Best Bowling Figures Vs CSK In IPL History

Arnav Chopra

Harshal Patel vs CSK (Source: @IPL/X.com)Harshal Patel vs CSK (Source: @IPL/X.com)

The five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in trouble in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The yellow army, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, are currently at the bottom of the points table.

Their batting has mostly been poor, while their bowlers have been unable to pick up regular wickets. Going back into IPL history, the Super Kings have had problems against some of the bowlers who have bowled exceedingly well in particular encounters. Therefore, let's have a look at the best bowling figures by bowlers against CSK in IPL history.

5. Harshal Patel (SRH) - 4/28, Chennai, Tonight*

At number five on this list is Harshal Patel of Sunrisers Hyderabad, who bowled a brilliant spell of 4/28 against the Super Kings in the ongoing encounter at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Super Kings were asked to bat first at their home in Chepauk, where they had a poor start, losing three wickets early in the powerplay.

Jaydev, the left-arm pacer, started brilliantly as he picked the wicket of Sam Curran first for just 9, and then came back stronger to dismiss Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda to wrap up his four wickets in the innings against the M.S. Dhoni-led side. Courtesy of his efforts, the Super Kings were bowled out for 154 in just 19.5 overs.

4. Trent Boult (MI) - 4/18, Sharjah, 2020

At number four is left-arm pacer Trent Boult, who, back in 2020, was representing the Mumbai Indians at Sharjah. Courtesy of him, the Super Kings could only post 114 on the board for the loss of nine wickets. Trent Boult started aggressively against the openers, dismissing both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis inside the first three overs, as the Super Kings could hardly recover.

He then came back to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, who was batting on 52. Boult bowled a brilliant spell of 4/18 in his four overs, at an economy of just 4.50. In reply, the Mumbai Indians were ruthless, as a duo of Quinton de Kock and Ishan Kishan batted aggressively and finished the game in just 12.2 overs, helping Mumbai Indians win the game with 10 wickets to spare. Boult was brilliant with his deliveries, as he gave the Super Kings no chance to make a comeback in this encounter.

3. Zaheer Khan (RCB) - 4/17, Bengaluru, 2013

At number three on this list is another left-arm pacer, Zaheer Khan, who was at his prime best against the Super Kings side back in 2013, while playing at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The RCB side batted first in the rain-curtailed encounter, and scored 106 for 2 wickets down, where Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 56 by the end of their eight overs.

In reply, the Super Kings were in trouble, courtesy of Zaheer Khan, who bowled a magnificent spell of 4/17 in just two overs, as he dismissed the likes of Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Ravindra Jadeja to hold CSK to just 82 as they lost six wickets by the end of the eighth over. The RCB side won the game by a comfortable margin of 24 runs in the shortened encounter.

2. Harbhajan Singh (MI) - 5/18, Wankhede, 2011

Now moving to number two spot. It is occupied by former right-arm Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was representing the Mumbai Indians side in 2011 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The Mumbai Indians batted first and were able to put 164 on the board for the loss of four wickets. Rohit Sharma scored a blistering 87 off 48 deliveries.

In return, the Super Kings could only post 156, losing nine wickets, where Subramanian Badrinath's 71* couldn't help them as they lost the game by a margin of just eight runs. Harbhajan Singh did most of the damage as he picked five wickets for just 18 runs in his four overs at an economy of 4.50. He bagged the wickets of left-hander Suresh Raina, Anirudha Srikkanth, Albie Morkel, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Joginder Sharma.

1. Sohail Tanvir (RR) - 6/14, Jaipur, 2008

Finally, talking about the number one spot. Rajasthan Royals' pacer Sohail Tanvir did outstandingly well back in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008, where he helped Rajasthan Royals defeat Super Kings by eight wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. 

The Pakistani left-arm pacer bowled four overs for just 14 runs where he picked six wickets at an economy of 3.50. During which, he dismissed the likes of Parthiv Patel, Stephen Fleming, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, Albie Morkel, Mutthiah Muralidaran, and Makhaya Ntini as CSK were rolled over for just 109 in 19 overs.

Chasing a target of 110, Rajasthan Royals did the job easily as they won the game by eight wickets in just 14.2 overs, where Super Kings were out of the contest after Tanvir's 6-fer derailed the Super Kings' batting in the first innings. To this date, this spell of 6 for 14 remains the second-best figures ever in the IPL history, bettered only by Alzarri Joseph in 2019, who bowled for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he picked six wickets for just 12 runs.