Highest Wicket Takers for RR
2008 IPL champions Rajasthan Royals have been one of the initial eight IPL franchises that have participated in the tournament since its inception. Barring the 2016 and 2017 editions wherein they were banned from the tournament due to match-fixing allegations, the team from Jaipur has participated in 10 Indian Premier League editions.
Last year, the team was led by Steve Smith but disappointed everyone after finishing seventh with 11 points from 14 matches. They only bettered eight-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore who also had the same points but inferior net run rate.
The franchise has over the years struggled to replicate their success of 2008 due to a mere fact that they lack quality bowlers. In 2008, they had Shane Warne, Shane Watson, Munaf Patel and Purple Cap winner Sohail Tanvir at their disposal but have over the years lost their bowling prowess.
Top 5 Highest Wicket Takers for RR
In this article, however, we will discuss the top 5 Bowlers with Most Wickets for RR in all IPL editions.
1. Shane Watson (67 Wickets) 2008-2015
Highest Wicket Takers for RR: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson tops the bowling charts of most wickets taken by a Rajasthan Royals bowler by scalping 67 wickets in his eight years stay at the club. Watson who was part of the 2008 IPL winning team, has so far played 84 matches for the Rajasthan Royals wherein he has bowled in 76 innings.
Having bowled 246.5 overs for the franchise, Watson has gone for 1865 runs. He has also bagged 3 maidens for the franchise with an average of 27.83 and an economy rate of 7.55. He has a strike rate of 22.1 while bowling with his best bowling figures of 3/10. He played for Rajasthan Royals until 2015 after which the club were banned for two years due to match-fixing allegations after which he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore and currently plays for Chennai Super Kings since 2018 IPL.
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2. Siddharth Trivedi (65 Wickets) 2008-2013
Most Wickets for RR: Another member of the 2008 IPL winning team, Siddharth Trivedi has been part of the Rajasthan Royals team since the league’s inception in 2008 till 2013 after which he was banned for 1 year as he failed to report that bookies approached him, even though he had no involvement in match-fixing or spot fixing during the IPL corruption scandal in 2013.
The Gujarat born player Trivedi had until 2013 played 76 matches for Royals wherein he bowled in 75 innings. Siddharth had bowled 251 overs for Rajasthan in which he has scalped 65 wickets, 2 fewer than Shane Watson.
With an average of 29.29 and an economy rate of 7.58, Trivedi has picked up wickets at a strike rate of 23.1 after having given 1904 runs while bowling. Trivedi has also bowled two maiden overs for his side and has also bagged 1 four-fer with his best bowling performance of 4/25.
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3. Shane Warne (58 Wickets) 2008-2011
Highest Wicket Takers for RR: The legendary Shane Warne was the skipper of Rajasthan Royals from 2008 till 2011 and was thus the skipper of the 2008 winning IPL team. Like his international career, he flourished in the IPL. Having played 56 matches, Warne bowled 203 overs in 55 innings while giving away 1471 runs.
With an economy rate of 7.24 and an average of 25.36, Warne had a strike rate of 21 in IPL. He also bagged 1 four-fer enroute to his 58 IPL wickets. With one maiden in IPL, Warne has a best bowling performance of 4/21.
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4. James Faulkner (53 Wickets) 2013-2015
Most Wickets for RR: Man of the Match of the final of the 2015 World Cup, Australian all-rounder James Faulkner has played for Rajasthan in three IPL seasons. The third Australian in the list, James Faulkner has played 48 matches for the Royals and has bowled inn 48 innings scalping 53 wickets in the process.
James has bowled 175.1 overs for the Royals and has in them delivered three maidens. He has given away 1451 runs at an economy rate of 8.28. He averages 27.37 and has a strike rate of 19.8. He also has two five-wicket hauls in his kitty with his best bowling figures for the Royals as 5/16.
Currently the 29-year-old player has no suitors for him in the IPL but with age by his side, he would hope to return to playing in the IPL with strong performance in domestic cricket and in the Big Bash League.
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5. Kevon Cooper (39 Wickets) 2012-2014
Highest Wicket Takers for RR: Caribbean all-rounder Kevon Cooper represented the Royals for three seasons from 2012 to 2014 in which he played 31 matches. The Trinidadian has bowled 119 overs in 31 innings and has gone on to bag 39 wickets. He has given away 959 runs while also bagging 1 maiden over.
Kevon has two four-fers to his name with his best bowling figures of 4/18. With an economy rate of 8.05, Cooper averages 24.58 and has a strike rate of 18.3.
Since the 2014 season, he has not been seen in the IPL, however, has represented the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL recently.
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