England’s Chris Woakes has quietly become one of the Indian Premier League’s most reliable new-ball operators. In three short campaigns—split between Delhi Capitals (2021), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2018) and Kolkata Knight Riders (2017)—the right-arm quick has snapped 30 wickets from only 21 bowling innings, striking every 14.67 balls and conceding 8.97 runs per over. His standout trait is consistency: he has produced three separate three-wicket bursts, the only multiple-wicket hauls he has needed to stay in the spotlight. Woakes’ 440 balls in the competition translate to 658 runs leaked—numbers that underline a bowler who attacks rather than contains. His best figures of 3 for, achieved on three occasions, prove he can tilt games in a single spell. While his batting has been limited to cameos—78 runs from 77 balls with seven fours and two sixes at a strike-rate of 101—his value to franchises lies firmly with the ball. In an era of sky-high totals, Woakes’ 30 scalps at a sub-15-ball strike-rate make him a proven, SEO-rich match-winner for any IPL side searching for championship-defining pace.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL Story: 198 wickets, 15 seasons, one master of swing Across 15 IPL seasons, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has built a legacy of relentless accuracy and late swing. From the 2011 season with Pune Warriors to his 2025 stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the right-arm quick has bowled 4,222 balls and taken 198 wickets at a strike rate of 21.32—numbers that place him among the league’s all-time greats. His best days came in Sunrisers Hyderabad colours (2014-2024) where he twice hit the five-wicket mark and registered 14 three-wicket hauls. A career-best 5-fer headlines those efforts, while an economy of 7.69 runs per over shows he can choke batters even on true pitches. With the bat, Bhuvi has chipped in 320 runs off 351 balls, clearing the rope three times and finding 31 fours. While batting remains a bonus, his highest score of 27 underlines his ability to stay at the crease when needed. In 2025, the swing king brings 198 IPL wickets to the RCB dressing room, promising the same early breakthroughs and death-over control that have defined his decade-and-a-half journey.

Note: This overview is partially generated using AI and is based on statistical data. Please verify with official sources for complete accuracy.