Okay, cricket fans — let’s get straight to the point. We see highlights of sixes and beautiful cover drives, but real fans know the truth. The real match-winners are the bowlers who show up at the death. Yes, the ice-veined bowlers who aren’t phased by 50,000 fans (and a million armchair experts) screaming their guts out. So among the list of teams I’ll be writing about in the IPL 2025 tournament, who will have the DHONEYMAN at the death? Let’s look at some early candidates.
What Makes Death Bowling So Thrilling?
It’s pure theatre. Picture yourself at a wedding buffet where you’re starving — there’s one last gulab jamun left and four people are eyeing it. That pressure? That’s what the death bowlers are feeling in the last 2-3 overs. And some bowlers stroll in smiling and slamming yorkers like it’s Sunday practice. That’s skill and swagger.
Early Predictions for Death Bowling Superstars
- Jasprit Bumrah – The Silent Assassin
Bumrah is that one friend who never brags but is always there at the right time. Twilight zone? Bumrah is the real deal. His toe-crushers and sly slower balls still must wake batters up in their sleep. Remember 2020 IPL final Bumrah? He bowled so tight that the cameraman forgot to blink. As long as he is sound fitness-wise, we can expect vintage cool from Bumrah at the death. - Arshdeep Singh – The Yorkervilla Prince
Arshdeep seems to have grown like one of those younger cousins that bulk up and start beating you in video games and other competitions. He’s been unreal with his yorkers last season. I think it was the posture of calm on his face that just looked legendary. You could put a rock concert behind him, and I still reckon he’d have bowled you a perfect wide yorker. - Haris Rauf – The Speed Demon
The only word to describe this guy is that he doesn’t bowl deliveries — he launches missiles. When Haris gets his rhythm going and line and length are in tune, expect stumps flying and batters hopping like cats on a hot tin roof. He is pure adrenaline and will make any last over look like a WWE Royal Rumble. - T Natarajan – The Comeback Kid
Natarajan is slowly coming back to form after a few injury struggles. His left-arm angle and low full tosses are notoriously difficult to deal with if you are a finisher — and who doesn’t love a great comeback story of redemption?
Why Are We Cheering These Guys On?
Because they do the dirty work no one wants to do. Batters get to be celebrated with sixes, while death bowlers live in a world of heartbreak and high fives. I remember playing a tennis ball match in college and I was tasked with the last over. My hands were shaking so hard that I bowled two wide balls and got smashed for a six. I can tell you — being up there alone and everyone looking at you is not easy. Death bowlers? They are just different.
Who Might Be the Surprise Element?
Here is what you need to pay attention to: Mukesh Kumar, Indian fast bowler who has been perfecting his seamers and wide yorker deliveries in silence. Could suddenly appear and own the final overs while no one was expecting.
Your Turn – Who is Your Nomination?
So here is the deal — who would you choose as the death king in IPL 2025? Bumrah’s unflappable calm, Arshdeep’s terrifying yorkers, Haris’s raw speed, or someone coming from the dark ladder like Mukesh?
Don’t keep it to yourself. Tell us who you would choose — and if you want to keep track of these tight finishes and clutch overs weekly, come hang with us. Cricmatch is publishing more stats and insight as quickly as Bumrah can deliver a yorker.
Go to Cricmatch Signup so you don’t miss any last-over thrills.
And just so we’re clear — which do you prefer? Finish the game as a bowler in your last over or finish the game by facing the last over as a batsman? Think about it. See you next week on Cricmatch!
