‘Expensive over’ in cricket means that a bowler loses a lot of runs in one over, alters the course of the game. T20 is all about runs and any ball can be the match changer, thus these overs are significant. There have been quite a few expensive overs in IPL as the tournament has a reputation for flamboyant batsmen and attacking cricket. In pressure, bowlers can give many sixes and fours resulting in most sixes in IPL.
This article also outlines the most expensive IPL over, a topic that fans of the game enjoy hearing about.
The Most Expensive Over in IPL History
In IPL year 2011, Kochi Tuskers Kerala cricketer Prashant Parameswaran delivered the costliest over in IPL cricket history. This season’s sensational record was made in the match held at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Bangalore against the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. Chris Gayle, the big-hitting West Indian cricketer, took 37 runs from this over, which was also the IPL’s record at that time.
In this over, Gayle again looked aggressive and dangerous as he made 37 Runs with the help of 6 consecutive Boundaries including 4 sixes and 3 fours, and also a no-ball. The conveyance of successive hits left everybody shocked. This extraordinary performance brought out the most expensive over in IPL and spectators as well as commentators were left astounded by Gayle’s power strikes. Gayle finished well in this inning and marked his name on the list of IPL best finishers.
List of expensive overs
Cricket analysts on social media, applauded for Gayle’s authority as the viewers clapped for. But the burden of this fiery attack was borne by Parameswaran who hit a beast in IPL, a moment which would be associated forever with IPL’s big hits.
- Prashanth Parmeswaran (KKR) scored 37 runs against RCB. Chris Gayle in 2011.
- Harshal Patel (RCB) scored 37 runs against CSK. Ravindra Jadeja in 2021.
- Daniel Sams (MI) scored 35 runs against KKR. Pat Cummins in 2022.
- Parwinder Awana (PBKS) – 33 runs vs. CSK. Suresh Raina in 2014.
- Ravi Bopara (PBKS) scored 33 runs against KKR. Chris Gayle in 2010.
Read More: Most ducks in IPL 2008-2025 or Most Golden ducks in IPL history
Analysis of the Most Expensive Over in IPL
In the most popular IPL match of 2011 in Cricket history Zaheer Khan was bowled by Prashanth Parameswaran of Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Chris Gayle was left with 37 runs. Looking at the over, it started with a Wide at the beginning, followed by two more Sixes, three Four, and another Six to finish it. As for the bowler, it was the combination of bad length deliveries and Gayle, a force who capitalized on every loose shot.
Gayle’s approach was clear: he looked to score as many runs as possible by setting his focus on Parameswaran, who was under a lot of stress after the initial few balls; the pitch was ideal for batting. As shown below, if a bowler begins to surrender in a pressure match, more substandard deliveries can be delivered.
Harshal Patel’s over
The same could be felt in 2021 when RCB’s Harshal Patel bowling overstepped the line while delivering 37 runs over CSK’s Ravindra Jadeja who majored in aggressive approach and timely boundaries to manage the pace. Big hitters go after bowlers with great pressure and inaccurate lengths as noted in other poor overs as Suresh Raina’s 33-run over Parwinder Awana in 2014 and Pat Cummins’s 35 off Daniel Sams in 2022.
Some of the batsmen as Gayle, Jadeja, and Raina take advantage of even the slightest error to turn the game around, hence making each of these overs a great test of patience for a bowler. Batsman hits many sixes in this over and These sixes often result in the Highest score in IPL history.
| Runs | Bowlers | Batters | Team | Run Sequence | Venue |
| 37 | P.Parameswaran (KTK) | Chris Gayle | RCB | 6 nb 6 4 4 6 6 4 | Banglore |
| 37 | Harshal Patel (RCB) | Ravindra Jadeja | CSK | 6 6 nb6 6 2 6 4 | Mumbai WS |
| 35 | Daniel Sams (MI) | Pat Cummins | KKR | 6 4 6 6 nb2 4 6 | Pune |
| 33 | Parvinder Awana (KXIP) | Suresh Raina | CSK | 6 6 4 4 nb4 4 4 | Mumbai WS |
| 33 | Ravi Bopara (KXIP) | Chris Gayle and Manoj Tiwari | KKR | 1 6 6 6 6 wd5 wd1 1 | Kolkata |
Notable Expensive Overs in IPL History
Harshal Patel scored 37 runs in the 2021 match between RCB and CSK.
Harshal Patel bowled the most expensive over in IPL history. The IPL 2021 Purple Cap winner bowled the last over of the RCB innings against CSK. Ravindra Jadeja’s bat scored 37 runs (6, 6, 6nb, 6, 2, 6, 4). CSK scored 191 runs in this over and won the game by 69 runs. In the three overs before this one, Harshal Patel had 3/14. Jadeja also once was the Most Expensive Player in the IPL.
Prashanth Parmeswaran: 37 runs (KTK vs. RCB, 2011)
The over that Prashanth Parmeswaran bowled cost the second most in the IPL. When Parmeswaran played for the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011, he let Chris Gayle score 37 runs in a single over. RCB won by nine wickets thanks to Gayle’s sixes, sixes, fours, sixes, and fours. In the IPL, Parmeswaran only played eight games but took nine wickets.
Daniel Sams scored 35 runs in the 2022 match between MI and KKR.
Australia’s Daniel Sams bowled the third-most pricey over in IPL history. He has a left-arm pace. He let another Australian, Pat Cummins, score 35 runs. Cummins hit 6, 6, 4, 6, 2nb, 4, and 6 in the six legal balls to end the game in the same over. They needed 35 runs from 30 balls. He also scored fifty faster than anyone else in IPL history in the same game.
Parwinder Awana scored 33 runs in the 2014 match between PBKS and CSK.
In 2014, Parwinder Awana played for Kings XI Punjab, which is now known as Punjab Kings. He made the list of bowlers who cost the most in the IPL. Suresh Raina hit Awana for 33 runs (6, 6, 4, 4, 4nb, 4, 4) on his way to 87 runs off 25 balls as CSK scored 226 runs. In their 20 overs, CSK got 202 runs.
The Most Expensive 4 Over in IPL History
When it costs a lot of runs, a bowler’s 4-over session can decide a game in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Famous bowlers have had some of the most expensive 4 over in IPL history due to pitch circumstances, aggressive batting, and enormous pressure.
Important examples are:
- In 2018, Basil Thampi scored 70 runs in 4 overs for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
- In 2019, Mujeeb Ur Rahman scored 66 runs in 4 overs for Kings XI Punjab against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- In 2013, Umesh Yadav scored 65 runs in 4 overs for Delhi Daredevils against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
These expensive stints are notable for the number of runs, the dominance of potent batting lineups, and game conditions that put pressure on bowlers. Bowlers may collapse under constant hitting, resulting in high run aggregates that affect match performance. These costly overs are generally caused by flat pitches, small boundaries, and aggressive batting.
These periods are famous in IPL history and are often used as case studies to study bowling under pressure and how situations may affect even the best players.
Read More: Best bowling figures in IPL History 2008-2025
Impact of Expensive Overs on IPL Matches
These highlighted moments show how unpredictable T20 cricket is, where a single over can completely change the direction of the game, putting a lot of pressure on bowlers and giving batters chances to turn games around in a big way. As the IPL changes, these high-stakes overs are exciting moments for fans because they show the risks and benefits of playing aggressive T20.
Expensive overs can change the momentum of a T20 contest, especially in the IPL. Every run counts and a costly over can ruin the bowling side, giving the batting team a boost.
Prashanth Parameswaran surrendered 37 runs in an over against Chris Gayle in 2011, helping Royal Challengers Bangalore. In 2021, Harshal Patel’s 37-run over to Ravindra Jadeja gave Chennai Super Kings the win. These situations demonstrate how costly overs may change game trajectories, putting bowlers under strain.
After costly overs, some bowlers recover, but others collapse. Bowlers in the IPL must manage high-stakes situations when one over might decide the match.
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FAQs
Q: What is the most expensive over in IPL history?
Two bowlers share the most expensive over in IPL:
- Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore) thrashed Prashanth Parameswaran (Kochi Tuskers Kerala) for 37 runs in 2011.
- Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings) hit Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers Bangalore) for another 37-run over in 2021.
Q: Who holds the record for the most expensive 4-over spell in IPL?
Mohit Sharma of the Gujarat Titans holds the record for the most expensive 4 over in IPL history:
In 2024, Mohit Sharma bowled against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Runs given up: Four overs from Mohit Sharma yielded 73 runs.
Previous record holder: Basil Thampi of Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 70 runs in four overs against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018.
Q: How often do expensive overs occur in the IPL?
There aren’t many expensive overs in IPL, but they do happen sometimes, especially when big hits go after bowlers who are under a lot of pressure. This kind of over usually happens in the last few overs or when bowlers get off track.
