IPL 2024: From Mayank's thunderbolts to Bumrah's precision - Top three spells so far

IPL 2024: Top three spells so far in the tournament. Top three bowling performances so far in IPL 2024.

IPL 2024: Jasprit Bumrah took 3-14 against GT (Images: ©BCCI/IPLT20)

In just three weeks, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has produced great excitement with stellar performances. When it comes to the bowling department, both the foreign and the India bowlers have snatched attention with some terrific spells.  

Special spells in the shortest format of the game offer the team some vital wickets with silent overs. It also depends on the situation of the game, and how the wicket shifts the momentum towards the bowling side. 

Read More: From 'Klaasen's Class' to 'Shashank Redemption' - Top three innings so far in IPL 2024

Let’s inspect the top three spells so far of the IPL 2024 

Jasprit Bumrah caught attention with 3/14 against GT

In their opening game of the tournament, hosts Gujarat Titans (GT) were scoring freely against the Mumbai Indians (MI). The current best bowler of the game, Jasprit Bumrah came into the attack in the third over. 

Wriddhiman Saha went for an aerial drive to get a lucky boundary over the 30-yard circle. But Bumrah finished the opening over in quite a remarkable fashion. A 141-kmph fast yorker, angled in from wide of the crease, crashed into the base of Saha’s middle stump. The wicket-keeper batter didn’t even have enough time to bring his bat down.

When the Titans were at 104/3, Bumrah came back for his second over and gave away just two singles. The pressure was mounting on the batters. In the third over of the veteran, David Miller played the drive a bit too early. It was the cunning slower ball that deceived the batter for an early shot. 

Two balls later in the same over, Sai Sudharsan flicked the short-of-a-length ball into the hands of the fielder. With two successive damages, the IPL 2022 champions could collect 168/6 at the end. In a clash where most of the Mumbai bowlers went over an economy of 10, Bumrah finished with 3/14 in four overs at 2.80 economy. 

MI went on to lose the game, but Bumrah’s contribution was vital to change the momentum of the game. He made sure GT wouldn’t provide a firing finish. 

Read More: IPL 2024, GT vs MI: Gujarat bowlers hold their nerves to seal the deal in home game

Mustafizur Rahman took 4-29 against RCB (Images: ©BCCI/IPLT20)

Mustafizur Rahman rattles RCB with 4/29

The defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) took on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at their home, Chepauk Stadium. The RCB captain, Faf du Plessis smashed the CSK bowlers in all the pockets of the ground to propel them to 33/0 in the first three overs. 

A quiet four-run over from Maheesh Theekshana pulled the run rate back. Mustafizur Rahman marked his run-up in Chennai’s yellow for the very first time. On the second ball of the over, Du Plessis punched him over extra cover for a four. Rahman offered width on the next delivery but didn’t offer any pace to the batter. The former CSK batter reached for the drive and found the backward point fielder. 

Just three balls later in the same over, the Bangladesh pacer found the outside edge of Rajat Patidar. The ball came angling in, across the channel of uncertainty to extract Patidar’s edge on a three-ball duck. 

When Mustafizur was summoned again in the 12th over, he straightaway caged the ‘big fish’, Virat Kohli. The former RCB captain tried to pull the length ball. But with the lack of pace, the deep-midwicket fielder seized an easy catch. 

Two balls later, the veteran disturbed the top of the leg stump of Cameron Green. The Australia batter looked to cut the length ball but missed it completely with the angle. The ‘Red Army’ suddenly lost five of their wickets for just 37 runs, and the game just shifted towards the five-time champions.

In just two overs, the ‘Fizz’ had figures of 4/7, before finishing with match figures of 4/29 in four overs to win the ‘Player of the match’ award. 

Read More: IPL 2024, CSK vs RCB: Pain points that afflicted RCB in opening match

Mayank Yadav took 3-14 against RCB (Images: ©BCCI/IPLT20)

Mayank Yadav breathed fire with 3/14 against RCB

In his debut IPL game, the new pace sensational from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Mayank Yadav marked his name. Against the Punjab Kings (PBKS), the speedster bowled with fire for his match-winning spell of 3/27. 

The challenge was different against RCB. The opponents already had a look at him, and they were playing at one of the smallest grounds, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. But he stood on the occasion. The third ball of his first over touched the 145-kmph mark. The very next 151-kmph delivery found Australia batter Glenn Maxwell rushing on the pull, as the ball ballooned into the hands of mid-on. 

The last ball clicked 153.9-kmph to make the dugout excited. In his second over, Yadav whistled past Cameron Green with a 155.6 kmph short ball. A ball later, the Australia batter played on the wrong line and saw his top-of-off stump flying. 

The 21-year-old bowled two more 150+ kmph deliveries in his third over. When he came back for his last over, the ‘Sonnet Express’ sent back Rajat Patidar with another short ball. Mayank ended with figures of 3/14 in four overs. At such a young age, he bowled with freshness and immense speed. His fiery spell changed the course of the game as LSG registered a decent 28-run victory. 

Read More: IPL 2024, RCB vs LSG: Mayank Yadav's middle overs burst disintegrates RCB; LSG win