Raining sixes and fours are part of T20 cricket, but not the whole. Over the years, bowlers evolved their own ways to restrict the opposition team's run rate. The ongoing IPL 2025 has so far witnessed some game-changing bowling displays. Bowling in death overs is one of the most crucial parts of the IPL. When an innings is approaching an end, the batting side tries to grab as many runs as possible, and the bowlers force the batters to make mistakes. In this article, we’ll discuss about 5 bowlers who have made an impact in this year’s Indian Premier League. The names of the bowlers contained in the list performed at least 7 death overs.

5. Matheesha Pathirana

The young Sri Lankan pace bowler, scouted by Chennai Super Kings, earned the nickname ‘baby Malinga’ due to his sling bowling action. He has the reputation to bowl accurate Yorkers during intense moments. Pathirana, so far having a decent performance in IPL 2025, made his mark during death overs with a 9.44 economy rate, bowling 13.4 overs in death and claiming 7 wickets.

4. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj has used the stage offered by IPL 2025 to make his comeback. After dropping out from the international side, the Indian pacer was under pressure before the beginning of the season. So far, he has bowled 7 death overs for Gujarat Titans and taken 3 wickets with a 9.00 economy rate.

Read More: IPL 2025: Why are Rachin Ravindra and Vijay Shankar not playing in today CSK vs SRH clash?

3. Digvesh Rathi

The Lucknow Super Giant talent has made a good impact in the ongoing tournament. With his variations and a classic fast bowler-like aggression, he stands out. For his team, Rathi so far has bowled in 7 death overs and bagged 3 wickets in exchange for an economy rate of 8.43.

2. Jasprit Bumrah

Missed the initial few IPL 2025 matches due to injury but felt his presence as soon as he came back on track. The lethal Indian pacer bowled in 9 death overs for Mumbai Indians, took 4 wickets with an economy rate of 7.67, and is the second-best death over specialist in IPL 2025.

1. Kuldeep Yadav

Mostly known for his middle-over bowling skills, Kuldeep Yadav, 30, produced the best death bowling figures in the ongoing IPL. He is one of the key factors behind Delhi Capitals impressive run. During the death overs, Yadav bowled in 7 overs and took a couple of scalps for a 6.86 economy rate.

In a tournament often dominated by power hitters and eye-catching strike rates, the real architects of pressure are often the bowlers who consistently bowl dot balls. These seemingly quiet deliveries that don’t fetch runs are turning into one of the most decisive factors in IPL 2025. A bowler who can tie down a batter and force them into taking risks is often the unsung hero behind a breakthrough.

Dot balls build pressure and tension not only on batters but also in the team's dugout. They frustrate batters, force errors, and can change the momentum of a game without the glamour of a wicket. This season, several bowlers have made it a habit to deny runs with unwavering discipline, turning dot balls into a powerful tactical weapon. From seamers swinging the new ball to spinners choking the middle overs, each has brought their style of control.

At the top of this elite list stands Khaleel Ahmed, who has bowled the most dot balls so far, 78 in 7 innings for the Chennai Super Kings. His consistency in the power play and ability to close out innings without leaking runs have made him a standout performer. Let’s dive deeper into the top 10 dot-ball masters of IPL 2025 and explore how each has impacted their team’s campaign so far.

See Also : Ben Cutting revisits 2016 IPL final glory with SRH

1. Khaleel Ahmed (CSK) – 78 Dots in 7 Innings

Chennai Super Kings’ left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has been in impressive form throughout IPL 2025, consistently delivering impactful spells in both the powerplay and death overs. Over the course of 7 matches, Khaleel has bowled 27 overs and claimed 11 wickets at an average of 22.09. While his economy rate stands at a slightly expensive 9.00, his ability to build pressure with dot balls has been outstanding. The left-arm pacer has bowled 78 dot balls so far, playing a vital role in CSK’s bowling success and helping the team maintain control against opposition batters in key moments of the game.

2. Mohammed Siraj (GT) – 73 Dots in 6 Innings

Mohammed Siraj's switch to the Gujarat Titans has proven to be a masterstroke this IPL season. Delivering 73 dot balls in just 24 overs, he has consistently applied pressure on the opposition, striking every 14.4 deliveries. His disciplined line and length have helped him maintain an impressive bowling average of 20.40. The highlight of his season so far includes a crucial four-wicket haul, underlining how sustained pressure through dot balls can lead to breakthroughs. Siraj’s form has been instrumental in tightening the screws during crucial phases, making him a valuable asset for the Titans this year.

3. Varun Chakravarthy (KKR) – 70 Dots in 7 Innings

Kolkata Knight Riders’ mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been a standout performer this season, consistently keeping batters on their toes. With 70 dot balls in his spell so far, he has maintained an excellent economy rate of just 6.22, making it difficult for opposition teams to build momentum. Varun has also picked up 10 crucial wickets at an impressive average of 16.80, often breaking key partnerships and shifting the game's momentum. His ability to control the flow of runs while striking regularly has made him a vital cog in KKR’s bowling unit.

4. Prasidh Krishna (GT) – 65 Dots in 6 Innings

Prasidh Krishna has emerged as a valuable asset for the Gujarat Titans, combining raw pace with impressive accuracy. In 6 matches, he has bowled 23 overs, conceding just 138 runs and picking up 10 wickets at an outstanding average of 16.00. He has delivered 65 dot balls, effectively building pressure on opposing batters. His impressive strike rate of 13.8 reflects his ability to strike at regular intervals. Prasidh’s consistency in hitting the right lengths and disrupting partnerships has made him a potent weapon in Gujarat’s bowling attack, crucial in maintaining control and creating wicket-taking opportunities.

5. Harshit Rana (KKR) – 64 Dots in 7 Innings

Harshit Rana has emerged as one of the standout performers this season, combining aggression with consistency. In 7 matches, he has bowled 23 overs, conceding just 138 runs and picking up 10 crucial wickets at an impressive average of 20.30. With 64 dot balls to his name, Harshit has played a vital role in maintaining pressure on opposition batters. His strike rate of 13.8 and economy rate of 6.00 underline his efficiency, making him Kolkata Knight Riders’ go-to bowler in high-pressure moments.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has produced some exciting batters and bowlers throughout the years. In the era of quick-paced cricket, especially in the over format, pace variation becomes an effective card for bowlers. Cross seam and scrambled seam deliveries have also become popular among pace bowlers. With variations (pace, spin line, and length), bowlers force batters to make mistakes. But which bowlers are so far looking dangerous in the ongoing IPL 2025?

Read More: [WATCH] IPL 2025: Virat Kohli asks Sanju Samson to check his heart beat during RR vs RCB clash

Interestingly, in IPL 2025, several seasoned pacers have stepped up for their respective franchises. Names like Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, and even veteran Ishant Sharma—who continues to clock speeds of 140 km/h—have shown their value. However, raw pace alone isn't enough in the T20 format; it’s the clever use of variations that often makes the difference. Among them, Prasidh Krishna has arguably stood out the most, showcasing his ability to adapt his bowling to suit pitch conditions. To truly assess whether pacers or spinners have had a greater impact this season, a closer look at the numbers is essential.

Top Wicket Takers

Some more notable performers in this series are Prasidh Krishna (Pace), Mohammed Siraj (Pace), Khaleel Ahmed (Pace), and Sai Kishore (Spin). These all, especially mentioned bowlers, claimed 10 scalps in 6 innings each. 

Top 5 bowlers according to economy rate 

As IPL 2025 unfolds, the battle between spin and pace continues to shape match outcomes and team strategies. While express pacers remain crucial in powerplays and death overs, it’s the spinners who are quietly emerging as game-changers. Bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav and Noor Ahmad have demonstrated the value of control and variation, often turning games around with their economy and wicket-taking abilities. On the other hand, pacers such as Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur are delivering impactful spells when it matters most. However, consistency and control have tilted the scales slightly in favor of spin, especially during the middle overs. As the tournament progresses and pitches begin to deteriorate due to consistent use, conditions are likely to further benefit spinners. Slower surfaces and variable bounce will play into their hands, making spin a more dominant force in the latter stages of IPL 2025. The spin vs pace rivalry is far from over—but spin may just have the final say.

Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the 23rd game of the IPL 2025 on Wednesday evening (April 9), and the match is Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals (GT vs RR). Let's check the Dream11 top captains and vice-captains of the GT vs RR match. 

IPL 2025, Match 23: GT vs RR Probable XIs

Gujarat Titans Predicted Playing XI: Shubman Gill (Captain), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford/Prasidh Krishna (Impact Players), Gerald Coetzee, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, R Sai Kishore

Rajasthan Royals Predicted Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (Captain), Riyan Parag, Nitish Rana, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shubham Dubey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Jofra Archer

See Also: IPL 2025: GT vs RR - A Head-to-Head breakdown

IPL 2025, Match 23: GT vs RR Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Captain choices

Sai Sudharsan: Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan started the IPL 2025 strongly. Apart from scoring five runs in the last game, he scored 74, 63, and 49 runs in this competition. 

Sanju Samson: Rajasthan Royals' regular captain Sanju Samson started this IPL season with scores of 66, 13, 20, and 38 runs, respectively. 

Shubman Gill: Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill scored 33, 38, 14, and 61 not out in the ongoing IPL 2025, as the right-handed batter is in great form. 

Top 3 Vice-captain choices

Mohammed Siraj: After starting this season without picking up a wicket, Mohammed Siraj recorded nine wickets in the next three games, including winning Player of the Match awards in the last two matches. 

Jofra Archer: English cricketer Jofra Archer won the Player of the Match award in their last game for picking up three wickets. After failing to take wickets in the first two games of the season, Archer had an impactful role with the ball in the next two fixtures.  

Wanindu Hasaranga: Sri Lankan star Wanindu Hasaranga is the leading wicket-taker for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 with six wickets after three games. 

The IPL 2025 19th match has been scheduled for SunRisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans (SRH vs GT). Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (Uppal, Hyderabad) will host this match on Sunday night (April 6). Let's check the Dream11 top captains and vice-captains for this match. 

IPL 2025, Match 19: SRH vs GT Probable XIs

SunRisers Hyderabad Predicted Playing 11: Travis Head/Jaydev Unadkat (Impact Players), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Kamindu Mendis/Adam Zampa, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma, Zeeshan Ansari, Pat Cummins (Captain), Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel

Gujarat Titans Predicted Playing 11: Shubman Gill (Captain), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford/Prasidh Krishna (Impact Players), Glenn Phillips/Gerald Coetzee, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan/Ishant Sharma, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, R Sai Kishore

See Also: SunRisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans (SRH vs GT): Match 19, IPL 2025, Match Preview

IPL 2025, Match 19: SRH vs GT Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Captain choices

Sai Sudharsan: In-form Sai Sudharsan is the second leading run-scorer in the IPL 2025 with 186 runs in three innings by scoring 74, 63, and 49 runs, respectively.

Travis Head: Among the SRH top-order batters, only Australian star Travis Head is in form with the scores of 67, 47, 22, and four runs, respectively. If he gets enough support from the other batters, Head can produce a powerful start for his team. 

Pat Cummins: While SRH are struggling, captain Pat Cummins has to play a key role for his franchise. In the tough bowling pitch in Hyderabad, skipper Cummins bowled impressively in their last game against the Lucknow Super Giants. His cameo with the bat will also play a crucial role in the batting. 

Top 3 Vice-captain choices

Jos Buttler: English star Jos Buttler started the IPL 2025 strongly with scores of 54, 39, and 73 not out, respectively. The Hyderabad venue generally produces batting-friendly pitches in recent T20 cricket, and Buttler can be one of the dangerous batters in the match. 

Mohammed Siraj: Although Mohammed Siraj started the IPL 2025 with a wicketless expensive bowling figures (0/54), the right-arm pacer scalped five wickets in the next two games, including picking up three wickets (3/19) in their last match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru to win the Player of the Match award. 

Heinrich Klaasen: Dangerous batter Heinrich Klaasen is one of the most consistent middle-order batters in present-day white-ball cricket. While his team had batting woes in their last three fixtures, Klaasen's scores in this IPL season were 34, 26, 32, and 33 runs, respectively. 

Gujarat Titans (GT) batter Sai Sudharsan complimented teammate Mohammed Siraj on his exceptional performance in their victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 1, 2025, at M. Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium. He referred to Siraj as the "game changer" and credited him with infusing tremendous energy into the team.

The 23-year-old was struck by Siraj's attitude and desire. He even re-enacted Siraj's iconic quote from India's T20 World Cup 2024 victory: "I only believed in Jassi Bhai."

"I have faith only in Siraj bhai. Siraj Bhai is the game-changer. His attitude and the energy he gives changes the entire team. I enjoyed it. I loved it. I thought he was going to have an excellent game because Siraj bhai is the game-changer," Sudharsan revealed in an interaction with batting coach Parthiv Patel.

 

 

 

 

 

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ALSO SEE: IPL 2025: Virat Kohli injury update

Siraj Shines as Gujarat Titans Stun RCB

Mohammed Siraj made a huge difference in his first match back at Chinnaswamy Stadium, as the Gujarat Titans won by eight wickets. He took three crucial wickets and proved to RCB what they missed by letting him go before the IPL 2025 auction.

RCB opened the season strongly with victories over Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings. Even their 17-year-old Chepauk losing streak came to an end. However, at home, they fared badly as Shubman Gill led the Gujarat Titans and brought their winning spell to a halt. Excellent bowling by Siraj restricted RCB to a very low score. Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler then finished off the chase quite comfortably to clinch an authoritative victory for the Gujarat Titans.

This win gives more confidence tothe  Gujarat Titans, whereas RCB needs to re-strategize. Siraj's performance raises the question of whether RCB should have released him.

Former RCB bowler Mohammed Siraj, now playing for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, had a memorable return to the game in  M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the IPL 2025 season. In the fifth over when Phil Salt played a stunning shot. On the third ball, bowled at 143.6 kmph on middle and off, Salt got into position early and hammered a massive six, sending the ball 105 meters over Cow Corner and out of the stadium.

Phil Salt Smashes Huge 105m Six, But Siraj Hits Back Immediately

But Siraj didn’t stay quiet for long. On the very next delivery, he got his revenge by knocking Salt’s stumps over. It was a full delivery that started on middle and off and swung away. Salt tried to go big again but missed, and the ball crashed into the stumps.

A Phil Salt orbiter 🚀

followed by...

A Mohd. Siraj Special \|/ 🫡

It's all happening in Bengaluru 🔥

Updates ▶ https://t.co/teSEWkWPWL #TATAIPL | #RCBvGT | @mdsirajofficial pic.twitter.com/a8whsXHId3

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2025

Earlier, Siraj had already taken the 2nd wicket of RCB by dismissing Devdutt Padikkal for just 4 in his previous over. His fiery spell seemed to come with extra determination, possibly because RCB chose not to retain him or use the RTM card at the auction despite his years of loyalty.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025: Fans target Arshad Warsi after Virat Kohli's dismissal against Gujarat Titans

With these early wickets, RCB was in trouble and needed a solid partnership to steady their innings. At the time of writing, they were 37 for 3 in 5.4 overs, with Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone at the crease.

Gujarat Titans on Fire! Siraj Removes Philip Salt Quickly

Mohammed Siraj delivered a huge blow by dismissing Philip Salt for 14 off 13 balls in a closely contested IPL 2025 match between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). With RCB at 35/3 in 4.4 overs, the aggressive pace bowler clean bowled the aggressive opener.

Reputed to be aggressive, Salt attempted to retard GT's cautious fielding but ultimately couldn't. Siraj's standard pace and accuracy yielded a flawless delivery that ran shivers in the RCB camp and rooted out Salt's stumps.

RCB now looks towards Virat Kohli and other key batsmen to rebuild their innings as early wickets start to fall. The middle order has been under immense pressure to form a solid partnership and lead the team towards a decent total in light of the top order collapse.

In contrast, Gujarat Titans are fully in command, scoring at a run-a-ball rate and not allowing RCB to settle. Their bowlers have been wonderfully disciplined, which has prevented the opposition from getting any benefit out of the powerplay. GT will try to maintain the pressure and dismantle RCB's batting order even further considering the aid fast bowlers receive on flat tracks.

A Phil Salt orbiter 🚀

followed by...

A Mohd. Siraj Special \|/ 🫡

It's all happening in Bengaluru 🔥

Updates ▶ https://t.co/teSEWkWPWL #TATAIPL | #RCBvGT | @mdsirajofficial pic.twitter.com/a8whsXHId3

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2025

Also Read:-Suryakumar Yadav likely to team up with Yashasvi Jaiswal in Goa’s new squad: Reports

All attention is focused on RCB's middle order as the match unfolds. Will GT continue to rule or can Kohli stabilize the innings and lead a comeback? The battle for dominance in this thrilling IPL encounter intensifies.

A Hug Turns Out to be Amazing

While on a training session at Chinnaswamy Stadium, there was a touching scene that took place between Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star, and Mohammed Siraj of Gujarat Titans. The pair, who shared a strong relationship as former RCB players, came together on what was Kohli’s midfield and embraced him in a glance. The floodlights and stands of the stadium provided the perfect essence for the moment, while cricket equipment and chairs strewn all over the ground suggested that it was part of the warmup phase of a match.

Sach batana, issi ka intezaar kar rahe the na #TitansFAM? 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/hnyHYBbHlH

— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 1, 2025

Also read:- RCB vs GT : Match 14 Weather and Pitch report – IPL 2025

Fans Reactions to Siraj’s RCB Legacy

Mohammed Siraj was with the RCB until last season and developed a good friendship with Kohli both on and off the pitch. Their meeting reminds fans of what has been a memorable journey with RCB. The comments section was flooded with fans appreciating the post who expressed their fury, nostalgia, and overwhelmingly requested more videos with Kohli and Shubman Gill, who is the captain of the Gujarat Titans. 

The highlight of this incident was the display of the spirit of cricket, that friendships created in sport are beyond team affiliations. Even though Kohli and Siraj are teammates from opposing franchises in the IPL, these two share a bond that leaves fans teary and wanting for further such moments.

Royal Challengers Banglore are going to play their first home game against Gujarat Titans in Chinnaswamy stadium, which is going to be a cracker of the game. Banglore has won both games this season and the players are determined to win the trophy this year. Rajat Patidar who was announced as captain of Banglothe re team is doing his with great ease by contributing in both departments. This year RCB unit seems quite balanced but how they proceed in the later stage will decide their future. 
Gujarat Titans have a good team which can give a tough time to any team. Gujarat has played two games this season where they won one and lost one which had great expectations for them ar didn't go well for them but this year they have built a good core team that has all the boxes ticked. Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Banglore have head to head of 5 matches between them where Gujarat have won three times and Banglore have won 2 games. 

Read More: IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans Playing 11 vs Royal Challengers Banglore
This would be their 6th game and both teams would be trying to get the win to comfortable themselves. In this segment, we are going to see the top three players who can create a big difference in the game. 
1 Rajat Patidar
 Royal Challengers Banglore captain Rajat Patidar is a wholesome talent who is a norm batsman who has the ability of range hitting. This season he is been named as captain and the two games he has captained have been notch the bowling changes and the field set have been the clarity that depicts how much he is been into it. 
The last match played as a batsman was top notch where he scored a beautiful half-century and helped his team to attain momentum which helped his team to win the game against Chennai Super Kings. 
2. Sai Sudharshan
 Sai Sudharshan is a dynamic left-hand batsman who is been consistent since his opening season, the left batsman has been quite a sensation and he has scored half century in his opening game. He is been really consistent with his flow of batting. His role would be crucial for GT for this season 
3. Mohammed Siraj
 Mohammed Siraj has been a great asset to RCB in past seasons. He was auctioned due to release where GT bought him for 10 crores, there has been talk that due to his ineffectiveness in death overs has been omitted from the the Indian team side. But in the last match he bowled some good death overs which claimed GT to win his next match against his previous franchise and with the help of Siraj, GT would be getting important inputs from him.