Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has claimed the most wickets in a calendar year in T20 internationals.

After being appointed the new Nepal cricket team captain in December 2021, Sandeep Lamichhane has already picked 38 wickets in 18 matches in 2022 at an average of 10.78 and an economy of 5.77.

The right-arm leg-spinner also registered his best bowling figures in 2022 as he bagged five wickets for just nine runs in his quota of four overs against hosts Kenya in a T20 encounter at Gymkhana Club Ground.

Meanwhile, Lamichhane surpassed the previous record held by Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga. The Sri Lanka leg-spinner picked 36 wickets in 20 matches in 2021 at an average of 11.63 and an economy of 5.44. 

Interestingly, Wanindu Hasaranga finished as the leading wicket-taker during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup held in the United Arab Emirates in 2021. The star leg-spinner scalped 16 wickets in just eight matches at an economy of 5.20 and an average of 9.75.

South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi features third on the list. The left-arm wrist-spinner had also claimed 36 wickets but in 22 matches in 2021 at an average of 13.36 and an economy of 5.72. Shamsi had picked eight wickets in five matches in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

Uganda’s Dinesh Nakrani and Andrew Tye of Australia complete the top five list.

Left-arm medium-pacer Nakrani claimed 35 wickets in 22 matches in 2021. On the other hand, Andrew Tye picked 31 wickets in 19 matches in 2018.

Among Indians, premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah holds the record for the most wickets in a calendar year in T20 internationals. In 2016, Bumrah bagged 28 wickets in 21 T20Is at an average of 18.82 and an economy of 6.62.

Most wickets in a calendar year in T20 internationals

Player	Year	Matches	Wickets
Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal)	2022	18	38
Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)	2021	20	36
Tabraiz Shamsi (South Africa)	2021	22	36
Dinesh Nakrani (Uganda)	2021	22	35
Andrew Tye (Australia)	2018	19	31
Waseem Abbas (Malta)	2021	18	29
Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal)	2019	16	28
Brandon Glover (Netherlands)	2019Â	19	28
Karan KC (Nepal)	2019Â	19	28
Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)	2021	20	28

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Featured photo: ICC

 

Debutants Gujarat and Lucknow will lock horns in another enthralling Indian T20 League 2022 encounter at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, March 28. 

Gujarat and Lucknow are the two new franchises who joined the high-profile T20 League, making it a 10-team affair for the first time since 2011.

While India all-rounder Hardik Pandya will lead Gujarat, Lucknow will be captained by KL Rahul.

The two sides will play their first match in the Indian T20 League on Monday. 

Ahead of the first meeting between newcomers Gujarat and Lucknow, we look at a few key battles between the players from the two sides, which could decide the outcome of the Indian T20 League match.

Gujarat vs Lucknow key player battles

Rashid Khan vs KL Rahul 

While KL Rahul has been in impressive form in the previous few editions of the Indian T20 League, he has somewhat struggled against Rashid Khan. The Afghanistan leg-spinner has dismissed KL Rahul thrice in five innings in the Indian T20 League.

Interestingly, Rahul has been dominant against pacers but has found it challenging when facing spinners on the spin-friendly Indian pitches. Apart from being dismissed three times, Rahul has scored just 18 runs in 30 balls that he has faced against Rashid.  

KL Rahul record vs Rashid Khan
Innings	Runs scored	Balls faced	Dismissed	SR
5	18	30	3	60

Hardik Pandya vs Andrew Tye

Swashbuckling all-rounder Hardik Pandya has struggled against Australia fast bowler Andrew Tye in the Indian T20 League. Pandya, who usually likes pace on the ball, has failed to pick the slower deliveries of Andrew Tye in the death overs. The Australia pacer has dismissed Hardik twice in four innings in the Indian T20 League. The India all-rounder has managed 27 runs in 22 balls at a strike rate of 122.72.

Hardik Pandya record vs Andrew Tye
Innings	Runs scored	Balls faced	Dismissed	SR
4	27	22	2	122.72

David Miller vs Avesh Khan

South Africa batter David Miller has dominated India pacer Avesh Khan in the Indian T20 League. Miller has smashed 37 runs off just 20 balls against Avesh at an impressive strike rate of 185 while being dismissed once. The Proteas batter has amassed 1974 runs in 88 Indian T20 League matches, including a century against Bangalore.

On the other hand, Avesh finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the Indian T20 League 2021, picking 24 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of 7.38. We can certainly expect an intriguing battle between the two on Monday. 

David Miller record vs Avesh Khan
Innings	Runs scored	Balls faced	Dismissed	SR
4	37	20	1	185

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The Indian T20 League, since its inception in 2008, has been a bystander to some of the most breathtaking bowling performances over the years. Right from Lasith Malinga’s inch-perfect yorkers to the devastating pace lengths of Harshal Patel, the spectators have been duly entertained by something extremely miraculous.

The nature of the league or the format per se is such that you are bound to stay connected right till the end. But what makes the league even more interesting is the fight to win the individual awards. In context, the Indian T20 League honours the bowler with the most number of wickets with a Purple Cap at the end of every season.

2008: Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan)

Pakistani players played only the inaugural season of the league, and that was enough for Sohail Tanvir to assert his claim. Representing Rajasthan in 2008, the left-arm pacer played a key role in his side’s route to the final. During the course, he picked 22 wickets in 11 games at an impressive average of 12.09.

2009: RP Singh (Deccan)

RP Singh was an absolute revelation in the second edition of the tournament. Applauded for his mesmerizing in-swingers and an ability to find a gap between the pad and the bat, he notched up 23 wickets in 16 games to earn the Purple Cap that year.

2010: Pragyan Ojha (Deccan)

After two mediocre seasons, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha finally burst onto the scene in 2010 with a blistering performance for Deccan. Picking up 21 wickets in 16 games that year, he not only won the Purple Cap but also won the hearts of many.

2011: Lasith Malinga (Mumbai)

Four-time Indian T20 League winner with Mumbai, Lasith Malinga won the Purple Cap in only his third season of the tournament. In 2011, the Sri Lankan pacer returned with a total of 28 wickets in 16 games at a mere economy of 5.95.  

2012: Morne Morkel (Delhi)

Delhi have always been known for their strong overseas bowling core. In 2012, Morne Morkel delivered what was promised as he went on to pick 25 wickets in 16 games, but that, unfortunately, wasn’t enough as his side crashed out of the play-offs stage.

2013: Dwayne Bravo (Chennai)

In 2013, Chennai made it to their second consecutive Indian T20 League finals. While their batting was top-notch that year, their bowling contingent oozed similar confidence and a certain Dwayne Bravo was at the pinnacle of it. The West Indies all-rounder picked a whopping 32 wickets to win his first Purple Cap of the Indian T20 League. His figures in 2013 remain the best for any bowler in a single season.

2014: Mohit Sharma (Chennai)

Mohit Sharma arguably remains one of the finest finds of the Indian T20 League. In 2014, the medium-pacer topped the bowling charts after picking 23 wickets in 16 games for Chennai

2015: Dwayne Bravo (Chennai)

For the third time running, a Chennai bowler emerged as the highest wicket-taker of the Indian T20 League. In 2015, Dwayne Bravo became the first player to win the Purple Cap twice after he scalped 26 wickets in 17 games to take his team all the way to the final. He even took the joint-most catches - 13 - in that edition.

2016: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Hyderabad)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was a headache for the opposition batsmen in 2016. Playing for Hyderabad, his perfect line and length culminated in him picking 23 wickets in 17 games at an economy of 7.42 to win the Purple Cap that year.

2017: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Hyderabad)

Hyderabad failed to defend their title in 2017, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar once again topped the wicket-taking chart, becoming only the second player to win two Purple Caps. That year, he picked 26 wickets in just 14 games.

2018: Andrew Tye (Punjab)

Australian pacer Andrew Tye impressed one and all with his breathtaking performance in the 2018 edition of the tournament. That year, his three four-wicket hauls took his total tally to 24 wickets in just 14 games, which was enough to have a Purple Cap on his head. 

2019: Imran Tahir (Chennai)

Known for his extravagant celebrations, South African spinner Imran Tahir defeated his fellow countryman Kagiso Rabada to win the Purple Cap in 2019 after picking 26 wickets in 17 games at an economy rate of 6.69.

2020: Kagiso Rabada (Delhi) 

After missing out on the Purple Cap in 2020, Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap as he scalped 30 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 8.34. The South African fought off competition from Mumbai's Jasprit Bumrah to finish as the leading wicket-taker in the 13th edition of the T20 extravaganza.

2021: Harshal Patel (Bangalore)

Harshal Patel had a season to remember in Indian T20 League 2021, as he matched Dwayne Bravo's record for most wickets in a single campaign (32). Patel also scripted history as the bowler with most wickets during the league phase of an Indian T20 League season, surpassing Lasith Malinga's 27 scalps in 2011.

Purple Cap winners in Indian T20 League

Player	Year	Wickets
Sohail Tanvir	2008	22
RP Singh	2009	23
Pragyan Ojha	2010	21
Lasith Malinga	2011	28
Morne Morkel	2012	25
Dwayne Bravo	2013	32
Mohi Sharma	2014	23
Dwayne Bravo	2015	26
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	2016	23
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	2017	26
Andrew Tye	2018	24
Imran Tahir	2019	26
Kagiso Rabada	2020	30
Harshal Patel	2021	32

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sajjad Hussain

Two new teams were added to the Indian T20 League ahead of its 15th edition with franchises from Lucknow and Gujarat now a part of the biggest T20 league in the world.

The Lucknow franchise was purchased by renowned businessman and sports enthusiast Sanjiv Goenka, whose RPSG Group conglomerate successfully placed a bid of INR 7,090 crore last year to buy the team.

Ahead of the 15th edition of the Indian T20 League, the Lucknow franchise has been shaping up pretty well behind the scenes prior to their bow in the biggest T20 extravaganza across the globe.

With two-time Indian T20 League winning captain Gautam Gambhir as mentor and the legendary Andy Flower as coach, Lucknow put together strong supporting staff that guided them to plenty of smart acquisitions and prudent buys at the two-day mega auction in Bengaluru last month.

Discuss. Learn. Grow.#AbApniBaariHai#LucknowSuperGiants#TataIPL #IndianPremierLeague #IPL2022 #Mindset pic.twitter.com/rM8F8Io89h

�?Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 20, 2022

Here we have a closer look at what Team Lucknow will offer in their maiden Indian T20 League campaign.

Team Lucknow squad

Ahead of the Indian T20 League 2022 mega auction, the two new teams were presented the opportunity to sign players who could form their core squad. At the player draft, Lucknow roped in KL Rahul (INR 17 crore) as their team captain alongside Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (INR 9.2 crore) and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (INR 4 crore).

In the two-day mega auction held in Bengaluru last month, Lucknow went on to make judicious acquisitions, buying international stars like wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock (INR 6.75 crore), Evin Lewis (INR 2 crore), Jason Holder (INR 8.75 crore) and Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera (INR 2 crore). Andrew Tye makes for another great acquisition in the T20 format for the team as the Australian gets ready to replace an injured Mark Wood.

As far as their domestic talents are concerned, Lucknow secured quite a few noteworthy names. Manish Pandey (INR 4.6 crore), all-rounder Krunal Pandya (INR 8.25 crore), Avesh Khan (INR 10 crore) and Deepak Hooda (5.75 crore) will all be donning Lucknow colours in the upcoming campaign.

Team Lucknow squad for Indian T20 League 2022:

KL Rahul (captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Jason Holder, Manish Pandey, Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Krunal Pandya, Andrew Tye, Avesh Khan, Ankit Singh Rajpoot, Krishnappa Gowtham, Dushmantha Chameera, Shahbaz Nadeem, Manan Vohra, Mohsin Khan, Ayush Badoni, Kyle Mayers, Karan Sharma, Evin Lewis, Mayank Yadav

Team Lucknow strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

One glance at the Lucknow squad highlights their well-rounded and formidable bowling unit, which will be a big threat for opposition batters in the new season. T20 specialist Andrew Tye could be entrusted to make early in-roads into the opposition along with the experienced Jason Holder.

Avesh Khan is another option they can utilise early on even though he will primarily be responsible for keeping things tight at the death alongside Dushmantha Chameera and Tye. Additionally, Lucknow boasts a variety of spin options as well with the likes of Krunal Pandya, Shahbaz Nadeem and Krishnappa Gowtham, all capable of single-handedly turning the tide of a contest on their day.

Weaknesses

Lucknow’s batting looks slightly limited on paper and it will be interesting to see how they perform with the willow should some of their bigger names fail to get going. While KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock make for a formidable opening pair with Manish Pandey at No.3, it will be intriguing to watch what happens if the aforementioned trio finds it difficult to produce their best.

Their dearth of tried and tested batting options isn’t just limited to the top order since a lot will be riding on their power-hitting middle order that features Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis and Deepak Hooda. If their middle-order fails to perform to expectations, a lot of the onus will be on their top order, which isn’t exactly spoilt for choice as far as established international stars go.

Who can be the highest run-scorer for Team Lucknow?

A proven performer on the Indian T20 League stage, expect KL Rahul to lead from the front and finish as his team’s top run-getter in the upcoming campaign. Rahul, who finished as Punjab’s top-scorer (626 runs) last season, has been in fine form for India recently, consistently scoring runs on the international stage across all formats.

He has made 3,273 Indian T20 League runs at a magnificent average of 47.43 with two centuries and 27 fifties. As already mentioned, he enjoyed a fine campaign on a personal front last time around. The season prior in 2020 witnessed Rahul win the Orange Cap for most runs (670) and he was also adjudged the Game Changer of the Season in that edition.

Who can be the highest wicket-taker for Team Lucknow?

Avesh Khan looks primed to finish as his team’s top wicket-taker in Indian T20 League 2022 and he is likely to be Lucknow’s go-to bowler this season. The 25-year-old enjoyed a fine breakthrough campaign last time around, notching 24 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 25.82.

Avesh’s performances last year didn’t go unnoticed with the selectors handing him his T20I debut. He heads into the new Indian T20 League campaign as a capped Indian talent with a couple of international scalps under his belt. With more confidence and experience now than a year back, expect Avesh to go from strength to strength and be Lucknow’s top wicket-taker. 

Where will Team Lucknow finish in Indian T20 League 2022?

Starting from scratch as a new franchise in any league isn’t easy and that’s even more so in the ultra-competitive environment that’s synonymous with the Indian T20 League. That said, Lucknow can make the playoffs if all their stars stand up and be counted on most occasions although that’s easier said than done with the players still getting to know one another.

Lucknow Indian T20 League 2022 schedule, fixtures and match times

All times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Day and Date	Fixtures	Venue	Time
Monday, March 28	Gujarat vs Lucknow	Wankhede Stadium	7:30 PM
Thursday, March 31	Lucknow vs Chennai	Brabourne Stadium	7:30 PMÂ
Monday, April 4	Hyderabad vs Lucknow	DY Patil Stadium	7:30 PM
Thursday, April 7Â	Lucknow vs Delhi	DY Patil Stadium	7:30 PM
Sunday, April 10	Rajasthan vs Lucknow	Wankhede Stadium	7:30 PM
Saturday, April 16	Mumbai vs Lucknow	Brabourne Stadium	3:30 PM
Tuesday, April 19	Lucknow vs Bangalore	DY Patil Stadium	7:30 PM
Sunday, April 24	Lucknow vs Mumbai	Wankhede Stadium	7:30 PM
Friday, April 29	Punjab vs Lucknow	MCA Stadium	7:30 PM
Sunday, May 1	Delhi vs Lucknow	Wankhede Stadium	3:30 PM
Saturday, May 7	Lucknow vs Kolkata	MCA Stadium	7:30 PM
Tuesday, May 10	Lucknow vs Gujarat	MCA Stadium	7:30 PM
Sunday, May 15	Lucknow vs Rajasthan	Brabourne Stadium	7:30 PM
Wednesday, May 18	Kolkata vs Lucknow	DY Patil Stadium	7:30 PM

Author: Andre Pitts

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Featured photo: Twitter/KL Rahul

Team Delhi all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin announced in the wee hours of Monday that he will skip the remainder of the Indian T20 League 2021 campaign to support his family amidst the second wave of Covid-19 in the country.

This news comes shortly after Andrew Tye left the Rajasthan camp on Sunday, citing the "stress of bubble life" and concerns about borders closing in Australia.

Ashwin took to Twitter to make the announcement after Delhi edged past Hyderabad in the Super Over at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

"I would be taking a break from this year's IPL from tomorrow. My family and extended family are putting up a fight against #COVID19 and I want to support them during these tough times," the Indian cricket team all-rounder said.

I would be taking a break from this years IPL from tomorrow. My family and extended family are putting up a fight against #COVID19 and I want to support them during these tough times. I expect to return to play if things go in the right direction. Thank you @DelhiCapitals

�?Stay home stay safe! Take your vaccine (@ashwinravi99) April 25, 2021

However, Ashwin also inferred that he would return to play once normalcy resumes.

Zampa, Richardson continue Aussie exodus from Indian T20 League 2021

Bangalore announced that Australian pair Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson will be unavailable for the rest of the campaign due to 'personal reasons'.

Zampa and Richardson follow Andrew Tye, who was the first Australian cricketer to exit the Indian T20 League 2021 and return back home from India.

Official Announcment:

Adam Zampa & Kane Richardson are returning to Australia for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the remainder of #IPL2021. Royal Challengers Bangalore management respects their decision and offers them complete support.#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers pic.twitter.com/NfzIOW5Pwl

�?Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 26, 2021

In the wake of the possibility of more Aussie players following suit, Kolkata mentor David Hussey said everyone is a bit nervous at the moment.

"Everyone is sort of a bit nervous about whether they can get back into Australia. I dare say there will be a few other Australians a bit nervous about getting back into Australia," Hussey said to the Sydney Morning Herald.

However, the former Australian all-rounder showered praise on the bio-bubble in India saying it was similar to what they experienced in Australia during the summer.

“We’re stuck in bubbles. It’s probably not too dissimilar to what all Victorians experienced last year in lockdown really. You get tested every second day. So it’s quite full-on but I think every precaution`s been taken for everyone’s safety," Hussey said.

Featured photo: Twitter / Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore

While the Indian T20 League has nurtured numerous unknown talents into international stars, the tournament has also seen some finished products that didn’t take more than a match to prove their mettle.

Here we look at three such Indian T20 League players whose debut performances will be remembered for the ages.

Brendon McCullum

Starting in 2008, the tournament organizers had numerous doubts about the potential of the T20 tournament with the format relatively new back then, and ‘T20 specialists�?weren’t a thing as well. However, all their qualms vanished in just the second over of the opening match of the tournament between Kolkata and Bangalore. Facing Zaheer Khan, Kolkata's Brendon McCullum hit 18 runs with three boundaries and six to set the groove. The former New Zealand international had ended up blasting 10 boundaries and 13 sixes in his very first Indian T20 League match, scoring an unbeaten 158 runs in 73 balls.

#ThisDayThatYear
Brendon McCullum started IPL with a bang by scoring a blistering 158* off 73 balls at Chinnaswamy.

PC: CricTracker#KKRHaiTaiyaar pic.twitter.com/CGotvma8vt

�?KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 18, 2018

Though Brendon McCullum could never repeat that feat, whether for Kolkata, New Zealand or any of the other Indian T20 League franchises that he played in over the years, the tournament remains indebted to the hard-hitting even today, for setting the ball rolling in the most impeccable way.

Alzarri Joseph

While McCullum was hardly under any performance pressure when he opened the batting for Kolkata alongside Sourav Ganguly for the very first Indian T20 League match, the same cannot be said about West Indies' Alizarri Joseph. The Indian T20 League had already become a cash-rich and enormously talked-about T20 tournament in the world and a 22-year-old Joseph was tasked with defending Mumbai's low total of 136 against Hyderabad. It was an easy match to win for Hyderabad, who were playing in their own backyards, but they didn't plan for Alizarri Joseph. The towering pace bowler went on to dismiss David Warner, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Siddharth Kaul, returning with figures of 6/12. By the end of the carnage, Joseph still had two balls remaining as Team Hyderabad was all wrapped up for 96 runs.

Andrew Tye

The name of Australian pacer Andrew Tye was already doing the rounds when he debuted for Team Gujarat in the Indian T20 League in 2017. Tye had already made his international debut with the Kangaroos in 2016 with the Indian T20 League franchises excited to see his variety of deliveries on Indian soil. And Tye wasted no time in giving his suitors what they were waiting for. Playing against Pune, Tye ended with figures of 5/17 against a strong line-up that consisted of Steve Smith, MS Dhoni, Ben Stokes, Ajinkya Rahane and more. However, more than his five-wicket haul it was Tye's debut match hattrick that caught all eyeballs. Tye had dismissed Ankit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary and Shardul Thakur on three consecutive balls to limit the opposition to 171 with his team winning chasing the target comfortably. His mind-blowing feat saw Team Punjab shelling out Rs. 7.2 crores for him in the 2018 auction.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Alexander Joe

Right-arm pacer Andrew Tye has replaced Kane Richardson in Australia's One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20I squads for the upcoming white-ball series against India.

In a statement, Cricket Australia (CA) said that Richardson has withdrawn from the squad to be with his wife and their newborn son in Adelaide.

"It was a difficult decision for Kane to make but one which has the complete support of the selectors and the entire playing squad," CA national selector Trevor Hohns said on Wednesday.

"Kane wanted to remain in Adelaide with Nyki and their newborn son. We will always support our players and their families; even more so given the challenging environment, we are in. We will miss what he brings to the team but completely understand and support his decision," he added.

Tye was part of the Rajasthan squad in the recently concluded Indian T20 League and was also part of the Australia squad which went to England for a limited-overs series earlier in the year. 

The Perth Scorchers fast bowler has played seven ODIs and 26 T20Is, claiming 12 and 37 wickets, respectively.

Australia will play three ODIs against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (November 27, 29) and Manuka Oval, Canberra (December 2). Both the teams will also compete in three T20Is at Manuka Oval, Canberra (December 4) and the SCG (December 6, 8).

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia undertook a mass airlift of players from across the country following the pandemic outbreak in Adelaide which forced local administration to impose heavy restrictions in the city.

“CA has taken a proactive approach and mobilized a number of people across the country over the past 24 hours to shore up our men’s domestic and international schedules, Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive said. “CA will continue to monitor the situation in South Australia and the resulting border restrictions around the country.�?/span>

Australia ODI & T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (vc), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams, Andrew Tye, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ian Kington

While cricket as such, and especially T20, is often described as a batsman's game, bowlers who can create breakthroughs frequently are in high demand in the Indian T20 League. There's no skill like wicket-taking that can contain the scoring rate, and over the years these bowlers have excelled in the same. 

Note: Only Bowlers with at least 30 wickets in the competition are considered. 

Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada has played just 18 matches in the Indian T20 League, but the South African pacer, highly rated across formats, is a ferocious fast bowler with a penchant for picking up wickets. The seamer has 31 wickets at an average of 17.93, but what makes him top this list is a strike rate of 13.22 which is the best in the league's history. The highlight of Rabada's Indian T20 League career is containing a marauding hitter like Andre Russell in the Super Over. 

Read | Worst bowling spells in the history of Indian T20 League

Andrew Tye

The Australian pace bowler was a revelation in the 2018 edition of the tournament, snaring 24 wickets to win the Purple cap while playing for Punjab. Tye was fantastic with his death bowling in the tournament and used his slower variations and cutters to pick up big wickets in the last few overs. Overall, Tye has 39 wickets in 26 matches in the competition at a strike rate of 15.23 with three four-wicket hauls. His average of 21.07 is also commendable but Tye's stocks have since gone down in the league.

Shreyas Gopal

While leg-spinners have had immense success in the league, the first few names that would come to your mind when discussing this category is unlikely to involve Rajasthan's, Shreyas Gopal. The all-rounder and leg-break bowler has been fantastic in the last two seasons and has 38 wickets in 30 innings in the Indian T20 League. Gopal has a strike rate of 15.5 with just one big haul (four or more wickets) but is a consistent wicket-taker in the league's history. 

Read | Most economical bowlers in Indian T20 League history

Imran Tahir

Few T20 bowlers have as much experience of playing in various conditions as Imran Tahir. The T20 mercenary has enjoyed a stellar time in the Indian T20 League. In 55 games, Tahir has 79 wickets at an average of 20.39 and a strike rate of 15.51 with three four-wicket hauls. The leg-spinner also comes with an economy of 7.88 and is a handy addition to most teams. At Chennai, he seems to have found men who trust him with key tasks and he usually thrives in such circumstances.

Doug Bollinger

Few remember the impact Doug Bollinger made in the Indian T20 League for Chennai. The left-arm pacer was a revelation in a side packed with spinners and found a knack of picking up early wickets with the new ball. In 96 overs in the competition, Bollinger picked up 37 wickets at an impressive average of 18.72. His economy of 7.21 further made him a dangerous bowler in the format. With an ability to strike every 15 balls, Bollinger remains the best wicket-taking left-arm pacer the tournament has seen.

Read | Most wickets in Indian T20 League history

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sajjad Hussain

Captain Aaron Finch was Saturday cleared to play in Australia's opening Twenty20 against Sri Lanka, but the team was dealt a blow with fast bowler Andrew Tye ruled out of the series.

There were fears that Finch might not recover from a side strain he has been nursing for a fortnight, but the batsman was given the all-clear to open the innings with David Warner.

"I was a bit worried about throwing yesterday," Finch told reporters in Adelaide after a training session ahead of the first game in the city on Sunday.

"It didn't progress all that quickly but the last three days it has been really good. I have got full movement, I feel confident to go."

But short-form specialist Tye, who is usually deployed in the final overs, will take no part in the three-match campaign after injuring his right elbow fielding on Friday.

Finch said Tye picked up the injury throwing the ball.

"I think it was one of the first drills he did. He was a bit off balance and felt a bit of a pop in there," the captain said.

New South Wales quick Sean Abbott will replace him after the match on Sunday, which marks the return to T20 action of Warner and Steve Smith following their bans for ball-tampering.

The pair have already been welcomed back onto the Test and one-day teams.

Despite Tye's absence, Australia have plenty of bowling firepower at their disposal, including Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Billy Stanlake and Kane Richardson.

After Adelaide, Australia face the Lasith Malinga-led Sri Lankans in Brisbane and Melbourne before Pakistan arrive for T20s in Sydney, Canberra and Perth.

The teams are all kick-starting preparations for the World Cup in Australia next year.

Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Ian Kington

An avid Formula 1 fan, Punjab seamer Andrew Tye has said that he will perform a ‘shoey�?if his team lifts the Indian T20 League title this year.

"I'll probably look into it (doing a shoey) at some point," Tye told KXIP.in.

"Maybe if we win the IPL this year."

Shoey is an Australian tradition which involves drinking Champaign from a shoe and is considered as the bringer of good fortune. The tradition, on sporting scenario, was made popular by the Moto GP rider Jack Miller and was continued by the fellow countryman and the Formula 1 racer, Daniel Ricciardo; every time he finished on the podium.

Speaking to Punjab’s official website, Tye confessed that he is a bit of motorsport fan and used to follow not only Formula 1 but Moto GP as well in his youth with his father.

"I am a bit of a Formula 1 fan," confesses Tye, who kicked off his IPL this year against Kolkata Knight Riders. "Bit of a motorsport fan in general. Back when I was younger, my dad and I used to sit down and watch some car races on a Sunday afternoon. And then there's Daniel Ricciardo being a Perth boy, where I'm from."

Tye’s love for Formula 1 dates back to 1994 and �?till date �?remembers witnessing the Michael Schumacher-Demon Hill rivalry with his father. Little did he know that just a little more than two decades after, he’d find himself in a Mercedes paddock for the 2016 British Grand Prix. By the time, the bowler was plying his trade for the Gloucestershire county cricket team.

Manan Vatsyayana / AFP

"I was extremely lucky," he recalls. "I was in Lewis Hamilton's garage watching all the crew doing their work and stuff. I had one of the team headsets on so I was listening to all the team radio and everything... it's actually incredible insight into how everything works and how a qualifying session like that unfolds."

Despite being in Mercedes�?garage that time, the 32-year-old remains a fan of his countryman’s (Ricciardo) overtaking manoeuvres. "Some of the overtaking moves Ricciardo has done have been just incredible."

"All the best to him this year in the new team. Going to be hard but can just hope he keep fighting and keeps the Honey Badger ruling supreme," the KXIP pacer concluded.