Best Bowling Figures In IPL By Indian Debutants

Kaushik Kashyap

Ashwani Kumar (Source: AP Photos)Ashwani Kumar (Source: AP Photos)

Mumbai Indians have a legacy of discovering cricketing gems, and their latest find, Ashwani Kumar has set the IPL stage on fire. The left-arm pacer from Punjab made a sensational IPL debut, dismantling Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with a stunning four-wicket haul in just three overs.

His fiery spell not only broke the back of KKR’s batting but also earned him the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in an IPL debut. As we celebrate this remarkable new prospect, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of the best bowling performances by Indian bowlers in their IPL debut over the years.

1. Ashwani Kumar - 4/24 vs KKR, 2025

Ashwani Kumar made history as the first Indian bowler to take four wickets on his IPL debut. He started his spell with the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane and later dismissed Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell to further derail KKR’s innings. His brilliant performance helped Mumbai Indians restrict Kolkata Knight Riders to just 116 runs, marking a sensational start to his IPL career.

2. Amit Singh - 3/9 vs KXIP, 2009

Amit Singh held the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian on IPL debut for 16 years, with a remarkable 3 for 9 against Kings XI Punjab. The Gujarat pacer played his first T20 game in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals and made an instant impact, striking with his very first ball.

He dismissed Sunny Sohail for a golden duck and went on to take a couple of more wickets, including the prized wicket of then-KXIP captain Yuvraj Singh. His stunning performance left a lasting mark on IPL history until Ashwani Kumar’s record-breaking performance against Kolkata Knight Riders.

3. Vyshak Vijaykumar - 3/20 vs DC 2023

Vyshak Vijayakumar played a crucial role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s win over Delhi Capitals on his IPL debut back in the year 2023. The Bengaluru-born speedster, coming on the back of a great domestic season, carried his form into the big stage. He took three wickets, including the key scalp of David Warner inside the powerplay, showcasing his ability to deliver in a high-pressure situations.

4. Sandeep Sharma - 3/21 vs SRH, 2013

Sandeep Sharma, who is representing Rajasthan Royals this season, made his IPL debut for Kings XI Punjab against Sunrisers Hyderabad back in 2013. Known as the swing specialist a decade ago, Sandeep impressed immediately, delivering a brilliant spell of 3 for 21. Though Punjab fell short with the bat later in the match, Sandeep’s performance stood out and led to what has been an illustrious IPL career as a fast bowler.