Fast bowlers have taken control in IPL 2025, with 7 of the top 10 wicket-takers being pacers—a surprising shift in a batter-friendly format.
The 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has marked a significant shift in dynamics, with pace bowling taking center stage. Traditionally seen as a format that favors batters and crafty spinners, this year’s IPL has surprised everyone with the dominance of fast bowlers. Out of the top 10 wicket-takers so far this season, seven are pacers.
Remarkably, three of the top five—Prasidh Krishna, Josh Hazlewood, and Trent Boult—are fast bowlers, while Noor Ahmad and Varun Chakravarthy, who narrowly edged out Arshdeep Singh, represent the spin department. This trend is no coincidence but the result of tactical changes, new rules, and evolved team strategies.
Impact Player rule: Fueling aggression and wickets
The introduction and optimisation of the Impact Player rule has changed how teams approach T20 cricket. Batters now come out swinging from the first ball, knowing their team has the depth to absorb a collapse.
While this ultra-aggressive batting has increased run-scoring, it has also created more wicket-taking opportunities for bowlers, especially pacers who operate in high-risk overs like the powerplay and the death.
Prasidh Krishna has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this approach, claiming 20 wickets in 11 matches at a stellar average of 16.45, economy of 7.65, and strike rate of 12.90.
Josh Hazlewood, with 18 wickets in 10 matches, averages 17.27 and has a similar strike rate of 12.27, though slightly more expensive at 8.44 runs per over.
Trent Boult also sits on 18 wickets in 12 games, averaging 19.88, with an economy of 8.49 and a strike rate of 14.05.
Among the spinners, Noor Ahmad has 20 wickets in 12 games, but his average (17.25) and strike rate (12.90) reflect the extra effort needed compared to the pacers.
Varun Chakravarthy, reliable with both the new and old ball, has taken 17 wickets in 12 matches, averaging 19.35, with a tidy economy of 7.00 and a strike rate of 16.58.
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New rules: Saliva and second new ball bring reverse swing into play
The reintroduction of saliva and the second new ball rule has given fast bowlers a fresh weapon—reverse swing. The death overs, often a graveyard for bowlers, have turned into hunting grounds for the pacers.
Prasidh Krishna has been sensational at the death, with 11 wickets, an average of 10.5, a jaw-dropping strike rate of 6.5, and an economy of 9.58.
Hazlewood complements him with 7 wickets, an average of 15.7, and a strike rate of 10.1, conceding at 9.30 runs per over.
Boult has bagged 9 wickets in this phase at a 12.2 average and an 8.1 strike rate.
In contrast, spinners Noor Ahmad and Varun Chakravarthy have managed just 3 wickets each at the death, with strike rates of 10.6 and 6, respectively.
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Powerplay prowess: Early wickets make the difference
With teams targeting to win games inside the powerplay itself, top-order batters are taking risks earlier than ever. This mindset has helped pace bowlers who thrive on early swing and movement.
Hazlewood is equally effective, picking up 7 wickets at an economy of 7.22, an average of 18.6, and a dot-ball rate of 56.5%.
Boult, known for his new-ball exploits, also has 7 wickets, albeit at a slightly higher economy of 8.41 and a dot percentage of 53.0%.
Prasidh Krishna has struggled a bit in the powerplay, with just 2 wickets, an average of 38, economy of 8.44, and 44.4% dot balls.
Meanwhile, Noor Ahmad has just 1 wicket, while Varun has 2 in this phase. Their economy rates are nearing 9.67 for Noor and 6.91 for Varun, with their dot-ball percentages around 44, as batters tend to go hard against spinners in the early overs.
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Matchup-based strategies reduce spin impact
Another reason behind the fast bowlers’ dominance is the matchup strategy employed by teams. Spin matchups have become rigid: left-arm spinners rarely bowl to left-handers, and off-spinners are often held back against right-handers.
This cautious use of spin in key overs—especially the powerplay and the death—has tilted the wicket-taking opportunities heavily in favour of pacers. Noor Ahmad, for instance, is mostly used in the middle overs and has been kept away from high-impact phases where most wickets are taken.
The 2025 IPL season has seen a role reversal, where fast bowlers have not just survived but thrived. The Impact Player rule, revised playing conditions, aggressive batting styles, and matchup-based planning have created a perfect storm that suits fast bowlers.
While Noor Ahmad and Varun Chakravarthy have stood out among the spinners in the top five wicket-takers, the overall narrative belongs to Krishna, Hazlewood, and Boult—pacers who have adapted to every phase and exploited the new ecosystem. In a season full of sixes and centuries, it is the pacers who have quietly but emphatically stolen the show.
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