit’s final figures: 0 wickets for 73 runs in 4 overs — a staggering number for a death-over specialist and a testament to how quickly the tides can turn in T20 cricket.

3. Will O’Rourke – 2/74 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (Bengaluru, IPL 2025)

New Zealand’s left-arm pacer Will O’Rourke entered the IPL 2025 stage under extraordinary pressure. Drafted in as a last-minute replacement for the injured Mayank Yadav, O’Rourke was given the new ball against a Royal Challengers Bangalore side chasing a massive 228 runs — one of the highest chases in IPL history.

From ball one, the challenge was immense. Virat Kohli, with his trademark timing and calm aggression, set about punishing O’Rourke. The second over became a nightmare, leaking 22 runs, including five boundaries that sent a clear message: the IPL is no place for nerves.

Yet, O’Rourke showed resilience. Returning in the eighth over, he struck back decisively, claiming two key wickets — Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone — in consecutive deliveries, swinging the momentum briefly in Lucknow’s favor.

But cricket’s cruel twists were far from over. Jitesh Sharma, RCB’s unsung hero that night, took the attack to O’Rourke. The 11th over saw Sharma blast 17 runs, including a six and a boundary, restoring RCB’s dominance.

The defining moment came in the 18th over, with RCB needing 28 runs from 18 balls. Entrusted with the ball in this crunch situation, O’Rourke’s confidence shattered. Sharma launched a brutal assault, clobbering two sixes and two fours, a 23-run over that effectively sealed the game.

His final figures? 2 wickets for 74 runs in 4 overs — a costly spell, but one marked by a valiant fightback and some wickets to his name. The day highlighted how in IPL, even small moments can define an entire spell.

2. Mohammed Shami – 0/75 vs Punjab Kings (Hyderabad, IPL 2025)

Mohammed Shami is one of India’s most lethal fast bowlers, renowned for his blistering pace, pinpoint yorkers, and ability to deliver under pressure. However, even the best can have an off day — and in a 2025 IPL clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Shami endured a bowling nightmare.

The pitch was a paradise for batters — flat, fast, and forgiving. From ball one, Shami found himself in trouble as Punjab Kings’ Prabhsimran Singh attacked relentlessly, smashing three fours in his opening over. The veteran’s rhythm was shattered, and the carnage escalated with the arrival of young sensation Priyansh Arya.

Arya’s 24-run over was a showcase of fearless hitting — two sixes, a four, and another six in a barrage that sent shockwaves through Shami’s camp. The experienced bowler was visibly rattled.

But the final blow came in the death overs. Entrusted with the last over, Shami faced Marcus Stoinis in full power-hitting mode. Stoinis unleashed a brutal onslaught, hammering four massive sixes, exploiting Shami’s lengths and the conditions expertly.

The final figures: 0 wickets for 75 runs in 4 overs, the most expensive spell of Shami’s IPL career, and a brutal reminder that even the finest bowlers can be exposed when conditions and circumstances align against them.

1. Jofra Archer – 0/76 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Hyderabad, IPL 2025)

If there is one bowler synonymous with pace, precision, and match-winning spells in IPL, it’s Jofra Archer. The England international has been a talisman for Rajasthan Royals, terrorizing batsmen with his blistering speed and unerring yorkers. But even Archer isn’t immune to the brutal unpredictability of T20 cricket.

In a night that defied expectations, Archer was sent to open the bowling against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025. The pitch promised runs, but no one expected the carnage that would unfold.

Archer’s first over leaked 18 runs, signaling the beginning of a long night. Despite deploying every variation in his arsenal — slower balls, back-of-the-hand deliveries, wide yorkers — nothing worked. His lengths varied wildly between short balls and full tosses, making it easy prey for the Sunrisers’ batters.

The final over of his spell was the ultimate heartbreak: four consecutive sixes hammered into the stands, pushing his economy to an astronomical 19-plus.

His final tally: 0 wickets for 76 runs in 4 overs, the second most expensive spell in IPL history, marking a day where Archer was completely outplayed.

The IPL’s Brutal Reality: When Even Greatness Falters

These five spells represent more than just numbers — they tell stories of pressure, form, conditions, and cricketing drama. They highlight how the IPL can humble even the best, exposing bowlers when conditions favor the bat, or when strategy fails.

For fans, these moments provide memorable drama and thrilling narratives. For bowlers, they are harsh lessons and reminders that every game is a new battle.

What these spells also underscore is the evolution of T20 cricket — where the margin for error shrinks, innovation is key, and the mental game is as crucial as skill. In a tournament fueled by fearless batting, bowlers must constantly adapt or risk becoming part of IPL’s infamous records.

To every bowler who has had a tough day in IPL, remember: legends aren’t made by their flawless spells, but by how they bounce back from the toughest moments.

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