Yorkers are always the hardest ball to bowl in any format of the game. Bowlers tend to go for this sort of delivery, especially with the old ball, because it gets gripped quite easily in the hands of the bowlers, unlike the new ball. In the death overs, it is still the hardest ball to bowl, even in the modern generation of the game, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest stage.

In the 18 seasons of the tournament, many fast bowlers have bowled the best yorkers in the game, making it next to impossible for the batters to get any runs off the ball. From Mustafizur Rahaman to Lasith Malinga, it’s a huge list.  

Let’s take a look at the top 10 yorkers bowled in IPL history.

10. Ishant Sharma in 2024 during DC vs RR

It was the opening ball of the last over to Andre Russell from Ishant Sharma during the clash between the Delhi Capitals and the Rajasthan Royals. Ishant bowled the ball through the middle and off stump of the West Indies, who fell on the floor and saw the stumps being broken as the crowd gave a loud cheer.

9. Dale Steyn in 2019 during RCB vs CSK

It was the game between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Chennai Super Kings in 2019 when the South African pacer delivered a brutal yorker to Suresh Raina. The southpaw was prepared to face the short ball, but the yorker rushed through the middle and off-stump to break the furniture.

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8. Andre Russell in 2021 during KKR vs RCB

On this occasion, it was the story from the IPL 2021 in Abu Dhabi between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Bengaluru side. Russell, on the fourth ball of the ninth over, delivered a cracking yorker on the leg stump as AB de Villiers didn’t have any idea of dealing with that delivery. Russell’s excitement was proof of how much he enjoyed the bowling.

7. Lasith Malinga in 2013 during MI vs CSK

It was the final of the IPL 2013 between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens when Lasith Malinga delivered one of the best yorkers of the IPL. The right-arm pacer went to the root of the stumps at Michael Hussey, who missed the flick shot and saw his stumps getting destroyed.

6. S Sreesanth in 2009 during CSK vs KXIP

There are very few batters who can play the yorkers better than MS Dhoni. But India’s former pacer S Sreesanth had the last laugh during the IPL 2009, playing for the Kings XI Punjab. The right-arm pacer ran in hard and put a firing yorker at the off-stump, to which Dhoni defended but saw his stumps getting crashed.

5. Jasprit Bumrah in 2024 during PBKS vs MI

It was from the last season of the IPL between the Punjab Kings and the Mumbai Indians when Jasprit Bumrah showed his skills to Rilee Rossouw in Chandigarh. The right-arm pacer came with the angle and bowled a perfect yorker to break the stumps of the southpaw batter, who couldn’t do anything with his shot.

4. Arshdeep Singh in 2023 during MI vs PBKS

At the Wankhede Stadium in 2023 between the Mumbai Indians and the Punjab Kings, the left-arm pacer, Arshdeep Singh, sent a firing yorker against Tilak Verma. With 15 runs needed in four balls, the batter swung his bat and saw the ball breaking the middle stump in two parts.

3. Lasith Malinga in 2012 during MI vs CSK

It’s the second time for Malinga in the list during the 2012 season of the league between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings. At the Wankhede Stadium in the afternoon fixture, Malinga bowled a perfect yorker to Dwayne Bravo, who looked to drive the ball but could only get it under the stumps to break the furniture. The former Sri Lankan bowler was always known for his incredible skills.

2. Dale Steyn in 2012 during DC vs MI

It was the game between the Decan Chargers and the Mumbai Indians in the 2012 season when Steyn bowled a brilliant yorker against the right-handed batter. Steyn ran in and put it on the root of the stumps as the batter had no clue of how to deal with that delivery. The veteran Protea pacer’s celebration also showed how much it meant to him.

1.Mustafizur Rahman in 2016 during SRH vs KKR

It was the left-handed bowler from Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman, who got the top spot for the Sunrisers Hyderabad against the Knight Riders in 2016. Russell was again on the receiving end as he fell on the ground and was on the wrong side of the yorker.