Best Bowling Figures on IPL Debut; Check Bowlers Name and Team
Alzarri Joseph holds the record for the best bowling figures on his IPL debut, with 6/12 for the Mumbai Indians in 2019. Among bowlers, Andrew Tye of the Rising Pune Supergiant leads with 5/17 in 2017. Ashwani Kumar (MI) recently achieved the best debut figures by a bowler, taking 4/26 in IPL 2025.
Key Points
- Alzarri Joseph holds the record with 6/12 on debut for MI vs SRH in 2019.
- Andrew Tye impressed with 5/17 for RPS vs GL in 2017, utilizing knuckleballs effectively.
- Shoaib Akhtar had a memorable debut with 4/11 for KKR vs DD in 2008.
Best Bowling Figures (BBF) in cricket refer to a bowler's most outstanding performance in a single match, showing the number of wickets taken and runs conceded.
A strong BBF on debut is a sign of great potential and immediate impact in a team. In IPL 2025, some debutant bowlers have delivered remarkable performances.
Noor Ahmad from Chennai Super Kings made a dream debut, taking 4 wickets for just 18 runs against Mumbai Indians, marking the best debut bowling performance in CSK history.
Ashwani Kumar of the Mumbai Indians was impressed with 4 wickets for 24 runs in three overs against the Kolkata Knight Riders, playing a key role in Mumbai’s win. Another Mumbai Indians debutant, Vignesh Puthur, showed his skills with 3 wickets for 32 runs against Chennai Super Kings.
However, there are a few bowlers who have made their name in the field of cricket with the best bowling figures in their IPL debut. In this article, we’ll look at the players who have the best debut figures in IPL history.
IPL Best Bowling Figures: Top 5 Best Bowling Figures On IPL Debut
Here’s the list of the top 5 bowlers with the best bowling figures in their IPL debut. The list includes:
#1. Alzarri Joseph (6/12) | MI vs SRH, Hyderabad, 2019
Alzarri Shaheim Joseph, a.k.a. Alzarri Joseph, is a right-arm fast bowler who has etched his name as one of the successful bowlers with the best bowling figures in the IPL debut.
He was bought by the Mumbai Indians (MI) as a replacement for Adam Milne in the 2019 IPL season for ₹75 lakh (INR 7.5 million). In the match between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Joseph took 6 wickets, giving a total of 12 runs.
Since L. Malinga was unavailable at the time due to commitments in Sri Lanka, Alzarri saw this as a golden opportunity to make his name in the bowling world.
Later, he took the final wicket of Siddarth Kaul, restricting SRH to just 96 runs. His record-breaking 6/12 in 3.4 overs remains the best bowling figure on his IPL debut. Mumbai Indians comfortably won the match by 40 runs, making Joseph's debut a historic moment in the tournament’s history.
#2. Andrew Tye (5/17) | Gujarat Lions vs Rising Pune Supergiant, Rajkot, 2017
Andrew James Tye, a.k.a. Andrew Tye, is an Australian right-arm medium fast bowler who positions himself in the 2nd position.
He is known for his variety of slower deliveries, especially his knuckleball, which he had used effectively in the Big Bash League and T20 matches for Australia. Tye got his IPL contract at the age of 31, when he was bought by Rising Pune Supergiant for ₹50 lakh (INR 5 million) during the IPL 2017 auction.
On his IPL debut, he took four of his five wickets using knuckleballs, effectively controlling Rising Pune Supergiant's batting in the middle and death overs.
He capped off his brilliant T20 performance with double hat tricks. He took wickets of significant batters such as Rahul Tripathi in his first over of the IPL debut, Ben Stokes, Ankit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, and Shardul Thakur.
#3. Shoaib Akhtar (4/11) | KKR vs DD, Kolkata, 2008
Who doesn’t know Shoaib Akhtar? One of the fastest bowlers in the world, who has secured the 3rd position in the list, taking 4 wickets and giving 11 runs. Akhtar was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2008 IPL for ₹1.8 crore.
He made an electrifying impact for the Kolkata Knight Riders with a fiery spell against the Delhi Daredevils. In just his second delivery of the match (0.2 over), he dismissed Virender Sehwag with a fullish outswinger.
He struck again in the 2.4 over, removing Gautam Gambhir with a short and wide delivery. This right-arm fast bowler continued his rampage in the 4.2 over, dismissing AB de Villiers with a sharp bouncer.
The very next ball (4.3 over), Akhtar trapped Manoj Tiwary LBW, completing a dream spell and putting himself on a hat-trick. Kolkata Knight Riders won the match by 23 runs.
#4. Ashwani Kumar (4/24) | MI vs KKR, Mumbai, 2025
Recently, Mumbai Indians have spent considerable time and energy identifying true talent like Ashwani Kumar. This 2001-born left-arm medium bowler set the stage on fire with his 4/24 performance, becoming the first Indian to take a four-wicket haul on his IPL debut.
This young, left-arm fast bowler from Punjab was acquired by the Mumbai Indians (MI) for INR 30 lakh during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.
During the match against Kolkata Knight Riders, he started by dismissing KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane with a stunning catch by Tilak at the deep backward point. His second wicket came when he trapped Rinku Singh, who sliced a short ball straight to Dhir at deep point.
Ashwani then bowled an incredible delivery to dismiss Manish Pandey, hitting the top of the leg stump after a stunning piece of seam bowling.
Finally, he got the big wicket of Andre Russell, setting him up with a short ball before bowling him out with a full delivery, knocking over the middle stump. Mumbai Indians won by 8 wickets.
#5. Kevon Cooper (4/26) | RR vs KXIP, Jaipur, 2012
Kevon Cooper is a West Indies all-rounder player who was the driving force behind the win of the Rajathan Royals in the 2012 IPL 4th match. He took 4 crucial wickets for the team, giving only 26 runs from his ball.
Cooper was bought by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for ₹50 lakh in the 2012 IPL auction. During the play against Kings XI Punjab, he dismissed Paul Valthaty, who was caught at short third man after playing an aerial cut shot.
He then got rid of Shaun Marsh with a slower delivery, which was caught by Dravid after looping in the air. Abhishek Nayar followed soon, top-edging a sweep that was easily caught by the wicketkeeper. Finally, Cooper claimed his fourth wicket by dismissing Piyush Chawla with another slower ball.
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