That has shifted how pace is viewed. Speeds that were once rare are now being repeated within the same spell, even if the overall ceiling of fast bowling remains unchanged.
The fastest deliveries in world cricket still sit above 160km/h, but the IPL is not chasing records. It is changing frequency. Bowlers are reaching their top speeds more often, and sustaining them for longer periods within short spells.
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Kagiso Rabada – Gujarat Titans
Rabada typically operates between 139km/h and 142km/h in Test and ODI cricket, with occasional effort balls pushing higher. In IPL 2026, he has been consistently clocked above 150km/h, a level he does not maintain across longer formats.
Kagiso Rabada in 4th over – all 6 deliveries clocked over 150kmph:
153kmph.
151kmph.
154kmph.
152kmph.
152kmph.
151kmph. pic.twitter.com/PxDfcpqXHj— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 24, 2026
Lungi Ngidi – Delhi Capitals
Ngidi’s international speeds sit in the mid-130s to low-140s. In the IPL, he has pushed into the mid-140s more regularly, reflecting the shorter, higher-intensity demands of the format.
Jasprit Bumrah – Mumbai Indians
Bumrah rarely exceeds 145km/h in Tests or ODIs, relying on accuracy and variation. In the IPL, he has moved into the upper 140s more frequently, using pace as a situational weapon rather than a constant.
Nandre Burger – Rajasthan Royals
Burger operates in the high-140s internationally. In the IPL, he has pushed closer to 150km/h more consistently, showing a clear shift in peak output.
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Jofra Archer – Rajasthan Royals
Archer’s pace sits in the upper 140s across formats, but the IPL allows him to sustain those speeds for longer within shorter spells.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Bhuvneshwar remains an outlier. Operating in the 130–135km/h range, his game is built on movement and control, with only marginal increases in pace in T20 cricket.
The comparison is clear. The maximum speeds have not changed significantly across formats, but the frequency of peak deliveries has.
Photo: REUTERS/Amit Dave
