Hardik Pandya had a tough 2024 IPL season with the ball
The IPL is known for high scores and six-hitting sprees, and over the years, aggressive batters have taken apart some bowlers. As a result, a few names have ended up on the unwanted list of bowlers who have conceded the most sixes in a single IPL season. What might surprise many fans is that one Indian spinner features twice in this list. It highlights just how brutal the format can be for bowlers. Let’s have a look at the top 6 bowlers who have conceded the most sixes in one IPL season.
In the 2022 IPL, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Mohammed Siraj had a tough season, conceding a record 31 sixes, the most by any bowler in a single IPL campaign. Across 15 innings, he bowled 306 deliveries, about 51 overs, leaking 514 runs at a high economy rate of 10.07. Batters targeted him freely, hitting 44 fours and those 31 sixes, with a strike rate of 157.28, reflecting their aggression. Siraj, a key pacer in his 87-match RCB career, struggled with control, managing only 9 wickets at a costly average of 57.11. His 39 extras, including wides and no-balls, added to his woes, showing inconsistency.
Despite bowling 104 dot balls, his inability to curb boundaries — 44 fours and 31 sixes — made him a frequent target, especially on batting-friendly pitches. His 514 runs conceded and low wicket tally marked a forgettable season, with batters exploiting his lack of variation. Siraj’s 2022 performance, despite his experience, became a talking point for its record-breaking sixes and high economy, highlighting a challenging phase for the pacer.
In the 2024 IPL, Yuzvendra Chahal, playing for Rajasthan Royals after his Royal Challengers Bengaluru stint, struggled, conceding 30 sixes, second only to Mohammed Siraj’s 31 in 2022. Across 15 innings, Chahal bowled 348 deliveries, about 58 overs, leaking 546 runs at a high economy rate of 9.41, among the worst for spinners that season. Despite taking 18 wickets, his bowling average was a steep 30.33, reflecting inconsistency. Batters aggressively targeted Chahal, hitting 30 sixes and 35 fours, with a strike rate of 152.14 showing how heavily they scored off him.
He bowled 100 dot balls, proving he could be economical at times, but these were overshadowed by 17 extras and frequent big hits. Chahal’s leg-spin, usually a wicket-taking weapon, couldn’t stem the flow of runs, especially on batting-friendly pitches. His 18 wickets kept him relevant, but the 30 sixes highlighted his struggles to control aggressive batting. The 35 boundaries and extras further dented his impact, making it a tough season for the experienced spinner.
In the 2022 IPL, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Wanindu Hasaranga, bought for INR 10.75 crore, had a tough season despite taking 26 wickets in 16 innings. The Sri Lankan spinner conceded 30 sixes, matching Yuzvendra Chahal’s 2024 tally and nearing the IPL record. Hasaranga bowled 342 deliveries, about 57 overs, giving away 430 runs at a decent economy rate of 7.54. His 26 wickets came at an impressive average of 16.53, but batters targeted him, especially in the middle overs and His strike rate of 124.26 showed batters scored heavily when attacking, hitting 30 sixes and 22 fours.
Hasaranga bowled 143 dot balls, proving he could be tight, and limited extras to 14, but the sixes hurt his impact. Despite being a top wicket-taker, his bowling struggled with damage control on batting-friendly pitches. Hasaranga’s high price tag raised expectations, but the IPL’s aggressive batting exposed even his skill. His 143 dot balls and wicket-taking ability kept RCB competitive, yet the 30 sixes landed him on the unwanted list of most sixes conceded in a season.
In the 2018 IPL, Chennai Super Kings’ star bowler Dwayne Bravo, known for his death-overs skill, conceded 29 sixes, among the highest that season. Playing 16 innings, he struggled despite being MS Dhoni’s trusted bowler. Bravo bowled 321 deliveries, in about 53 overs, leaking 533 runs at an economy rate of 9.96, and his 14 wickets came at a high average of 38.07, showing his challenges. Batters attacked Bravo aggressively, especially in the final overs, reflected in his strike rate of 160.74.
He managed 90 dot balls, proving he could bowl tight deliveries, but also gave away 35 fours and 22 extras, which hurt his figures. The flat pitches and aggressive batting made it tough for the two-time purple cap winner to dominate as before. Bravo’s experience couldn’t fully counter the onslaught, with batters targeting his variations. His 29 sixes highlighted the difficulty of bowling in high-scoring games, yet his 14 wickets showed he remained a threat.
In the 2015 IPL, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal conceded 28 sixes, one of the highest tallies that season. Playing 14 innings, he faced aggressive batting on Bengaluru’s batting-friendly pitch. Chahal bowled 281 deliveries, about 47 overs, giving away 415 runs at an economy rate of 8.86. Despite the high sixes count, he remained a key strike bowler, taking 23 wickets at an average of 18.04.
Chahal’s control showed in his 91 dot balls, keeping pressure on batters when not attacked. He conceded 21 boundaries and only 3 extras, reflecting his accuracy. However, his strike rate of 146.97 indicated batters hit big when they targeted him, especially with sixes. Chahal’s clever leg-spin troubled many, but the IPL’s fast-scoring nature and Bengaluru’s small boundaries made it tough to contain maximums.
In the 2023 IPL, Chennai Super Kings’ bowler Tushar Deshpande had a mixed season, conceding 28 sixes, one of the highest tallies that year. Bowling the new ball in 16 matches, he struggled with consistency, especially against big hits. Deshpande bowled 341 deliveries, about 57 overs, giving away 564 runs at an economy rate of 9.92. The batters targeted him in the powerplay and death overs, reflected in his strike rate of 155.65 and bowling average of 58. 26.85.
Despite these challenges, Deshpande took 21 wickets, proving his value as a wicket-taker. He bowled 137 dot balls, showing he could deliver tight spells. He also conceded 54 boundaries and 43 extras, which hurt his figures. His ability to strike was clear, but the high number of sixes and runs made him a frequent target for aggressive batters.