Economy — the clinching factor

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Contrary to pre-tournament expectations, bowlers have had a pivotal role to play in the IPL. Flatter decks and humid conditions were expected to load things in favor of batsmen but many contests have made it to the last over thanks only to some spirited bowling efforts.

A few tall targets have been scaled but that is only to be expected in this format. Of bowlers who have bowled a minimum of 10 overs in this edition, nine have recorded an economy rate of six or less.

The parameters to measure the value of a bowler will remain a matter of debate but it can be safely assumed that economy rate should be top on the list closely followed by his ability to pick wickets.

Genuine quick bowlers have made a deep impact. The most influential is undoubtedly Lasith Malinga, who with his searing toe crushers and canny change of pace is the most sought after.

The likes of Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and Umesh Yadav have also proved that pace is not totally out of place in T20. “The job of the bowler is to create pressure; he can do it either by containing or by picking wickets.

That’s the reason why a good bowling combination is important,” said TA Sekar, director, Delhi Daredevils. Chennai’s R. Ashwin is the most economical bowler in IPL history but has only a solitary wicket to show in five games this year.

“The pacers have not allowed Ashwin to attack more. We are definitely looking at Ashwin to be a more attacking proposition,” said coach Stephen Fleming. As the pundits point out, economy rate is crucial but so too is wicket taking.

Both pacers and spinners have contributed in equal measure. However by providing pace, the speed merchants run the risk of not keeping within the small margin for error.

It should come as no surprise that four of the top five economical bowlers in the league are slow bowlers. “The job of the bowler in T20 is primarily to contain and if he does that I think he has done his job all right,” opined spin legend Bishen Singh Bedi.

As the wickets get slower towards the business end of the tournament the role of the spinner will be more pronounced. Dual paced tracks will help the seamers as well.

Big scores might be on their way out and bowling strengths could decide match fortunes. The primary task will be to keep the big guns quiet and the wickets column will look after itself.

Bowler Team Economy Wickets Average

R. Ashwin CSK 6.09 36 22.55
L. Malinga MI 6.21 70 15.75
Iqbal Abdullah KKR 6.38 17 24.33
R. Sharma PWI* 6.43 27 20.66
M. Muralitharan RCB* 6.52 50 24.94