The death overs—the last, edge-of-the-seat minutes of a T20 match when batsmen run amok and bowlers are under unimaginable pressure—have turned into the turning points of IPL games. In the make-or-break overs, heroes are born and matches are won in seconds. DJ Bravo is the IPL's top wicket-taking death-over bowler with 102 wickets, second only to Lasith Malinga's 90. Not only are these bowlers great in terms of wickets, but the fact that they can deliver when the pressure is most intense is also what makes them exceptional. With batsmen smiting never-before-seen shots and boundaries the norm rather than the exception, death bowling has evolved into an exact science involving nerves of steel, pinpoint marksmanship, and a decadent variation-laden arsenal. Whether it's Bravo's slower balls that deceive or Bumrah's toe-snapping yorkers, each bowler in this elite list has penned his own individual success story in the IPL's most challenging phase. Let us dig deep into the masterful careers of these death-over specialists who have made the tournament's most thrilling moments. Who Has Taken the Most Wickets in Death Overs in IPL History? Rank Player Wickets Innings Economy Average Strike Rate 1 Dwayne Bravo 102 125 9.73 17.74 155.76 2 Lasith Malinga 90 109 7.82 13.28 123.26 3 Bhuvneshwar Kumar 85 139 9.44 21.62 150.98 4 Jasprit Bumrah 80 120 8.39 19.50 133.39 5 Harshal Patel 63 71 10.23 16.60 159.03 6 Mohit Sharma 61 80 10.18 18.54 164.77 7 Sunil Narine 60 96 7.99 16.41 129.86 8 Mohammed Shami 58 76 10.70 17.41 172.50 9 Chris Morris 55 65 8.55 15.20 137.86 10 Kagiso Rabada 52 65 9.75 15.19 153.15 Player Profiles of Most Wickets in Death Overs in IPL History Dwayne Bravo (102 Wickets) Image Source : BCCI The undisputed king of death bowling in the history of IPL, Dwayne Bravo's 102 wickets out of 125 innings show his unmatched consistency.The West Indian's clever slower balls and wide yorkers have tricked the world's best batsmen in 344 overs. With a relatively high economy of 9.73, Bravo's 155.76 strike rate vindicates his wicket-taking prowess when the situation is most crucial. His record 344 dot balls in death overs testify to his capability of holding back even the most dangerous batsmen at bay. Bravo's 88 sixes given away—whopping low for a death bowler—verify his astute variations in speed that deny batsmen a glimpse. The Chennai Super Kings legend's trademark slower ball was the most eagerly awaited but still potent arsenal in death overs cricket. Also Read | Who Is the Worst Player in IPL History? Lasith Malinga (90 Wickets) Image Source : Getty Images Sri Lanka's sling sensation Lasith Malinga is at number two with 90 wickets in 109 matches, having the top economy rate (7.82) among number-high death bowlers.His unconventional action and accurate yorkers made him near-impossible to face during his Mumbai Indians peak. Malinga's 320 dot balls and 123.26 strike rate made him the death specialist most dreaded in his generation. The toe-crushing yorker was his calling card, bowled faultlessly from a typical round-arm action that could not be read by batsmen. Even on modern batting technologies, Malinga's economy was very low, giving away only 41 sixes—a reflection of his masterful execution under pressure. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (85 Wickets) Image Source : BCCI Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 139 innings for 85 wickets are a reflection of his longevity and adaptability as a death specialist.He first gained fame as a swing bowler, but Kumar matured as a package with cutters, knuckle balls, and yorkers in his bag. His economy of 9.44 is decent given the batting prowess of the era. Kumar's ability to reverse swing the worn ball made him particularly lethal on parched Indian pitches. With 349 death overs bowled—most here—Kumar's ability with several franchises proves his tactical thinking and technical accuracy. His 159 boundaries conceded show how he got batsmen to play thoughtfully rational shots instead of providing easy scoring opportunities. Jasprit Bumrah (80 Wickets) Image Source : BCCI Jasprit Bumrah's 80 wickets from 120 innings at an economy of 8.39 is as good as it makes him IPL's most well-rounded death bowler.His unorthodox action and capability to bowl yorkers at will transformed Mumbai Indians' death overs bowling. Bumrah's 462 dot balls—the highest on this chart—are a testament to his unmatched supremacy under pressure. Having conceded just 56 sixes , batsmen were struggling to anticipate and cope with his variations. His strike rate of 19.50 can be humble until the quality of his victims—are usually opposition finishers. Bumrah's economy rate in the 20th over stands at whopping 7.12, the highest 20th over specialist in IPL history. Harshal Patel (63 Wickets) Image Source : BCCI Harshal Patel's meteoric elevation to death bowling great was topped by his record season in 2021. His 63 wickets in 71 innings are unparalleled efficiency with the best economy rate (10.23) among top specialists. Patel's slower balls and inclined yorkers became almost impossible to play at his best. His individual skill set provides a high-risk, high-reward model, as seen from his record-breaking strike rate of 16.60 at the cost of a high economy. Having conceded 62 sixes, batsmen have been known to take liberties at times, but the fact that Patel is able to bounce back in the same over is a sign of greater mental toughness. His 205 dot balls in the limited overs are a demonstration of how hard it is for batsmen to score consistently against his variation. Mohit Sharma (61 Wickets) Image Source : BCCI Mohit Sharma's 61 wickets from 80 innings went unnoticed despite his consistency with different franchises.His economy of 10.18 is a reflection of the attacking batting line-ups he encountered, especially at his home venue in Mohali. Sharma's wide yorkers and knuckle balls were his trademark for death overs. His strike rate of 18.54 indicates good wicket-taking but occasionally the concession of runs. Sharma conceded 61 sixes and used to make batsmen take calculated risks instead of easy boundaries. His 84 fours conceded—lowest among peers—bear testament to his skill in denying batsmen their most favorite areas to hit. Sharma's 187 dot balls attest to his skill in putting pressure through being precise and not brisk. Sunil Narine (60 Wickets) Image Source : BCCI Sunil Narine's 60 wickets from 96 innings are complemented by the second-best economy rate (7.99) among top death specialists, indicative of the West Indian mystery spinner's special value.Unlike pace bowlers, Narine's finger spin variations proved extremely effective even against experienced batsmen. His carrom balls and excellent pace changes render him almost unplayable under high-pressure situations. Leaked just 54 sixes, the lowest by bowlers with 50+ wickets, Narine's control is unparalleled. His strike rate of 16.41 bears witness to how desperate attempts from batsmen against him often result in getting out. Narine's 277 dot balls tell his tale of capability to strangulate even the most ferocious batting units when they most desperately needed boundaries. Mohammed Shami (58 Wickets) Image Source : BCCI Mohammed Shami’s 58 wickets in 76 innings showcase his evolution from a conventional seamer to a crafty death specialist.Despite the highest economy (10.70) among elite death bowlers, Shami’s wicket-taking ability remains impressive with a 17.41 strike rate. His seam position and ability to reverse swing the old ball make him dangerous even on batting-friendly surfaces. With 59 sixes conceded, Shami occasionally sacrifices economy for aggression, targeting stumps rather than bowling defensively. His 163 dot balls demonstrate his ability to build pressure in short bursts. Shami’s improved yorker execution in recent seasons has enhanced his effectiveness, particularly when defending modest totals where wickets become crucial. Chris Morris (55 Wickets) Image Source : BCCI Chris Morris collected 55 wickets from 65 innings while maintaining a reasonable economy of 8.55, and he is also one of the most well-rounded death artists.The height and bounce of the South African created unique challenges for batsmen seeking full-length balls. His subtle change of pace and capacity to hit the deck hard ensured that he was successful in several franchises. Morris yielded only 33 sixes—very few for a death bowler—demonstrating his ability not to be outplayed by batsmen. His 15.20 strike rate is among the best here, demonstrating his capability of causing break-ups of partnerships at the right times. Morris's 185 dot balls in his limited overs matches show his capability of causing pressure through movement and bounce instead of outright speed. Kagiso Rabada (52 Wickets) Image Source : Associated Press Kagiso Rabada completes the top ten with 52 wickets in 65 innings at 9.75 economy.The South African seamer's capability to reach 145 kph even in death overs makes him especially dangerous. His yorkers, delivered from a steep angle, reach batsmen faster than they actually do, making him deceptive in terms of pace. Rabada's 15.19 strike rate is one of the best listed here, showing his capacity to open the game in short bursts. Having given away 42 sixes, he's sometimes torn apart when falling short of length at times, but his 64 fours, quite low for contemporaries, indicates that batsmen simply can't find gaps at his pace. His 180 dot balls in limited outings show how raw pace is still worth its weight even in contemporary T20 cricket. Also Read | Most Sixes in IPL by Team: Updated Stats Conclusion The development of death bowling in the IPL mirrors the tournament's role as cricket's proving ground for strategy, where innovation is the response to necessity under extreme stress.DJ Bravo's record-breaking figure of 102 wickets is a reflection of consistency and versatility over different eras of batting supremacy. But wickets only reveal half the tale. The diverse nature of these great performers' style—Malinga's yorker length, Narine's mystery variation, Bumrah's unorthodox precision, and Harshal's devious slower ball—demonstrates that heterogeneous skills can be equally successful. What they have in common is not technique but temperament—to be able to absorb pressure and not get bogged down by it. And just as batting technology and techniques advance, so too will the dark art of death bowling, as experts come up with more crafty methods of stymieing attacking batsmen. These ten trailblazers have established the standard by which others must be measured, demonstrating that in a batsman's age, the clever bowler can be the master at the most crucial moments.