Known as a high-octane cricketing stage, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been synonymous with great skill and speed.
Among the several thrills of IPL cricket, fast bowling is uniquely beautiful, as it keeps on mesmerizing the audiences through raw pace and pure aggression.
In this article, we will provide you with all details about the fastest ball in IPL history. The list includes Shaun Tait’s scorching pace to the modern-day brilliance of Anrich Nortje.
What is a Fast Ball in Cricket?
Fast bowling is a cricketing spectacle, with speed gauged using advanced speed guns. It is difficult to deliver fastballs with consistency, which requires extreme physical fitness, perfect biomechanics, and razor-sharp mental acuity.
In the IPL, where competition is hot, a fiery delivery can rattle batsmen and disturb their timing. It can even turn the game towards the bowling side.
Top 10 Fastest Ball in IPL History
Over the years, IPL has attracted world-class talents from all around the world. These global fast bowlers complement the domestic youth pretty well. Check out the table below to know who bowled the fastest delivery in IPL history.
| Ranking | Bowlers | Speed (kmph) | Team | Opponent | IPL Season |
| 01 | Shaun Tait | 157.71 | Rajasthan Royals | Delhi Daredevils | 2011 |
| 02 | Lockie Ferguson | 157.3 | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals | 2022 |
| 03 | Umran Malik | 157 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Delhi Daredevils | 2022 |
| 04 | Mayank Yadav | 156.7 | Lucknow Super Giants | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2024 |
| 05 | Anrich Nortje | 156.22 | Delhi Capitals | Rajasthan Royals | 2020 |
| 06 | Umran Malik | 156 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Delhi Capitals | 2022 |
| 07 | Mayank Yadav | 155.8 | Lucknow Super Giants | Punjab Kings | 2024 |
| 08 | Mayank Yadav | 155.7 | Lucknow Super Giants | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 2024 |
| 09 | Anrich Nortje | 155.1 | Delhi Capitals | Rajasthan Royals | 2020 |
| 10 | Umran Malik | 154.8 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Delhi Capitals | 2022 |
1. Shaun Tait – 157.71 kmph
Shaun Tait, one of the speed guns from Australia, has been a prolific bowler in IPL. He recorded the fastest ball in IPL at 157.71 kmph in a match in 2011.
He had a respectable career in the IPL despite suffering from recurring injuries. Playing for Rajasthan Royals, he took 23 wickets from 21 matches between 2010 and 2013. His record of fastest delivery in IPL history is still standing to date.
2. Lockie Ferguson – 157.3 kmph
Lockie Ferguson, one of the premier bowlers from New Zealand, has played in IPL for many years. He is known for his speed, and in the 2022 season, he delivered the second-fastest ball in IPL history against Jos Buttler of Rajasthan Royals.
He clocked 157.3 kmph, just a few decimal points shy of Shaun Tait.
3. Umran Malik – 157 kmph
Umran Malik is one of the fastest bowlers ever produced by India. He plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. In IPL 2022, when he was at his peak, Malik delivered a 157 kmph speedball in the final over of the Delhi innings.
With this fastest ball in IPL of 157 kmph he became the high-speed Indian bowler at the moment. He bowled this delivery against Rovman Powell in the final over of the Delhi innings.
4. Mayank Yadav – 156.7 kmph
This delivery made Mayank Yadav the fastest bowler in IPL 2024. Playing for Lucknow Super Giants, Mayank Yadav bowled the second-fastest ball in IPL at a speed of 156.7 kmph.
Mayank bowled this delivery in a match against the Royal Challengers Bangaluru (RCB). In that match, Mayank took three wickets and conceded only 14 runs in his overs. His dismissals included Glenn Maxwell and Cameroon Green. Due to his on-field exploits, Lucknow decided to retain Mayank for 11 crore Rupees in the IPL auction 2025.
5. Anrich Nortje – 156.22 kmph
Anrich Nortje, South Africa’s Express, bowled one of the best spells of his career in IPL. He is known for unleashing 150 kmph deliveries against batters in the league.
In 2020, Anrich Nortje of Delhi Capitals (DC) hurled a 156.22 kmph delivery in a match against Rajasthan Royals. In that season, he performed well and contributed to the team’s journey to reaching the final of the IPL championship.
6. Umran Malik – 156 kmph
Umran Malike is featured for the second time on this list. This time, he bowled a 156 kmph delivery in IPL 2022 season. The IPL fastest ball by Umran was bowled during a match against DC at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
It was the second-fastest ball of the IPL 2022 after Anrich Nortje’s 156.22 kmph delivery. In the same match, he bowled his fastest delivery at 157 kmph which is listed above.
7. Mayank Yadav – 155.8 kmph
Mayank Yadav, one of the new fast bowlers in the Indian scene, is featured for the second time on this list. All his entries in this list came from the 2024 IPL. During a match against Punjab Kings on his IPL debut, Mayank bowled the 155.8 kmph delivery.
In his four overs, he took three important wickets of Punjab and helped his team win the match. He was also awarded the player of the match for his performance.
8. Mayank Yadav – 155.7 kmph
In the same match when he bowled 156.7 kmph, Mayank also bowled 155.7 kmph as well. He bowled those deliveries to Cameroon Green of RCB at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
He helped his team win the match and was also awarded the player of the match award as well. Cricket legends like Brett Lee and Dale Steyn praised the performance of Mayank.
9. Anrich Nortje – 155.1 kmph
Now in ninth place, Anrich Nortje made waves in IPL 2020 by bowling the IPL fastest ball of the season. In that season, he was representing Delhi Capitals and achieved this feat against Rajasthan Royals.
During the game against Rajasthan, Nortje demonstrated exceptional resolve and talent to stand tall among the best bowlers in the world of cricket. He has been a great asset to any team he represents.
10 Umran Malik – 154.8 kmph
At number ten, we have Umran Malik once again for his fastest balls in IPL. In the 2022 season of IPL, the speed gun from India Umran clocked many deliveries over 150 which helped him assert his authority in the league.
Playing for Hyderabad, He clocked 154.8 kmph against Delhi Capitals. In that season, everyone was in awe of his ability to bowl continuously at a high pace and have an impact on the match.
Conclusion
No thrill in cricket matches the excitement of watching a fast bowler unleash a lightning-quick delivery. From Shaun Tait’s record-breaking pace earlier in the league to the emergence of young bowlers like Umran Malik, the IPL has seen some truly breathtaking moments of speed.
As the league evolves, we will see more speedsters come and break these records. Fans are eagerly waiting for new records for the fastest ball in IPL.
Do check out a good read on which IPL team has more fans.
FAQs
Who bowled the fastest ball in IPL history?
Ans: Shaun Tait holds the record for the fastest ball in IPL history, he clocked 157.71 kmph in 2011 while playing for Rajasthan Royals.
Which Indian bowler has bowled the fastest delivery in the IPL?
Ans: Umran Malik holds the record for bowling the fastest ball in IPL history for an Indian in IPL 2022. He bowled a 157 kmph delivery against Delhi Capitals.
Who is faster, Umran or Mayank?
Ans: If we compare their speeds from IPL, then we can say that Umran Malik is faster than Mayank Yadav.
