Yuzvendra Chahal, the legspinner from the Rajasthan Royals, listed his name in IPL history books with a record-breaking performance against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday. Chahal surpassed Dwayne Bravo’s tally of 183 wickets to become the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
The milestone wicket came in Chahal’s first over of the match when he had Nitish Rana, the KKR skipper, splicing a sweep to deep backward square-leg. Chahal finished with impressive figures of 4 for 25 in his four overs, taking his tally to 187 wickets in the IPL.
Chahal’s recent form has been exceptional, as he has claimed successive four-wicket hauls in his last two innings. He has now also claimed the Purple Cap this season, awarded to the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, with 21 wickets to his name, two more than his closest competitor, Mohammed Shami.
Chahal’s performances have been critical to Rajasthan Royals’s success this season, with the team currently placed third on the points table. As the tournament progresses, Chahal’s form will be crucial to RR’s hopes of winning the IPL 2023 title.
From IPL debut to record-breaking feat: Yuzvendra Chahal’s journey
Yuzvendra Chahal’s incredible achievement of becoming the highest wicket-taker in the IPL is even more special given that it occurred at the very venue where he made his debut in the tournament. Eden Gardens holds a special place in the legspinner’s heart, as it was here where he first tasted the exhilarating atmosphere of the IPL back in 2013.
Chahal’s journey to the top of the IPL wickets chart has been nothing short of remarkable. After just one appearance for Mumbai Indians in his debut season, the Haryana-born spinner was snapped up by Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he established himself as a key player in the side’s quest for IPL glory.
Chahal’s bowling skills were particularly effective on the slow and low Chinnaswamy pitch, where he often bowled during the powerplay and the death overs.
His ability to deceive the batsmen with his variations, coupled with his accuracy and guile, made him a go-to bowler for skipper Virat Kohli. In his eight seasons with RCB, Chahal bagged a remarkable 139 wickets in 113 matches, at an impressive economy rate of 7.58.
Despite moving to Rajasthan Royals in 2022, Chahal has continued to showcase his talent and has been one of the standout performers in this year’s IPL.
Top 5 wicket-taker in IPL history
| Player | Matches | Wickets | Economy | IPL Teams |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 143 | 186 | 7.65 | Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians |
| Dwayne Bravo | 161 | 183 | 8.38 | Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Lions, Mumbai Indians |
| Piyush Chawla | 176 | 174 | 7.85 | Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings 11 Punjab Punjab Kings) |
| Amit Mishra | 160 | 172 | 7.36 | Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Deccan Chargers |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 195 | 171 | 7 | Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Rising Pune Supergiants, Chennai Super Kings |
Also Read: IPL 2023: 3 Reasons Why Yashasvi Jaiswal Can Win The Orange Cap
