New Delhi: Batters win you matches, but bowlers win you tournaments. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has predominantly become a league for the batters,
with bowlers getting massacred in every other game. However, bowlers still hold the key when it comes to going all the way in the tournament. The same has been the case in the ongoing IPL 2026, where teams with the best bowling attacks are currently sitting at the top of the points table.
While wickets are crucial, dot balls are equally important in a format like T20, where stopping runs in crucial phases can decide the outcome of the matches. The ability to produce dot balls consistently and maintain a good economy rate is a rare commodity in the IPL. Only a few bowlers have managed to maintain a good economy rate consistently, one season after another.
Deepak Chahar, who is known for his Powerplay exploits, holds the record for the most dot balls in an IPL match. Chahar is currently playing for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL, but he set the record during his stint with CSK, where he emerged as one of the most economical bowlers in the league. Chahar bowled 20 dot balls for CSK in their clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2019.
Bowlers with most dot balls in an IPL match:
Deepak Chahar (CSK) – 20 balls vs KKR, IPL 2019
Deepak Chahar jointly holds the record for the most dot balls by any bowler in an IPL match. Chahar bowled 20 dot balls in his four-over spell for CSK in their clash against KKR in IPL 2019. The pacer finished with excellent figures of 3/20 off his 4 overs as CSK won the game by 7 wickets.
Suyash Sharma (RCB) – 20 balls vs Delhi Capitals, IPL 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru spinner Suyash Sharma jointly holds the record for most dot balls in an IPL game with Chahar. He bowled 20 dot deliveries in RCB’s clash against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026. Suyash conceded only 7 runs off his 4 overs and picked up 1 wicket in the game as RCB bowlers tormented the DC batting line-up to bundle them out for a paltry 75. RCB won the game comfortably by 9 wickets with 81 balls to spare.
Fidel Edwards (Deccan Chargers) – 19 balls vs KKR, IPL 2009
Former West Indies pacer Fidel Edwards bowled an impressive 19 dot balls in an IPL game while playing for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in the 2009 season. Edwards achieved the feat against the Kolkata Knight Riders. He finished with stunning figures of 1/6 in his 4 overs as RP Singh’s 4-fer helped DC bowl out KKR for a paltry 101 runs. DC chased down the target with 41 balls to spare to win the match by 8 wickets.
Zaheer Khan (Delhi Daredevils) – 19 balls vs CSK, IPL 2015
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan bowled 19 dot balls for Delhi Daredevils (Capitals) in the IPL 2015 season. The legendary left-arm pacer achieved the feat against a star-studded CSK batting line-up. He finished with excellent figures of 2/9 off his 4 overs, including 19 dot balls, as Delhi restricted CSK to 119/6 and won the game by six wickets after chasing down the target of 120 runs with 20 balls to spare.
Mohammed Shami (Gujarat Titans) – 19 balls vs Delhi Capitals, IPL 2023
Senior Indian pacer Mohammed Shami also jointly holds the second spot in the elite list for his 19 dot balls for the Gujarat Titans in their clash against the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2023. Shami, who is currently part of the LSG squad, enjoyed a magnificent outing for his former team, GT, against DC. He finished with stellar figures of 4/11 to help GT restrict DC to 130/8 and win the game by 5 runs.
