IPL 2023: The T20 format has never been much of a showcasing platform for the bowlers, but the Indian Premier League has seen the rise of eminent players to fame and glory. Many bowlers have doodled their names in the Batsman’s game. They include bowlers like Lasith Malinga, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Jasprit Bumrah and many more.
Though many eminent spinners have also fixed their spot among the veteran bowlers of the IPL, the upper hand is always with the pacemen who tend to be speed guns and aim to release the fastest of bowls possible to take the batters by surprise.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 speedsters to look out for in IPL 2023:
5. Mark Wood
The English lanky pacer is probably the fastest paceman in current-day cricket. Wood has clocked a maximum speed of 156 kph last year in 2022 playing for England against Pakistan in a Test match. Though Wood might not have bowled the fastest of deliveries in World Cricket, still he can be named the fastest as he has the highest average speed, which is around 151 kph.
Wood is going to mark his IPL debut for the Lucknow Super Giants in the 16th edition of the IPL, i.e, IPL 2023 and might be the most fierce pacer of the league.
4. Lockie Ferguson
The Kiwi pacer has set International standards high with his raw pace and sublime variations. Ferguson is not only known for his quick stock deliveries but also for his change in pace and cutters. But the Black Caps paceman picks most of his wickets by hitting the deck with his fast short balls.
Ferguson clocked the second fastest-ever ball in IPL history in 2022 with a pace of 157.3 kph and his average pace is around 150 kph. He is predicted to impress everyone once again in IPL 2023.
3. Umran Malik
India has produced many big pacers like the living legend Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan. However, in terms of pace, the greatest consideration for Indian cricket is Javagal Srinath, later players like Shami and Bumrah could approach his high pace.
But the new pace ball sensation for India is in this young lad from Jammu & Kashmir, Umran Malik. The sensational pacer has shown his stunning control over his raw pave even producing a 157 kph ball in IPL 2022. At this young age, his average speed in international cricket is 149 kph. Malik would be an element to look out for in the IPL 2023.
2. Anrich Nortje
The Protea pacer has aced fast bowling overtaking his national pal Kagiso Rabada, especially in terms of pace. Nortje has shown good form since the T20 World Cup and has outsmarted batters with his raw pace and controlled accuracy over his line and length.
Especially suited to bowl in the overseas conditions of Australia and England, Nortje does not find him economical in Indian conditions but remains a regular wicket-taker. He clocked his fastest delivery of 156.2 kph and averages 148 kph in international bowling spells.
1. Jofra Archer
The aspiring English pacer made his return to the cricket field after a huge gap of 540 days due to his elbow fracture. Despite his absence and injury, the ace pacer is well back and bowling 150 kph with ease. He was even impressed on his long-awaited return in the SA20 league game, where he picked 3 wickets playing for the MI Cape Town.
Archer has a steaming bouncer, a toe-cracking yorker and a back-of-the-hand slower ball. Archer averages 146 kph and clocked the max speed of 154.6 kph. Making his IPL return in 2023, Archer would be looked at as a dependable pace bowling option.
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