Kagiso Rabada breaks Lasith Malinga's record, becomes fastest bowler to take 100 IPL wickets

Mohali: Punjab Kings’ star pacer Kagiso Rabada etched his name in the history books as he became the fastest bowler to 100 IPL wickets.

The 27-year-old South African international surpassed the record held by Lasith Malinga during the Punjab Kings’ IPL clash against defending champions Gujarat Titans at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali here on Thursday.

Rabada dismissed Gujarat Titans’ opening batter Wriddhiman Saha in his second over to claim his 100th IPL wicket in his 64th match in the high-profile T20 League.

Former Mumbai Indians’ fast bowler Malinga took 70 matches to bag 100 IPL wickets. Malinga finished his IPL career with 170 wickets in 122 matches at an average of 19.80 and an economy of 7.14.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel are the joint third-fastest to 100 IPL wickets. Both the fast bowlers took 81 matches to reach the magnificent milestone.

Fastest to 100 IPL wickets (by matches)

64 - Kagiso Rabada

70 - Lasith Malinga

81 - Bhuvneshwar Kumar

81 - Harshal Patel

83 - Rashid Khan

Rabada also pipped Dwayne Bravo’s record of the least number of balls needed to pick up 100 IPL wickets. The Proteas pacer has now scalped 100 IPL wickets in 1438 balls while Bravo took 1619 balls to achieve the feat.

Fastest to 100 IPL wickets (by balls taken)

1438 - Kagiso Rabada

1619 - Dwayne Bravo

1622 - Lasith Malinga

1647 - Harshal Patel

Rabada has been leading the Punjab Kings’ bowling attack since IPL 2022. He was the highest wicket-taker for the franchise in the 2022 edition as he claimed 23 wickets in 13 matches. He had also won the Purple Cap in the 2020 edition of the IPL. (UNI)