IPL: 5 memorable bowling spells in a losing cause

The largest T20 exhibition in the world, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 got underway on March 26. It has been said that batters win matches but bowlers win tournaments. However, there have been instances in the IPL as well when teams lost despite a game-changing performance by a bowler.

The IPL has seen many such brilliant spells when bowlers have fallen short of leading their teams to victory despite giving it all in the middle. Cricket is certainly a cruel game and sometimes even the most spectacular knocks and bowling spells can go in vain.

Let’s look at five unforgettable bowling performances in IPL which went in vain:

5. Ankit Rajpoot – 5/14

A great bowling performance by Ankit Rajpoot in IPL 2018 came in a losing cause. His spell of 5/14 came for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The KXIP captain Ravichandran Ashwin had won the toss and decided to field first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Having Kane Williamson caught at mid-off while trying to play the pull shot, Rajpoot was right on target from the very start. The Uttar Pradesh seam bowler recorded his maiden five-wicket haul in IPL by taking the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha, Manish Pandey, and Mohammad Nabi.