Most Wickets in 1st Over in IPL: Bhuvneshwar Ties Boult Record With Double Strike in SRH vs RR IPL 2024 Match

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar went level with Rajasthan Royals (RR) pacer Trent Boult on Thursday (May 2) to become the player with most first-over wickets in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Bhuvneshwar struck twice in the first over in SRH’s 1-run victory over RR in IPL 2024, removing the in-form Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson in the space of two balls for ducks to take his tally to 27 wickets in the first over of an IPL match.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Trent Boult level on top for most wickets in 1st over in IPL history

The Indian pacer, who was off colour in the previous matches, first dismissed Buttler caught behind at wide slip and then cleaned up Samson two balls later. He later returned to bowl the final over of the match and removed Rovman Powell in the final delivery to seal the win for SRH.

Earlier, Boult had surpassed Bhuvneshwar during RR's 8-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, where he removed Rohit Sharma in the first over of the match.

The 34-year-old New Zealand pacer had cleaned up Rohit to claim his 26th wicket in the opening over of the innings to overtake Bhuvneshwar's tally of 25 first-over wickets in his IPL career.

A match later, Boult struck again in the opening over to remove Lucknow Super Giants’ Quinton de Kock. Bhuvneshwar also added to his tally in the latest outing between SRH and RR to go level with Boult's first over wickets tally of 27 wickets.

Other than these two, former Indian pacer Praveen Kumar, Sandeep Sharma of Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings' Deepak Chahar and legendary Zaheer Khan are also part of this list. Here is a look at the top 15 bowlers with most first over wickets in IPL:

Most wickets in 1st over in IPL

Trent Boult - 27 wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 27 wickets
Praveen Kumar - 15 wickets
Deepak Chahar - 13 wickets
Sandeep Sharma - 13 wickets
Zaheer Khan - 12 wickets
Lasith Malinga - 11 wickets
Dale Steyn - 11 wickets
Umesh Yadav - 11 wickets
Mohammed Shami - 9 wickets
Tim Southee - 9 wickets
Irfan Pathan - 8 wickets
Mohammed Siraj - 7 wickets
Albie Morkel - 7 wickets
Ravichandran Ashwin - 7 wickets

Among the 27 wickets, Boult has dismissed an opposition batter in the very first ball of an IPL innings three times in his career, while Bhuvneshwar has claimed a wicket in the first ball two times.

In the ongoing season, the Kiwi has claimed four wickets in the first over of an innings. Bhuvneshwar has claimed just the two wickets which came in Thursday’s match between SRH and RR.

Although Boult is level on top in the list in IPL, the New Zealander is way behind the leader for most first-over wickets in T20 cricket. Bhuvneshwar is not far behind after the latest double strike in the opening over of a T20 match.

That record is held by Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has claimed 47 wickets in the first over of an innings followed by India's Bhuvneshwar and compatriot Mohammad Amir. Here is a look at the bowlers with most first-over wickets in T20 cricket overall: