Spin has always played a big part in the fortune of the teams in IPL. With most of the pitches in India favoring spin more than pace quality spinner is an essential component for teams in IPL. In this article we look at the best spinners of IPL 2019.
Imran Tahir:
Seeing Imran Tahir celebrating his every wicket will make you think that Imran Tahir is a rookie just enjoying his wicket let alone a 40-year old who is old enough to be a father of many of his IPL players and in some cases his victims. The South African leg spinner has played a big part in CSK’s success this season picking up wickets whenever the team needs him. Tahir has taken 26 wickets winning the Purple Cap and his 26 wickets taken this IPL is the most wickets by a spinner in IPL history. He is also the only spinner to have taken two four wickets haul further highlighting his ability to run through opposition line-ups.
Shreyas Gopal:
Arguably the only bright spot in an underwhelming campaign for the Rajasthan Royals, Shreyas Gopal shone brightly for the Royals impressing with his guile, control, and wicket taking abilities. The 25-year old picked up 20 wickets, the 4th best by a bowler in IPL 2019. In a forgettable campaign for the Rajasthan bowlers, Gopal was the lone warrior consistently picking wickets and keeping Royals in the hunt. The Karnataka bowler displayed impressive versatility by bowling superbly in Powerplay or the middle overs. The icing on the cake for Shreyas Gopal was the hat-trick against RCB in a rain-curtailed match becoming the first bowler in IPL 2019 to take a hat-trick.
Yuzvendra Chahal:
Amongst another disappointing season for RCB where their bowlers especially disappointed Yuzvendra Chahal stood out consistently taking wickets while also not going for runs. With most of the RCB bowlers suffering a below-par season, Chahal was RCB’s go to man picking up wickets at regular intervals. The leg spinner ended up taking 18 wickets, the most by an RCB bowler in IPL 2019 and seven more than the next best RCB bowler highlighting the gulf in performance between Chahal and RCB’s other bowlers. Chahal was especially useful in the middle overs picking up 10 wickets only 2 bowlers picked up more wickets in the middle overs. The 28-year old also became the 11th player to take 100 wickets in the season.
Rashid Khan:
The 2019 version of Rashid Khan was not as effective compared to previous IPL seasons, but it was still an excellent season for the T20 superstar. With SRH’s pace attack struggling to pick wickets teams preferred to see off Rashid rather than take him on. The Afghanistan maestro still picked up 17 wickets, the 4th best by a spinner in IPL 2019. Rashid had an economy of 6.28, the best by a bowler in IPL 2019 who bowled more than 2 overs proving wrong those claims that the 20-year old is found out.
Ravichandran Ashwin:
After a few below par IPL seasons Ravichandran Ashwin returned to his best picking up 15 wickets, his best tally since IPL 2014. The 32-year old was arguably the best Kings XI Punjab bowler delivering at crucial moments. Not only Ashwin picked wickets he was also Kings XI Punjab’s most economical bowler conceding at 7.27 runs per over. The most impressive aspect of Ashwin was that he bowled in the most challenging phases of the match and delivered in them. The Chennai natives brilliant season shut the mouth of his doubters who were claiming that Ashwin is past his best in white ball cricket and is only a test match bowler.
