Mumbai: New Zealand pacer Trent Boult has stamped his authority as the undisputed king of early breakthroughs in the Indian Premier League (IPL), having taken 31 wickets in the first over of innings since the 2020 season.
Boult’s incisive new-ball spells have set the tone for several matches, with 19 of those wickets coming while representing Rajasthan Royals (RR). His impact is so profound that RR themselves top the list among franchises with 28 first-over wickets in this period – two-thirds of which have been delivered by Boult.
Mumbai Indians (MI), Boult’s present franchise, follow with 23 first-over scalps, 12 of which were taken by the left-arm pacer during his stint with the five-time champions.
Among other teams, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have bagged 19 wickets in the first over since 2020, followed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) with 17. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have 14, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) 13, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) 12.
Punjab Kings (PBKS), Delhi Capitals (DC), and defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) are level with 11 each.
Boult’s knack for striking early has made him one of the most valuable assets in IPL cricket, with his ability to dismantle top orders proving crucial for his teams’ strategies.