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When the pressure mounts, even the skippers get hammered! We revisit the most forgettable outings for bowling captains in IPL history
The IPL is a pressure cooker of a tournament. Leading a team in this high-octane environment requires not only strategic acumen but also the ability to perform under immense scrutiny. While some captains thrive under pressure, others find themselves at the receiving end of some serious punishment.
Today, we delve into the not-so-glorious moments of leadership, taking a look at the top 5 most expensive spells bowled by captains in the history of the IPL.
Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan, known for his swing and seam bowling, had a forgettable night leading the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016. Facing a star-studded RCB batting lineup led by Virat Kohli, Zaheer's bowling lacked its usual bite.
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Zaheer Khan is celebrating wicket with Nadeem
The RCB batsmen cashed in on his wayward deliveries, helping them post a challenging 191 runs. While Delhi eventually chased down the target, Zaheer's expensive spell of 1/50, going for an economy rate of 12.50, was a blot on his captaincy performance.
The legendary Shane Warne, synonymous with spin wizardry, also found himself on this list. Leading the Rajasthan Royals in an IPL 2011 group stage match against Kings XI Punjab at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, Warne's magic touch seemed to desert him.
The KXIP openers, Shaun Marsh and Paul Valthaty, took him to the cleaners right from the start. Marsh, in particular, launched into Warne's leg spin, smashing two sixes and a four in his first over.
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That iconic action
Valthaty wasn't far behind, using his clean hitting to score boundaries at will. By the end of his four overs, Warne had conceded a costly 50 runs, picking up just one wicket—that of David Hussey.
His economy rate of 12.50 proved to be far too expensive, putting a lot of pressure on the rest of the Royals' bowlers. KXIP went on to post a mammoth 195/7 on the board, which the Rajasthan Royals could only manage to respond with 147/7, handing them a crushing defeat.
Even the best spinners in the world have their off days, and R. Ashwin's outing against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018 is a case in point. Leading Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Ashwin found himself at the receiving end of some powerful hitting by the SRH batsmen.
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Ravi Ashwin is one of best spinners India ever produced
Despite a dominant batting performance by his team, including a century from Chris Gayle, Ashwin's spell of 0/53 with an economy rate of 13.25 was a blemish. While KXIP emerged victorious by 15 runs, this match served as a reminder that captaincy doesn't guarantee bowling brilliance.
Pat Cummins, known for his express pace and the recently added weapon in his arsenal—the slower bouncer—had an uncharacteristically expensive outing against Royal Challengers Bangalore this season.
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IPL 2024 is not a favourable platform for the bowlers
Leading the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Cummins conceded a staggering 55 runs in his four overs, leaking runs at an economy rate of over 13. While he managed to salvage some pride with the wicket of Dinesh Karthik, this performance was a far cry from his usual economical and wicket-taking spells.
Young Punjab Kings captain Sam Curran had a forgettable night at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata this season. Tasked with leading his team to victory, Curran's bowling woes seemed to have a domino effect on the entire bowling attack. Openers Phil Salt and Sunil Narine of KKR took him to the cleaners, treating his deliveries like bowling practice.
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Sam Curran leads the list
By the end of his four overs, Curran had conceded a whopping 60 runs, picking up a solitary wicket as a consolation prize. He leaked runs at an alarming economy rate of 15.00, putting his team under immense pressure right from the start. KKR went on to post a mammoth 261, leaving Punjab with a near-impossible chase.
