Cricket fans and enthusiasts can expect thrilling performances from renowned fast bowlers. The data on ball speeds will give insight into the intense competition among these players. The IPL is known for showcasing top-notch cricket talent, and the battle to be the fastest bowler adds an exciting dimension to the tournament. But who holds the record for the fastest ball in IPL 2023?
Bowlers have never had much of a platform to showcase their skills in the T20 format. However, the Indian Premier League has seen the ascent to prominence and glory of many notable players. Such players include bowlers such as Lasith Malinga, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Jasprit Bumrah, and many others.
The advantage always belongs to the pacemen. They are usually speed guns who try to release the fastest possible bowls to surprise the batters, even if many notable spinners have also cemented their place among the seasoned IPL bowlers.
In addition to speed, factors like accuracy, variations, and overall performance contribute to a bowler's success in the IPL. As the season unfolds, fans can anticipate nail-biting moments and exceptional displays of skill from the speedsters vying for the title of the fastest bowler in the IPL 2023. Keep an eye on match highlights, post-match analyses, and official statistics to stay updated on the dynamic and competitive nature of fast bowling in the Indian Premier League.
All of these speed guns broke records with their respective fastest balls, but they were unable to surpass Australia's Shaun Tait, who set the record for the fastest IPL delivery (157.7 km/h) in 2011 while bowling for the 2008 IPL champion Rajasthan Royals (RR). A top-tier group of pacers has participated in the 2023 IPL, and so far, some of them have also bowled the fastest ball deliveries.
These are the top five fastest ball or deliveries bowled in IPL 2023.
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Top 5 Fastest Ball in IPL 2023
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1. Lockie Ferguson, match 13–154.1 km/h
With an average pace of about 150 kph, Ferguson recorded the second-fastest-ever ball in IPL history in 2022 with a speed of 157.3 kph. It is expected that he will wow everyone again in the 2023 IPL. The Kiwi veteran drew headlines for his 157.3 km/h delivery for the Gujarat Titans (GT) against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the final game of the 2022 IPL edition. Moreover, he participated for the two-time IPL champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) this year.
Ferguson received only three games during KKR's unsuccessful IPL 2022 campaign due to his indisciplined bowling; nonetheless, the 31-year-old is expected to establish a record for bowling the quickest delivery in the event for the second season in a row. In the second delivery of the fourth over of GT's innings, New Zealand quickly bowled a delivery to GT opener Shubman Gill, which clocked 154.1 km/h. In response, the GT stalwart directed his delivery towards the deep backward point for stealing a single. Ferguson was playing his first IPL 2023 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium against his former IPL team, Gujarat.
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2. Umran Malik, match 4: 152.1 km/h
Umran Malik is a young man from Jammu and Kashmir. He is a phenomenal pacer who has displayed amazing control over his raw pace, even producing a ball that traveled 157 kph in the IPL 2022. Malik, whose average speed in international cricket is 149 kph at this age, will be a factor to watch in the IPL 2023.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) saw his potential and talent. Shortly after, they signed him for the 2022 season. This year, he failed to live up to expectations with his lackluster bowling performance. However, in his team's opening IPL 2023 match, he once again captured fans' attention with his spectacular pace bowling. Umran Malik made his IPL debut in 2021, shocking many former cricketing legends and supporters of the game.
Malik kept his title as the fastest bowler in the prestigious league intact when he castled Devdutt Padikkal's stumps during his team's match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). The incredible delivery had a speed of 152.1 km/h.
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3. Mark Wood, match 6: 151.2 km/h
With a maximum speed of 156 kph recorded in a Test match for England against Pakistan last year, Mark Wood, the lanky English pacer, is arguably the fastest pacer in modern-day cricket.
Following his outstanding performance against DC, an emboldened Wood made history in the next game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, dismissing Devon Conway and Ravindra Jadeja. Mark Wood was sensational for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in this year's IPL, picking up 11 wickets in four matches at an economy of 8.12. Donning the LSG jersey for the first time, he grabbed the best bowling figures (5/14) of his IPL career against the Delhi Capitals (DC) in match three at the Ekana Stadium.
In addition to dismissing the two CSK mainstays, he also got rid of Chennai's captain, MS Dhoni, on the fourth delivery of his last over. The ball struck by the speedster to get rid of Dhoni had a speed of 151.2 km/h, which was the fastest delivery in his IPL career.
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4. Anrich Nortje, match 7-148.8 km/h
With his raw pace and precise control over his line and length, Anrich Nortje has been quite effective since the T20 World Cup. His quickest ball was 156.2 kph, and in international bowling periods, he averaged 148 kph. He is particularly well-suited to bowl in the overseas conditions of Australia and England. However, Nortje does not find him economical in Indian conditions. He is still a frequent wicket-taker.
In match seven between the Delhi Capitals (DC) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Nortje outfoxed Shubman Gill on the first delivery of the fifth over in his delivery, which measured 148.8 km/h, in the second innings. This year, the Protea Quick once again made it to the list of bowlers who bowled the fastest deliveries in the competition.
This year, the speedster played in 10 IPL matches for Delhi, where he hunted 10 batters at an economy of 9.10. Despite his efforts, Delhi was unable to extract the desired results, as the visitors easily won with six wickets and 11 balls remaining. Nortje broke records for his team while defending a score of 162 for DC.
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5. Matheesha Pathirana, match 37- 151.4 km/h
With the best bowling figures of 3/15 against Mumbai Indians (MI) in match 49 played at Chepauk Stadium, the youthful pacer has now taken 17 wickets at an economy of 7.72 in 11 games. Matheesha Pathirana of Sri Lanka has impressed the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with his ball-handling skills.
Though he did not take any wickets in a league match, Pathirana made news for his incredible pace when he bowled the third over of his spell against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 37. His delivery to Devdutt Padikkal had a speed of 151.4 km/h. So far this season, Chennai's supporters have experienced many happy moments thanks to the Sri Lankan legend.
Sports fans were quick to praise the Sri Lankan speedster, Padikkal, for his 150+ delivery, with his fastest ball going with a four and his bat getting a thick outside edge that sailed past MS Dhoni.
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You may discover the most recent statistics and rankings on the fastest bowlers in the upcoming season of the IPL by visiting official IPL websites, cricket-related websites, or recent sports news. Player performances might alter, and new talents can emerge.