Top 10 highest earning bowlers in IPL over the years

Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League has been one of the most followed sporting events across the world. With the quality of cricket played in the annual sports extravaganza being consistently high, it has garnered followers from all parts of the globe.

Given the enormity of exposure and the amount of money involved in IPL, cricketers from every nook and corner of the world dream to take part in the cash-rich event. And though the modern-day game has largely become batsman-friendly, there have been some bowlers in the history of IPL who have enjoyed huge success.

Given their potential to turn the game on its head, bowlers have been paid huge rewards too. With IPL 2019 about to start in a month, let us take a look at the top 10 highest earning bowler in the tournament's history.

#10 Ashish Nehra (₹31.53 crore)

Former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra ranks 10th in the list of top 10 highest earning bowlers from the Indian Premier League, with ₹31.53 crore. The Delhi pacer is the 10th highest wicket-taker in the tournament's history with 105 wickets in 88 matches.

The wiry pacer started his IPL stint with Mumbai Indians in 2008 but moved to Delhi Daredevils for the next two editions. Later he plied his trade for the now defunct Pune Warriors, as well as Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, before announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2018.

The 39-year-old has been appointed bowling coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore for the upcoming IPL season.

#9 Zaheer Khan (₹32.42 crore)

The spearhead of the Indian fast bowling attack in the 2000s, Zaheer Khan stands at number 9 in the list with total earnings of ₹32.42 crore.

Zaheer was one of the most versatile bowlers in the world who could swing the ball both ways. With his outstanding skills, Zaheer scalped 102 wickets in 100 matches.

Zaheer started his IPL career with RCB in 2008 and played most of his IPL cricket with that franchise and Mumbai Indians, before moving to Delhi Capitals in 2015.

The left arm pacer announced his international retirement in October 2015 and from IPL as well after the 2016 edition. Recently, the Mumbai Indians have appointed Zaheer Khan as their Director of Cricket Operations.

#8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar (₹34.73 crore)

The two-time Purple Cap holder Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes the number 8 position in the list of highest earning bowlers from IPL with total earnings of ₹ 34.73 Crores.

Bhuvneshwar started his IPL career with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008 and played for Pune Warriors India for the next three seasons before being bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014. Since 2014, Bhuvneshwar has been an integral part of SRH.

The 29-year-old has thus far played 102 matches and picked up 120 wickets with an impressive economy of 7.16, ranking as the sixth highest wicket-taker in the history of the tournament.

He has been retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a whopping sum of ₹8.5 crore for the upcoming IPL edition.

#7 Piyush Chawla (₹42.62 crore)

The Kolkata Knight Riders spinner Piyush Chawla stands at number 7 in the list with a total salary of ₹42.62 crore.

The leg-spinner began his IPL career with Kings XI Punjab in 2008 and played for them for the first six editions of the IPL. In 2014, Chawla shifted to KKR and has been representing them since then. Chawla has been retained by KKR again for a huge sum of ₹ 4.26 Crores.

The 30-year-old has thus far played 144 matches and scalped 140 wickets with a decent economy of 7.71, standing as the third highest wicket-taker in the history of the tournament.

#6 Irfan Pathan (₹42.72 crore)

The swing master Irfan Pathan take No. 6 position in the list with a total IPL salary of ₹42.72 Crores.

Irfan started his IPL career with Kings XI Punjab in 2008 and played for them till 2010. He was later picked by the Delhi Daredevils and plied his trade for them from 2011 to 2013. The Baroda Bomber later went on to play for SRH, CSK, RPS and GL for the years 2014. 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Irfan has featured in 103 IPL matches, picking up 80 wickets with a decent economy of 7.78. The 34-year-old was unsold in the 2018 IPL Auctions and has now turned into a commentator.

#5 Dale Steyn (₹43.65 crore)

The Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn features at number 5 in this list with a total IPL salary of ₹43.65 crore.

The fearsome bowler started his IPL stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008 and played for them for the first three editions. Later Steyn played for Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad during 2011-12 and 2013-15 respectively, before being roped in by Gujarat Lions in 2016.

Thus far Steyn has featured in 90 IPL matches and scalped 92 wickets with an exceptional economy of 6.72.

#4 Lasith Malinga (₹46.22 crore)

One of the most feared and mysterious bowlers in the history of cricket, Lasith Malinga finds himself at number 4 in the list of top 10 highest earning bowlers from IPL, with a total salary of ₹46.22 crore.

Malinga started his IPL stint with Mumbai Indians in 2008 and has been playing for them since then. The Sri Lankan star has thus far featured in 110 IPL matches and has picked up 154 wickets with an outstanding economy of 6.87, and is the leading wicket-taker in the history of the tournament.

He has been bought by MI for a sum of ₹2 crore for the upcoming IPL.

#3 Harbhajan Singh (₹54.14 crore)

The veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh takes the No. 3 position in the list of highest earning bowlers from IPL with a total salary of ₹54.14 crore.

Harbhajan started his IPL stint with Mumbai Indians in the inaugural edition in 2008 and represented them for the first 10 editions, before being roped in by Chennai Super Kings in 2018. He has been retained by CSK for this year's IPL for a sum of ₹2 crore.

The 38-year-old has thus far played in 149 matches and has picked up 134 wickets with a decent economy of 7.05, standing as the fifth highest wicket-taker in the history of the tournament.

#2 Ravichandran Ashwin (₹57.29 crore)

India's ace spinner in the longer format of the game, Ravichandran Ashwin, stands 2nd in the list of top 10 highest earning bowlers in the history of the tournament with a total salary of ₹ 57.29 crore.

The Tamil Nadu-born player started his association with IPL in 2008. He played the first eight editions of the tournament for Chennai Super Kings.

During 2016-17, when CSK was banned, Ashwin plied his trade for Rising Pune Supergiant. He now represents Kings XI Punjab.

#1 Sunil Narine (₹70.24 crore)

The mystery spinner from West Indies leads the list of top 10 earning bowlers from the Indian Premier League With INR 70.24 crore. The Caribbean player is also the second highest earning foreigner in the IPL.

Sunil Narine started his IPL journey in 2012 with Kolkata Knight Riders, and has been playing for the same franchise ever since. The off-spinner has thus far played in 98 IPL matches scoring 628 runs at an average of 17.44 with the bat and scalping 112 wickets at an impressive economy of 6.54 with the ball.

Narine has been retained by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹12.5 crore for the upcoming season.