IPL 2025: Harshal Patel Becomes Fastest to 150 Wickets, Breaks Malinga's Record with 2,381 Balls

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IPL 2025: In a dazzling display of precision, persistence, and pure pace variation, Sunrisers Hyderabad's Harshal Patel etched his name into the IPL record books by becoming the fastest bowler - in terms of balls bowled - to claim 150 wickets in the tournament's history.

The feat came during Match 61 of the IPL 2025 season, against Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Harshal, who has long been known for his cunning slower balls and late-innings mastery.

Struck gold with his very first wicket of the match - a moment that not only turned the tide for SRH but also took him into a select club of IPL stalwarts. He now stands as the 13th player in the league's storied history to surpass the 150-wicket mark.

What makes Harshal's achievement even more extraordinary is the pace at which he reached this summit. According to Cricbuzz, he completed the milestone in just 2,381 deliveries, eclipsing the previous best held by Sri Lankan pace legend Lasith Malinga, who required 2,444 balls. That puts Harshal ahead of a veritable pantheon of greats - Yuzvendra Chahal (2,543 balls), Dwayne Bravo (2,656), and Jasprit Bumrah (2,832).

Though he has played 117 matches across 114 innings to get here - trailing only Malinga (105 matches) in that metric - Harshal's consistency and knack for delivering under pressure have been undeniable hallmarks of his IPL career.

"It's a proud moment for me, especially knowing the calibre of bowlers on that list," Harshal said post-match. "I've worked really hard to adapt, and every ball is a battle in this league. This record is a reflection of all those small battles won."

Beginning his IPL journey back in 2012 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Harshal's career has been anything but linear. After a stint with Delhi Capitals between 2018 and 2020, he returned to RCB and set the 2021 season ablaze with 32 wickets - equalling Dwayne Bravo's record for most wickets in a single edition.

He later donned the colours of Punjab Kings before being snapped up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹8 crore ahead of the 2024 season - a signing that has now paid off handsomely.

In 2024, Harshal clinched the Purple Cap with a stellar campaign, making him only the second Indian after Bhuvneshwar Kumar to do so in multiple seasons. Notably, 16 of his wickets that year came in the final five overs - underlining his value as a death-overs specialist - despite an economy rate of 10.38 in that high-risk phase.

A bowler once underestimated for his lack of express pace, Harshal Patel has instead outfoxed the best with guile and guts. And now, with 150 wickets under his belt - and history by his side - the wily pacer from Haryana is not just part of the IPL elite. He's leading it.