The death overs refer to the final five overs of a T20 innings overs 16 to 20. During this time, batsmen usually try to score very fast by hitting boundaries and sixes. Bowlers have to be very smart to stop runs and take wickets. It requires excellent control, a mix of slower balls, yorkers, bouncers, and clever variations. Death bowling is an art and a very tough skill in cricket Best Death Over Bowlers in T20 Cricket History.
List of 5 Best Death Over Bowlers in T20 Cricket History
5. Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada from South Africa is known for his pace and accuracy. He is a young bowler but has already made a huge impact in T20 cricket with his skillful death bowling. Rabada bowls fast yorkers with great precision Best Death Over Bowlers in T20 Cricket History.
Rabada’s speed combined with his precision yorkers make it hard for batsmen to score freely. His ability to bowl at the right length and change pace at the right moment makes him very effective in the final overs Best Death Over Bowlers in T20 Cricket History.
Format | Matches | Wickets | Economy Rate | Best Bowling Figures |
---|---|---|---|---|
T20 Internationals (T20Is) | 61 | 69 | 8.15 | 3/29 |
Indian Premier League (IPL) | 69 | 106 | 8.21 | 4/21 |
Death Overs (16-20) | 140+ | 75 | 8.35 | 2/17 |
4. Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc of Australia is one of the fastest bowlers in the world. His raw pace combined with swing makes him very dangerous. Starc’s ability to bowl yorkers at almost 150 km/h makes him a key death over bowler.
Starc’s speed and ability to swing the ball make it tough for batsmen to time their shots in the death overs. His yorkers hit the blockhole consistently, and his bouncers break the rhythm of the batsmen Best Death Over Bowlers in T20 Cricket History.
Format | Matches | Wickets | Economy Rate | Best Bowling Figures |
---|---|---|---|---|
T20 Internationals (T20Is) | 63 | 73 | 7.63 | 4/20 |
Indian Premier League (IPL) | 27 | 34 | 7.17 | 4/15 |
Death Overs (16-20) | 110+ | 60 | 7.54 | 2/13 |
3. Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo, from the West Indies, is famous for his smart bowling in the death overs. Unlike some others, Bravo is not the fastest bowler but uses his intelligence and skill to outthink batsmen. His slower balls and cutters are extremely effective.
Bravo’s success comes from his ability to bowl differently each time. Batsmen can never guess what type of slower ball or cutter is coming next. His clever use of variations breaks the rhythm of even the best hitters Best Death Over Bowlers in T20 Cricket History.
Format | Matches | Wickets | Economy Rate | Best Bowling Figures |
---|---|---|---|---|
T20 Internationals (T20Is) | 91 | 78 | 8.03 | 4/19 |
Indian Premier League (IPL) | 161 | 183 | 8.38 | 4/22 |
Death Overs (16-20) | 250+ | 125 | 8.40 | 3/17 |
2. Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga, from Sri Lanka, is one of the greatest death-over bowlers ever. He was famous for his unusual “sling” bowling action and deadly yorkers. Malinga’s bowling confused batsmen worldwide, making it difficult to score runs in the death overs.
Malinga’s unpredictability and ability to hit the blockhole yorkers made him a nightmare for batsmen. He had the skill to bowl fast yorkers and change the pace suddenly. His bowling in death overs saved many matches for Sri Lanka and Mumbai Indians in IPL Best Death Over Bowlers in T20 Cricket History.
Format | Matches | Wickets | Economy Rate | Best Bowling Figures |
---|---|---|---|---|
T20 Internationals (T20Is) | 84 | 107 | 7.42 | 5/6 |
Indian Premier League (IPL) | 122 | 170 | 7.14 | 5/13 |
Death Overs (16-20) | 220+ | 110 | 7.48 | 3/9 |
READ MORE: Top 5 Best T20 Players with Most Sixes in Cricket History
1. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah from India is often called the king of death bowling in modern cricket. His unique bowling action and his ability to bowl pinpoint yorkers make him extremely difficult to score against in the final overs. Bumrah is famous for staying calm and composed, even when big hitters try to attack him.
Bumrah’s skill lies in his ability to switch pace and bowl accurate yorkers consistently. His slower balls come at the perfect time, deceiving batsmen who expect a faster delivery. He is calm under pressure and always bowls with full focus in crunch moments Best Death Over Bowlers in T20 Cricket History.
Format | Matches | Wickets | Economy Rate | Best Bowling Figures |
---|---|---|---|---|
T20 Internationals (T20Is) | 70 | 85 | 6.48 | 3/11 |
Indian Premier League (IPL) | 133 | 145 | 7.30 | 5/10 |
Death Overs (16-20) | 200+ | 98 | 7.90 | 3/7 |
The death overs in T20 cricket are the make-or-break phase. If the bowling team can keep the runs low and take wickets, they gain a huge advantage. Death-over specialists like Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga, Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Starc, and Kagiso Rabada have made a lasting impact on the game. Their skill, variations, accuracy, and coolness under pressure have helped their teams win many matches.
Every ball they bowl in the death overs is crucial. Batters face tremendous pressure to score quickly, while bowlers use every trick to stop them. Watching these bowlers in action is thrilling for cricket fans because they bring so much excitement and strategy to the final moments of the match Best Death Over Bowlers in T20 Cricket History.