Once rare, now ruthless: The rise of left-arm wrist spin in IPL — Take a deep dive into the numbers
For years, left-arm wrist spinners remained on the fringes of cricket, sidelined by their rarity and the difficulty of mastering the craft.
But in recent seasons, especially in T20s, they've gone from being mere curiosities to game-changers — turning their uniqueness into an advantage.
This shift has reached new heights in IPL 2025. At the halfway mark, the league's three left-arm wrist spinners have combined for 30 wickets — the highest for their type in any IPL season.
They also top the Cricviz average match impact rankings for bowling types this year. Left-arm wrist spin is, in fact, the only category with a positive overall impact in IPL 2025.
Leading this surge are Chennai Super Kings' Noor Ahmad and Delhi Capitals' Kuldeep Yadav (pic above) — both strong contenders to become the first left-arm wrist spinner to win the Purple Cap.
Kuldeep, the most seasoned of the lot, has continued his consistent run. The 30-year-old justified Delhi's decision to retain him, taking 12 wickets with his trademark flight and subtle variations.
Noor, meanwhile, has had a breakout season. After spending years behind Rashid Khan at Gujarat Titans, his Rs 10 crore move to CSK gave him a lead role — and he's responded with relentless wicket-taking in an otherwise tough campaign for his team.
Despite their shared skill set and success, Noor and Kuldeep operate differently.
Left-arm wrist spinners' wicket tally in IPL 2025 so far.
Noor's quick, whippy action and beyond-perpendicular release generate awkward angles and pace. Kuldeep, more orthodox, relies on drift, loop, and deception through the air. Backing them is Mumbai Indians' 24-year-old Vignesh Puthur, a rookie who hasn't yet played senior cricket for Kerala.
Spotted through MI's vast scouting system and mentored by Rashid Khan at MI Cape Town, Vignesh made an immediate impact with a three-wicket haul in his debut against CSK.
Another notable name is Rajasthan Royals' Kumar Kartikeya Singh, whose hybrid style blends orthodox spin with wristy variations — blurring the lines further.
Together, this group has delivered the best economy rate of any bowling type this season: 7.09. It's also the third-best for left-arm wrist spin in IPL history.
What's driving this effectiveness?
Variation. Nearly 50% of their deliveries this season have been change-ups — an unprecedented split. Most of these have been googlies, which have fetched 19 wickets (13 against right-handers) at an economy of 7.08.
That shift in balance — from stock deliveries to deception — has powered the current success.
But the bigger question is whether this trend can last.
As more bowlers adopt the style and batters see it more often, the element of mystery will fade. T20 cricket evolves quickly, and novelty rarely stays novel for long.
For now, though, left-arm wrist spin has found its moment. And IPL 2025 may well be remembered as the season this once-niche art finally took centrestage.
All numbers up to 20/4/2025
Related Topics
IPL 2025
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