Trent Boult, the top wicket-taker in the first over in IPL history, has now reached a total of 66 wickets in powerplays. This puts him behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s record of 77 wickets by only 11. In Mumbai Indians’ (MI) fourth consecutive victory, Boult added two more wickets to his powerplay tally by dismissing Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. However, his total number of powerplay wickets in IPL 2025 remains at only four.
Another notable update that MI will surely be happy with is Boult’s progression. In the past, he has never surpassed nine wickets at the death in a single IPL season. However, this year he has already taken six. It should be noted, however, that wickets may not necessarily reflect performance at this stage of the game where batters tend to simply swing for the fences, as evidenced by his dismissals of Abhinav Manohar and Pat Cummins in the last over. The true measure of success should be assessed through economy rates. Currently, Boult’s economy at the death stands at 9.37 which is his best record for an IPL season thus far.
It is even more impressive considering his limited opportunities to bowl at the death during his time with Rajasthan Royals (RR). Out of 41 matches, he was only called upon in 20, and never for more than one over. However, this year has been a different story as he has already bowled at the death in eight out of nine matches played. This has solidified his reputation as a specialist in the slog overs.
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In the ongoing IPL, there have been fourteen bowlers who have bowled more than six overs at the death. Out of those, four have a better economy rate than Boult. One of these skilled bowlers is Jasprit Bumrah, who typically bowls two overs per game during the death overs, unless Mumbai Indians are in dire need of a wicket earlier. This season, Bumrah’s economy rate at the death has been 7.75 runs per over. While Mumbai Indians may not be considered the strongest bowling team at this stage of the game in this IPL, it is important to note that this could be due to Bumrah’s delayed return. Since his comeback, they have been conceding an average of 25 runs for three death overs.
During the post-match press conference, Boult emphasized the importance of being ready for any role at any given moment. He recalled his experience with Rajasthan, where he was always prepared to bowl regardless of the stage of the match. As he has played in ten IPL seasons, Boult acknowledged that each one had its own unique challenges and required him to adapt accordingly.
One essential aspect is maintaining a constant desire for the ball. The tournament at hand presents formidable opponents, and it is always my goal to challenge and compete against the top players. Adopting a mindset of eagerly seeking the ball and taking on tough opponents is crucial to begin on a positive note.
With the presence of skilled bowlers like Bumrah and Boult, their effectiveness is not limited to a specific phase of the game. They have the ability to excel in any situation. While it may be preferable to have Boult on the field when maximum swing is needed – which is likely why RR utilized him more at the beginning of the innings – he has also proven his talents at bowling during the final overs. Additionally, with Deepak Chahar available for taking on the new ball, MI can strategically save Boult for one crucial over at the death.
The two key bowlers behind MI’s successful IPL 2020 victory were Boult and Bumrah. In this year’s league, the team has triumphed in four of their five matches since their partnership. Could this be the missing ingredient they have been searching for?
