An expensive over in an IPL match can flip the game completely. Notably, there have been several overs in the world’s most expensive T20 Cricket league that bowlers would like to forget.
So, here is a rundown on the most expensive over in IPL history. Let’s look at all the players who went down the books for their regrettably unfruitful overs.
Top 10 Most Expensive Overs in IPL History
1. Harshal Patel (2021)
IPL 2021 was an astounding season for Harshal Patel, the season’s highest wicket-taker. With his deceptive variations and death overs mastership, he claimed the Purple Cap, taking 32 wickets in 15 games.
However, it wasn’t entirely a happy season; he had to bear the pain of being associated with the most expensive over in IPL history.
Ravindra Jadeja demolished Patel’s figures in a game against Chennai Super Kings. Sending balls all over the park, he scored 37 runs in just one over. This saw RCB slump to a heavy defeat after CSK made an imposing total of 191, following Jadeja’s quick-fire knock of 62 runs off 28 balls.
Jadeja knew Patel thrived on variations and slower balls in the death overs and leveraged it to his benefit. Sadly, not even his best abilities could stop Ravindra Jadeja from scoring. As Jadeja slammed sixes, the misfielding only added salt to Patel’s wound.
2. Prashanth Parameswaran (2011)
Sending an inexperienced bowler against Chris Gayle can be described in four simple words- a recipe for disaster! Four consecutive sixes and a costly no-ball by Parameswaran were memorable for all the wrong reasons.
In his whirlwind performance of 44 runs in just 16 balls, the explosive West Indian batsman plundered 37 from Parameswaran’s over. RCB had an easy game chasing their target of 126 in only 13.1 overs to win it by nine wickets.
Unfortunately, Parameswaran could not create a substantial impact in the IPL. He got nine scalps in his eight matches but gave away runs at an economy rate of 8.73. However, that over – when Gayle hit him out of reckoning – was almost a fatality to his career.
Related Read: Top 5 Highest Run Scores in IPL History
3. Daniel Sams (2022)
It was during an eventful face-off between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL 2022 match when Daniel Sams found himself on the wrong end of record books. Bowling against all-rounder Pat Cummins, he conceded a mind-blowing 35 runs during an over, making it the joint third-most expensive over ever played.
Sams’ assignment was to defend a modest total but was greeted by Cummins with one of the fastest fifties in IPL history. This resulted in four sixes on the trot, followed by match-winning boundaries.
Undefeated on a blistering 56 off 15 balls, Cummins hammered them all around the stadium, including four sixes back-to-back; sealing KKR’s victory efficiently.
4. Parwinder Awana (2014)
In the IPL 2014 playoffs Qualifier 2, Parwinder Awana joined the infamous list of the most expensive overs. Playing for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) under pressure, he witnessed Suresh Raina unleash a batting fury that made 33 runs in one over, wrecking his delivery.
Kings XI Punjab smashed an impressive 226 runs, thanks to the brilliant Virender Sehwag, but the bowling crumbled against aggressive Suresh Raina. CSK still lost the match, as Raina’s formidable score of 87 from just 25 balls was still inadequate. Despite this victory, it proved a costly lesson for Awana who gave away 59 runs in four overs.
This incident indicates how one over can change the dynamic completely at such high-stakes T20 matches. A single expensive over made all the difference in his short IPL career: Awana played only 33 matches and took only 39 wickets.
5. Ravi Bopara (2010)
Another Gayle Masterclass this was! The Universe Boss always makes the list when it comes to IPL batting records.
Even before Parwinder Awana’s name appeared on the list, Ravi Bopara had already given away as many as 33 runs in one over in an IPL match. Chris Gayle hammered him with impunity during this period in RCB’s matches against Kings XI Punjab.
Jayawardene Mahela led Punjab to chase down the target effortlessly with his unbeaten century; nevertheless, Bopara’s figures were ruined after three overs, where he shipped away 43 runs.
6. Rahul Sharma (2012)
Chris Gayle’s dominance continued into the 2012 season. In this instance, Rahul Sharma, a leg-spinner, crumbled under pressure against the RCB legend. This over – which included two boundaries, three huge sixes, and a no-ball six – had a lot of poor deliveries that contributed to yet another unwanted record for a bowler.
The over served as another reminder of why Gayle would be remembered as one of the IPL’s greatest batsmen.
Despite some good batting display by the Pune Warriors India (now defunct) in their 21st match of the IPL 2012, they still lost. In other words, it wasn’t Rahul Sharma’s day; he bowled only two overs in which he conceded 35 runs, including an over where 31 runs leaked.
7. Yash Dayal (2023)
T20 Cricket did not treat Yash Dayal well in his initial days.
Gujarat Titans needed to win the game. Dayal was sent by skipper Hardik Pandya to defend 31 runs off the last over. The tension built until the young KKR batter Rinku Singh launched a series of five consecutive sixes off Dayal.
This match gave Rinku the identity of a finisher, making him as popular as he is today.
8. Arjun Tendulkar (2023)
At nineteen, Arjun Tendulkar already learned the hard way about a thing or two about pressure. Punjab Kings batters, Sam Curran and Harpreet Brar, hit him for 31 runs. It certainly taught him an important lesson about the pace at which things move at this level of Cricket.
Also Read: God of Cricket
9. Abhishek Sharma (2023)
Abhishek Sharma is making a name for himself with his explosive batting in IPL 2024. However, the youngster got to taste his own medicine last year.
Lucknow SuperGiants‘ dramatic comeback overwhelmed Sharma. Four sixes as well as a four by Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis helped them wipe out the gap in a single over, ultimately winning the match.
10. Dwayne Bravo (2016)
In IPL 2016, Dwayne Bravo joined the index of bowlers who gave away 30 runs and above in an over. Representing Gujarat Lions, he had a difficult time against an aggressive RCB, letting out a huge 46 runs in only three overs.
Nonetheless, his figures weren’t as damaging, considering Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers set up a record partnership of 226 runs, pushing RCB’s score to an unbelievable 248/3.
Bravo’s experience isn’t unique; eight other bowlers share the dubious distinction of conceding 30 runs in an over: Sam Curran, Sheldon Cottrell, Shivil Kaushik, Andrew Symonds, Johan van der Wath, Chris Jordan, Lungi Ngidi, and Odean Smith.
Wrapping Up
Popularity in Cricket is a feat achieved in two ways; you’re either the famous or infamous kind. While the cricketers mentioned above found themselves on the latter side of the spectrum, we’re still waiting to see if another unfortunate name joins the ranks in 2024’s ongoing IPL season!
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