Stats: Top 5 bowlers with best bowling figures on IPL debut

Mumbai Indians (MI) secured their first victory of IPL 2025 with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium. However, the biggest talking point from the match was the sensational debut of 23-year-old left-arm pacer Ashwani Kumar from Punjab. He made an immediate impact, taking four wickets in his very first IPL match for MI. 

His spell began with the wicket of KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane on the very first delivery he bowled. He then dismissed Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and Andre Russell, finishing with a match-winning performance that earned him the Player of the Match award.

Ashwani’s four-wicket haul on debut made history as he became the first Indian bowler to achieve this feat in the IPL. However, his 4/24 figures stand as the fourth-best bowling performance by any bowler in an IPL debut. The best remains with West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph, who recorded 6/12 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for MI in 2019 in Hyderabad.

The second-best bowling figures on IPL debut belong to Australia’s Andrew Tye, who picked up 5/17 for Gujarat Lions (GL) against Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) in 2017. His spell also included a hat-trick, helping GL secure a seven-wicket win with 12 balls to spare at Rajkot.

In third place is Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar, also known as the Rawalpindi Express, who delivered a stunning spell of 4/11 for KKR against Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2008. While defending a modest total of 134, his fiery bowling helped KKR bowl DC out for just 110 runs, sealing a 23-run victory at the Eden Gardens.

The fifth-best debut spell belongs to West Indies all-rounder Kevon Cooper, who took 4/26 for Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2012. His performance played a crucial role in RR’s 31-run victory while defending a target of 192 in Jaipur.

Here are the top 5 bowlers with the best bowling figures on IPL debut

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at BetBarter and download the BetBarter app to start betting today!