Some bowlers absolutely owned the UAE leg of the IPL — using dry pitches, tactical bowling, and adapting well to dew or spin conditions. Let’s break it down by editions and bowling types:
🎯 Top Bowlers – IPL 2020 (Full season in UAE)
🦁 Kagiso Rabada (DC)
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🧢 Purple Cap winner – 30 wickets
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Brilliant at the death, with toe-crushers and sharp pace
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Formed a lethal pair with Nortje
🚀 Anrich Nortje (DC)
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Extreme pace and aggression
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Bowled the fastest delivery of the season (156.22 km/h)
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Often broke partnerships up front
🐍 Rashid Khan (SRH)
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20 wickets at an economy of <6 RPO
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Dominated Sharjah with tight lines and no dew in day games
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SRH’s trump card in middle overs
🧊 Jasprit Bumrah (MI)
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27 wickets – his best IPL season ever
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Bowled match-winning spells at Abu Dhabi & Dubai
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Lethal in death overs with slower balls and yorkers
🌪️ Spinners Who Ruled UAE
🟡 Yuzvendra Chahal (RCB)
⚫ Varun Chakravarthy (KKR)
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UAE breakout star in 2020
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Took a 5-wicket haul vs DC (first by a spinner in UAE IPL)
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Brought mystery spin to the fore
🔥 Unheralded Heroes
💥 T Natarajan (SRH)
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Pinpoint yorkers, especially at the death
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Emerged as India’s next death-over specialist from this season
⚡ Trent Boult (MI)
🧠 Common Traits Among UAE-Dominant Bowlers:
| Trait |
Advantage in UAE |
| Death over precision |
Needed due to dew/slippery ball |
| Spin variety |
UAE pitches aided slower bowlers |
| Adaptability |
Bowlers who adjusted pace & length thrived |
Want me to break down which bowlers dominated by venue (Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi) or in day vs night games?