IPL 2025: Ranking the best Bowling Duos of the season

Deepak-Chahar-and-Trent-Boult. (Photo source: IPL)

The coveted  has witnessed great competition between bat and ball, unlike the 2024 season, which mostly saw competition between bat and ball. The return of the use of saliva and the introduction of two new balls are among the factors that have brought the bowlers back into the game. Needless to say, the bowlers have played a key role in the success of many teams.

Some teams have duos that work in tandem in various phases to tame the batters. While some have operated well in the powerplay overs, others have excelled in the middle overs, while some have been great at the death. Such duos have made life difficult for the batters, helping their teams to restrict opponents to a par total or sometimes even less.

The Best Bowling Duos of IPL 2025 5) Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult (MI) Deepak-Chahar-and-Trent-Boult. (Photo source: IPL)

Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult have been performing well for MI in IPL 2025. Their contribution in the powerplay overs has been a key reason behind MI's revival this season. Chahar, in particular, has been superb with the new ball. The right-arm pacer has the joint-third most wickets in the first six overs this season.

Boult isn't far behind either, with four wickets to his name. Together, the duo is deadly, swinging the ball both ways at a good pace and troubling the batters. At Wankhede, they are particularly hard to overcome, due to the red soil and swing on offer. In the last few games, their spells have decided MI’s fate.

4) Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam (DC) Kuldeep-Yadav-and-Vipraj-Nigam. (Photo source: X)

Kuldeep Yadav has been one of the best bowlers this season. Operating mostly in the middle overs, the chinaman spinner has the second-most wickets in this phase. Kuldeep has 11 wickets in eight innings in the middle overs, at an average of 17.91, a strike rate of 15.82, and an exceptional economy rate of 6.79.

Most importantly, he has been both economical and a regular wicket-taker. On the other hand, Vipraj Nigam has supported him well from the other end. Starting towards the end of the powerplay, he claims big wickets. In the middle overs, he often bowls economically, putting pressure on the batters and forcing mistakes.

3) Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine (KKR) Varun-Chakaravarthy-and-Sunil-Narine. (Photo source: X)

Another pair of spinners excelling in the middle overs are Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. KKR’s mystery spin duo has done the job yet again. Both Narine and Chakravarthy are highly economical and have claimed wickets in overs 7–16. While Chakravarthy has nine wickets in eight innings, Narine has seven wickets in as many innings.

Varun has an average of just 16.33, a great strike rate of 15.33, and an exceptional economy rate of 6.39. Likewise, Narine averages 25.57, has a strike rate of 20.57, and an economy rate of 7.46 in the middle overs. Both are nearly unplayable and often help KKR restrict opponents to a par total or even less.

2) Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB) Josh-Hazlewood-&-Bhuvneshwar-Kumar. (Photo source: X)

They have been one of the best pace-bowling duo this season. Both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood operate in the powerplay and at the death. In the powerplay, both right-arm pacers have six wickets to their names with great control. Bhuvneshwar has the best economy rate, while Hazlewood has the third-best strike rate.

At the death, Hazlewood has six wickets in as many innings, with an exceptional economy rate of 8.24, a great average of 13.50, and a sensational strike rate of 9.83. Bhuvneshwar has been good at the other end, although he has gone for runs in some matches. Hazlewood has arguably been the best bowler at the death, with his hard lengths and yorkers.

1) Prasidh Krishna and R Sai Kishore (GT) Prasidh-Krishna-&-Sai-Kishore. (Photo source: X)

Prasidh Krishna and R Sai Kishore have arguably been the best bowling duo this season. The pace-spin duo has worked wonders for the Titans, being both economical and effective in the middle overs. While Krishna operates at great pace with seam and swing, Kishore, with his unorthodox spells, has become highly threatening.

In the middle overs, Prasidh has nine wickets in eight innings at a brilliant average of 10.56, a great strike rate of 12.00, and an astonishing economy rate of just 5.28. Likewise, Kishore has nine wickets in seven innings, at a good average of 17.56, an economy rate of 7.90, and a great strike rate of 13.33. Together, they have been the best duo in the middle overs this season.