IPL 2019 Stats Wizard: Bowling Performance Report Card
Kagiso Rabada, Khaleel Ahmed and Shreyas Gopal among the top bowlers this season as we look at the bowling performance report card of IPL 2019.
Striking the right balance between the bowlers and the batsmen, IPL 2019 has seen some really outstanding bowling performances throughout the season. Right from Alzarri Joseph’s magnificent spell of 6-12 to Jasprit Bumrah’s 2-12 in the finals, bowlers have proved their worth in demanding situations.
But, how did the bowlers perform as a whole? Let’s find out in our bowling performance report card of IPL 2019?
We had done a similar analysis to find out the top 5 bowlers from the first half of IPL 2019. In case you would like to revisit the same, here’s the article link.
IPL 2019: Bowling Performance Report Card for First Half
METHODOLOGY:
To calculate the bowling points, we have considered the overall aspect of the game such as wickets taken, economy rate bonus, consistency bonus, number of dot balls, number of maidens, and the number of man-of-the-match awarded.
To leave out the biases and perceptions, we have kept things simple by comparing the overall performance rating of all the bowlers to find out the top bowlers of IPL 2019.
*Please note, only players who have played a minimum of 8 matches are considered for evaluation.
Right then, let’s look in detail at the bowling performance report card for IPL 2019.
#5: IMRAN TAHIR (CSK)
INNS: 17 | WKTS: 26 | AVG: 16.57 | ECO: 6.69
BOWLING POINTS: 1450 | PERFORMANCE RATING: 6.82
At number 5, we have the Purple cap holder of IPL 2019, Imran Tahir.
Imran Tahir has had a fantastic IPL accounting for a total of 26 wickets from 17 innings at an average of 16.57 and an economy rate of 6.69.
Often given the responsibility to take crucial wickets in the middle-overs, Imran Tahir has never disappointed his captain. His wicket-taking ability has often turned the game in CSK’s favor.
Overall, he has given many outstanding spells for CSK, but the best spell came against KKR where his 4-27 rattled through KKR’s middle-order including the wicket of the monstrous, Andre Russell.
Overall, for his wicket-taking abilities, Imran Tahir gets a performance rating of 6.82 with a total of 1450 bowling points.
#4: HARBHAJAN SINGH (CSK)
INNS: 11 | WKTS: 16 | AVG: 19.5 | ECO: 7.09
BOWLING POINTS: 970 | PERFORMANCE RATING: 7.05
At number 4, we have the second-best powerplay bowler of the season, Harbhajan Singh.
Harbhajan Singh has overall been impressive taking a total of 16 wickets from 11 innings at an average of 19.5 and an economy rate of 7.09.
Bhajji pa had scored a perfect 10 in the first half with a total of 7 wickets from 4 innings at an astonishing average of 11.71 and an economy rate of 5.12. However, his performance fell in the second half as his rating fell from 10 to 7.05 at the end of the tournament.
The reason for that is very clear as the majority of the matches he played were on pitches assisting spinners in the first half, while he played on all kinds of pitches in the second half.
Overall, for using his experience to the core, Harbhajan Singh gets a performance rating of 7.05 with a total of 970 bowling points.
#3: SHREYAS GOPAL (RR)
INNS: 14 | WKTS: 20 | AVG: 17.35 | ECO: 7.22
BOWLING POINTS: 1057 | PERFORMANCE RATING: 7.05
At number 3, we have Rajasthan Royals’ best bowler, Shreyas Gopal.
Shreyas Gopal has been a revelation this season troubling even the bests in the business, and even though Shubman Gill won the emerging player of the season, according to us, Shreyas Gopal is the emerging player of the season.
A total of 20 wickets from 14 innings at an average of 17.35 and an economy rate of 7.22 are impressive numbers from Shreyas Gopal.
Shreyas Gopal’s most highlighting spells this season have both come against the RCB’s batting line-up containing the stalwarts, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli. His impressive wrong ‘un has been a talking point as even Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have found it difficult to read.
Overall, for impressive variety in his bowling, Shreyas Gopal gets a performance rating of 7.05 with a total of 1057 bowling points.
#2: KHALEEL AHMED (SRH)
INNS: 9 | WKTS: 19 | AVG: 15.1 | ECO: 8.23
BOWLING POINTS: 845 | PERFORMANCE RATING: 7.51
At number 2, we have the surprise package this season, Khaleel Ahmed.
Yes, Khaleel Ahmed has been a surprise package this season, and not because he isn’t good. Mind you, he is one of the most talented left-arm pacers around, but, delivering with such conviction, and taking wickets in almost every spell he has come to bowl, Khaleel Ahmed has been very impressive.
Performance-wise, Khaleel Ahmed has taken a total of 19 wickets from 9 innings at an average of 15.1 and an economy rate of 8.23.
He is one of the only two bowlers to have taken more than 2 wickets per innings on average. His bowling average of 15.1 is also second-best to Kagiso Rabada.
Overall, for being a wicket-taker, Khaleel Ahmed gets a performance rating of 7.51 with a total of 845 bowling points.
#1: KAGISO RABADA (DC)
INNS: 12 | WKTS: 25 | AVG: 14.72 | ECO: 7.82
BOWLING POINTS: 1128 | PERFORMANCE RATING: 7.52
The number 1 bowler this season is the fierce pace spearhead from the Delhi Capitals, Kagiso Rabada.
He may not have won the purple cap, but in the 12 innings he played, he managed to take astonishing 25 wickets at an impressive average of 14.72 and an economy rate of 7.82
A bull’s eye accuracy with fierce pace and situational variety in the bowling couldn’t be a better way of defining Kagiso Rabada’s bowling this season.
He is one of the only two bowlers to have taken two 4-wicket hauls this season, and that astonishing yorker to the monstrous, Andre Russell in the super over is easily the ball of the season.
Overall, for being the best bowler this season, Kagiso Rabada gets a performance rating of 7.52 with a total of 1128 bowling points.
So, these were the top 5 bowlers of IPL 2019.
Jasprit Bumrah deserves a special mention as he may not have had as good a rating as the above five, but has been the most lethal bowler of the season helping MI win many crunch situations.
Apart from these five, the other bowlers who have been equally good are,
- Rashid Khan: 6.78 (1272)
- Jasprit Bumrah: 6.48 (1296)
- Yuzvendra Chahal: 6.08 (988)
- Rahul Chahar: 6.03 (905)
- Jofra Archer: 5.91 (813)
Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.
Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
