Fastest Delivery in IPL: Record, Season Leaders & Measurement

Quick answer:

The fastest delivery in IPL history, as recorded by the host broadcaster and widely cited cricket databases, belongs to Shaun Tait at 157.7 km/h (97.9 mph). Exact figures can vary slightly by source and tracking system, which is why responsible lists mention the device and broadcast log when quoting top speeds.

A crack of leather, the hiss of air, a blur from hand to gloves. In a league built for adrenaline, the fastest delivery in IPL play remains the most primal jolt. Batters brace for the bouncer; fans crane for the speed gun; commentators pause to let the number land. That moment — split-second and brutal — compresses biomechanics, conditions, and audacity into a single reading on the screen. Yet even that number carries context. Different tracking devices, slightly different measurement points, changing balls, atmospheres, wind. The pursuit of the quickest delivery in IPL history is part arms race, part science experiment, part theater.

This is a deep, expert-driven guide to the fastest ball in IPL competition — the confirmed all-time record, elite entries that populate the top tier, how speeds are actually captured, what counts and what should be treated cautiously, and the evolving cast of bowlers who keep the gun honest. You’ll find Indian pace milestones, team and venue patterns, a conversion primer for km/h to mph, and an up-front methodology so every claim is traceable. Most listicles stop at a top 10; this goes further, because speed deserves care.

All-time fastest ball in IPL

Record holder: Shaun Tait
Speed: 157.7 km/h (97.9 mph)
Source: Host broadcast speed gun; corroborated by match commentary logs and major cricket databases

The upper tier: fastest deliveries in IPL history

The very top of the IPL speed charts forms a distinct cluster. These aren’t simply “quick” balls. They are thunderbolts, the kind that redraw field settings and rattle assumptions. While all speeds below are taken from broadcast guns and/or ball-tracking logs, remember that small discrepancies are normal and arise from equipment, calibration, and environmental conditions. Where different outlets show a narrow range, it’s because separate sources captured the same delivery with slightly different rounding.

Table: All-time elite IPL speeds (as recorded)

Shaun Tait (Rajasthan Royals): 157.7 km/h (97.9 mph) — widely cited by broadcasters and leading databases; set the benchmark that still stands.
Lockie Ferguson (Kolkata Knight Riders/Gujarat Titans): 157.3 km/h (97.7 mph) — recorded by the host broadcast; a modern reference point for top-end pace late in a tournament.
Umran Malik (Sunrisers Hyderabad): 157.0 km/h (97.6 mph) — recorded by the broadcast speed gun in Mumbai; became the defining Indian pace marker of the modern era.
Anrich Nortje (Delhi Capitals): 156.2 km/h (97.0 mph) — tracked in a spell that included multiple 155+ deliveries; commentary logs highlight the sequence against a world-class batter.
Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants): ~154+ km/h (95.7+ mph) — multiple entries above 154 that featured in marquee broadcasts; his heavy length and skiddy action translate cleanly to the gun.
Dale Steyn (Royal Challengers Bangalore/Sunrisers Hyderabad): ~154+ km/h (95.7+ mph) — spikes above 154 captured in multiple seasons; classic side-seam release with whip through the crease.
Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals/Punjab Kings): ~154+ km/h (95.7+ mph) — repeated entries above 152 with confirmed peaks around the mid-154 range; an out-and-in angle that eats time.
Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals/Mumbai Indians): ~153–154 km/h (95.1–95.7 mph) — several logged deliveries in this bracket; hitting that pace from a seemingly effortless repeatable action.
Mitchell Johnson (Mumbai Indians): ~152–153 km/h (94.4–95.1 mph) — early league-era spikes in the low 150s; left-arm angle + late swing accentuated the perceived speed.
Navdeep Saini (Royal Challengers Bangalore/Rajasthan Royals): ~152–153 km/h (94.4–95.1 mph) — Indian pace presence in the low 150s verified by broadcast logs.

If you compare numbers across ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, Wisden, and various team channels, the top four names repeat in different orders only when a site’s inclusion criteria differ. For example, some lists will privilege a specific ball-tracking vendor’s export rather than what flashed on the TV gun. Others will merge separate seasons for the same player into one high watermark. A rigorous approach identifies the delivery, cites the primary broadcast log, and notes when alternate readings exist.

Season leaders: how the speed race shifted

Fast bowling in the IPL has passed through distinct phases:

Early seasons: Raw heat arrived in patches — most notably through Shaun Tait — with roller-coaster wickets and a white ball that stayed hard just long enough to make opening powerplays a test of nerve. Speed guns were already embedded in the broadcast, but calibration standards were still bedding in across venues.
Middle stretch: The league attracted and retained a deeper pool of quicks. Dale Steyn’s peaks, Mitchell Johnson’s bursts, and spells from Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav, and Varun Aaron established a reliable low-150s ceiling in multiple matches. Speeds now appeared more consistently across different venues as pitch preparation professionalized further.
Recent cycles: The ceiling nudged again via Anrich Nortje, Lockie Ferguson, and Mark Wood. Umran Malik’s emergence added a homegrown spearhead who not only flirted with 155+ but spent entire overs hovering above 150. At this stage, the “fastest ball this season” narrative became a weekly watch item, with broadcasters adding speed tickers, heatmaps, and on-screen leaderboards in real time.

If you map season leaders without strict calendar labeling, the trend is unmistakable: the number of deliveries above 150 km/h per season has increased, the distribution across teams is wider, and India’s share of those entries has risen.

Fastest Indian in the IPL: the pace baton

The most celebrated Indian entry on the all-time list is Umran Malik’s 157.0 km/h, recorded in Mumbai and splashed across every sports bulletin by the host broadcaster. That moment mattered for more than the number. It capped a run of matches where his speed didn’t dip under pressure, and it backed up the premise that indigenous pace development could produce international-grade heat without importing overseas specialists.

Other notable Indian quicks by peak IPL speed:

Navdeep Saini: Verified above 152 km/h, with a high-arm action that, when sequenced correctly, produces a late snap at release.
Umesh Yadav: Known more for heavy lengths and seam, with earlier peaks eclipsing 150 and a body of work that shows minimal pace drop across spells when rhythm clicks.
Mohammed Shami: Averages are deceptive; his top-end in the league crosses 150 in spells where the seam presentation is clean and the surface offers carry.
Varun Aaron: Spike entries around 150–151 km/h earlier in the league’s history; raw pace with an open-chested release that amplifies perceived speed.

Among Indian bowlers specifically, the arrival of consistent 150+ episodes per match changed how captains use the powerplay and the death. A captain now has the option to push a young Indian quick into the hard overs without feeling like he’s sacrificing cutting edge. For a league that cycles through venues and pitch types, that flexibility is strategic gold.

By team: where the top speeds live

Every franchise has flirted with the gun at some point, but a few names have left their mark. The following assignments reflect the fastest recorded ball for each team or the most credible high watermark when a direct single-record claim is disputed by source.

Rajasthan Royals: Shaun Tait’s 157.7 km/h is the defining team benchmark. Jofra Archer later pushed repeated entries into the high 140s and low 150s, shaping entire games with two powerplay overs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Umran Malik’s 157.0 km/h stands as the team’s pace emblem, reinforced by consistent overs above 150. Dale Steyn’s early SRH contributions add historical depth.
Delhi Capitals: Anrich Nortje’s 156.2 km/h in an over that included multiple thunderbolts is both the individual and team calling card. Kagiso Rabada’s time at DC also delivered several 152–154 km/h bullets.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Lockie Ferguson’s 157.3 km/h is the team’s top note, supplemented by a broader mix of high-pace options across seasons.
Mumbai Indians: A lineage of speed — Mitchell Johnson’s bursts, Jasprit Bumrah’s upper-140s with lethal deception, and Jofra Archer’s skiddy 150+. Although Bumrah’s artistry often overshadows his top number, his fastest deliveries touch the cusp where technique and timing can look as fast as the gun.
Chennai Super Kings: Historically reliant on control and match-ups over pure pace, CSK nonetheless fielded genuine heat with Lungi Ngidi and later Matheesha Pathirana registering 150+ on the gun. The team’s tactical identity remains centered on grip and guile, but the pace spikes are real.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Dale Steyn’s presence and Navdeep Saini’s surges put RCB on the map for top-end speed. On a ground like M. Chinnaswamy, sheer pace is both weapon and tightrope.
Punjab Kings: Kagiso Rabada’s peak entries above 154 km/h anchor PBKS’s fastest-ball narrative. The franchise has also run with a stable of lively domestic seamers in supporting roles.
Gujarat Titans: Lockie Ferguson’s late-tournament bullet at 157.3 km/h is both franchise folklore and a standard that shaped their approach to middle-overs pressure.
Lucknow Super Giants: Mark Wood’s early-tournament onslaught, including multiple deliveries above 154 km/h, established the franchise’s top speed profile.

Venue patterns: where the gun sings

The fastest delivery in IPL lore is a combination of bowler, ball, and environment. Some venues are friendlier to pace than others, either because of soils, grass cover, atmospheric density, or the way the square is curated.

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai: Hard base, true bounce, and a coastal microclimate that doesn’t punish fast-twitch fibers. Evening humidity can keep the ball skidding and sharp, sustaining speed readings late into the second innings.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata: A surface that has evolved. Modern Eden offers truer bounce and better carry than its reputation from a decade ago, making it fertile for upper-140s and low-150s when the quicks hit length.
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad: Big arena, big deck. New-ball carry can be excellent. Lockie Ferguson’s top reading arrived here under lights, an environment that amplifies the visual drama of the speed readout.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru: Traditionally a batting ground, but when the pitch is fresh and firm, the new ball zips — sometimes deceptively faster than the gun suggests because batters commit early on a short square boundary.
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi: Historically slower, but resurfacing and curation have injected phases with surprising carry. Anrich Nortje’s fiercest spells demonstrated that raw pace plays even on lower-bounce tracks if the bowler hits the seam.
M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai: Spinners dominate the headlines, but a fresh Chepauk can be sneaky quick in the first six. Stretch that window with extra grass and you’ll see occasional 150+ readings before the surface grips.
PCA Stadium, Mohali: Early-season evenings can be fast-bowler-friendly, with bounce that lets the ball kiss the bat rather than stick, keeping the gun honest in the 145–150 corridor.
Ekana Sports City, Lucknow: Black-soil and red-soil pitches yield different pace profiles. When the red-soil strip is prepared hard, Mark Wood’s top-end numbers show exactly what’s possible.
DY Patil and Brabourne, Mumbai: Neutral venues that, in the right window, carry pace beautifully. Several broadcast-verified spikes above 150 come from these surfaces.
UAE legs (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah): On fresh strips, especially under lights, the ball skids. Anrich Nortje’s most feared spell for the Capitals was clocked here, suggesting that in drier air and nighttime conditions, measured speed can remain robust even as the ball ages.

Methodology: how IPL bowling speed is measured

A “fastest ball in IPL” list is only as good as its methods. Too many pages skip the part that matters: how the number reached the TV.

The devices

Broadcast speed gun: A radar-based device tracks the ball near release, often quoting the peak velocity as the seam leaves the hand. This is the number you see on-screen. It captures the maximum, which naturally exceeds the average speed the ball carries to the batter because of air resistance.
Ball-tracking (Hawk-Eye or equivalent): Multi-camera systems track the ball in 3D, generating a velocity vector across its trajectory. These can report speed at release, at pitching, and at the bat. Different outputs might appear in technical feeds or be used by analysts rather than flashed to viewers.

Why numbers differ

Measurement point: A broadcast gun usually quotes peak release speed. Ball-tracking can output speed at different points. If a database logs a different point than the broadcast showed, figures diverge.
Calibration and placement: Stadium layout, gun alignment, and calibration cycles affect readings. When a gun isn’t square to the bowler’s path, marginal under- or over-reads can slip through.
Environmental conditions: Temperature, humidity, wind, and air density alter how quickly the ball decelerates. While peak release speed should, in theory, be device-agnostic, practical set-ups in open stadiums introduce minor variance.
Rounding conventions: One source might round to the first decimal place, another to the nearest whole number. Over a range of entries, this creates small but visible gaps.
Ball condition: A newer, harder Kookaburra holds its shape and seam longer, preserving speed post-release and sometimes correlating with slightly higher measured peaks as release mechanics stay crisp.

Inclusion criteria used here

Primary preference to host broadcast logs that flashed speeds in real time.
Cross-checking against ball-by-ball commentary on major databases when available.
When two credible sources disagree slightly, the higher number is presented with the caveat “as recorded by [source],” and any lower alternate reading is noted where space permits.
No speculative speeds. If a claim lacks a recorded source from the broadcast or reputable tracking data, it’s excluded.

Fastest Indian deliveries in IPL: the definitive tier

India’s pace pool has matured from sporadic fire to sustained heat. The flagship entry is Umran Malik’s 157.0 km/h, recorded on an evening that rewired the domestic conversation about what’s possible for Indian quicks. Behind him sits a cast of bowlers whose peaks sit at or above 150 and whose average pace sits in the upper 140s — a threshold that relentlessly compresses batter decision time.

Umran Malik: 157.0 km/h on TV as the prime data point, plus repeated 150+ overs. Right-arm sling with late arm speed and hip-shoulder separation that holds under fatigue.
Navdeep Saini: Clean front-arm pull and cross-seam variants add perceived hop; top readings in the low 150s.
Umesh Yadav: Seam-up sprinter, with a lively wrist that keeps the ball upright. On responsive decks, his best balls slice through the 150 bar.
Mohammed Shami: Not primarily a speed merchant, yet peaks around 150 with ball that hisses off a length; seam stability translates to deceptively quick bat-to-pad time.
Varun Aaron: Raw action and chest alignment that spiked the gun; accuracy wavered, pace didn’t.

These names matter not just for the record chase, but because they expand the template. Indian fast bowling no longer needs foreign shoulders to guarantee high-octane powerplays in the IPL. That’s a tactical shift.

Fastest over in IPL: stringing together high 150s

Single-ball peaks excite, but the true test is whether a bowler can sit in the 150s for an entire over. Two cases stand out from broadcast and database evidence:

Anrich Nortje’s over to a top-tier batter in the Gulf, where four balls in the over exceeded 154, the fastest hitting 156.2. The batter tried to back away and create room; Nortje adjusted length and kept pounding a channel just outside off, producing a rare sequence where the ball seemed to get on the batter faster each time.
Umran Malik’s powerplay press in Mumbai where five of six deliveries held above 150 with the final ball crossing 155 on the gun. The grip never loosened — literally or metaphorically — despite a field that tempted him to go fuller.

In both cases, the rhythm through the crease, the repetition of a high front elbow, and the refusal to decelerate in the final three strides made the over. Speed is not just a number; it’s a habit sustained across deliveries under pressure.

The craft: how bowlers hit top speed in the IPL

Biomechanics

Run-up: Smooth acceleration beats sprint-and-brake theatrics. Watch Lockie Ferguson build rhythm from the outset; his last five strides are identical regardless of length, letting the arm go full throttle without late compensations.
Gather: A compact gather prevents energy leaks. Shaun Tait’s famous sling looked loose, but the transfer from back foot to front foot was brutally efficient.
Hip-shoulder separation: The engine of elite pace. Nortje and Wood both show exceptional sequencing; the hips fire, the torso whips through, and the arm arrives late but violently.
Release height and alignment: A slightly open alignment can squeeze extra angular momentum, but too much and accuracy collapses. The best balance speed without spraying.

Tactics that get the gun ticking

Short-of-a-length into the pitch: The higher the bounce and carry, the more the ball looks fast and often measures slightly higher if the bowler’s release mechanics stay the same. Ferguson’s heavy length is a case study.
New ball, seam-up: Fresh Kookaburra, upright seam, shinier side presented. The release has less wobble, and peak velocity registers cleanly.
Night games under lights: Cooler air and tighter surfaces can keep the ball feeling skiddy, even if pure physics would suggest denser air. Often the psychological factor — batters late into shots — feeds rhythm.
Follow-up after a bouncer: A classic trick. Bowl a bouncer at 152, then hit a length ball that the batter anticipates slower. The next gun reading pops, and the batter is jammed on the crease.

The flip side: accuracy and economy

High speed is a weapon, not a guarantee. IPL batters arm themselves with quick hands, stable bases, and prepared zones. The scouting is ruthless. Fast bowlers who survive don’t just win the speed race; they carry one additional trick:

Last-moment seam deviation that turns pace into mis-hits.
A discerning yorker that pairs velocity with length to kill scoring areas.
Split-change lengths in consecutive balls so the batter must guess between 150 at the chest and 145 at the knee.

Speed gun accuracy: what fans should know

The gun measures peak speed very near release. It is not the speed at the bat. Air resistance can shave significant km/h off by the time the ball reaches the batter.
Different stadiums can show slightly different numbers for the same bowler because of equipment. This is not cheating; it’s variance. Over a season, the outliers flatten out.
When you see two outlets quote different speeds for the “same” fastest ball, check whether one is quoting the on-air number and the other is pulling a ball-tracking feed. Both can be “true” depending on the measurement point.
On rare occasions, a spike looks implausible — a sudden 160+ flash with no corroboration. Reputable databases will usually ignore these anomalies unless confirmed post-match by the broadcaster.

Team and venue records: how to read them

Because the IPL travels across multiple cities and sometimes different countries, venue-specific fastest deliveries can be sensitive to shorter sample sizes. A “fastest ball at Wankhede” list will skew to players who play more games there, notably those contracted to Mumbai Indians plus visiting teams during dense home stands. Similarly, the league’s occasional shift to neutral venues puts enormous pace spikes into grounds like Dubai and Abu Dhabi that wouldn’t otherwise feature. That’s not a flaw; it’s context.

IPL top bowling speeds vs wickets: does faster mean better?

Data from ball-by-ball logs suggests a nuanced relationship:

Extreme pace correlates with false shots when paired with a consistent line. Anrich Nortje’s wicket-taking bursts illustrate this: balls above 150 at a hard length outside off can produce light edges and miscues.
Raw speed without control gifts runs. A 154 km/h full toss sits up like a missile begging to be launched.
Batters’ scoring areas compress as pace rises. The bat swing shortens; aerial risks rise. But the best T20 batters weaponize pace, using ramp shots and late cuts to turn the bowler’s speed into power. Jofra Archer’s duels with elastically wristed batters show how quickly the equation can flip.

Fastest yorker vs fastest bouncer: different beasts

Fastest yorker in IPL: The best are above 150 and land on the bat toe. Speed guns love them because release mechanics are nearly identical to the hard length ball. The magic lies in precision. Bumrah, Rabada, and Starc can run yorkers that feel faster than the meter because they also dip and tail.
Fastest bouncer in IPL: The spectacle shot. Speed, angle, and shoulder use create a visual of the ball climbing violently. Ferguson and Nortje deliver bouncers where the batter’s grill seems magnetized. The gun might read similarly to a length ball, but the optics amplify fear.

Has anyone bowled 160 km/h in the IPL?

No official record exists of a 160 km/h delivery in the IPL. The top tier sits just under that mark, with Shaun Tait’s 157.7 km/h still the reference point and Ferguson, Umran, and Nortje clustered nearby. You may see occasional social media posts claiming a 160+ missile; unless the host broadcast and reputable databases align, treat those claims skeptically.

150 km/h in mph: a quick reference

145 km/h ≈ 90.1 mph
150 km/h ≈ 93.2 mph
155 km/h ≈ 96.3 mph
157 km/h ≈ 97.6 mph
158 km/h ≈ 98.2 mph

For those who prefer imperial units, these are the key anchors when comparing the IPL’s fastest deliveries with international benchmarks. If you hear “mid-90s mph,” you’re in the 153–155 km/h neighborhood.

Fastest ball vs match impact: the stories behind the numbers

Shaun Tait’s apex number endures because it wasn’t a freak ball into the advertising boards; it lived in a spell that pinned batters deep in the crease. The release — high-elbow sling with shoulders rotating like a turbine — remains a coaching clinic in how to deliver speed without tying your body in knots.

Lockie Ferguson’s top entry combines footspeed and timing that never look frantic. His fast ball retains seam integrity. That gives captains fielding options: extra cover up for the miscued drive, fine leg catching top edges when the bouncer hurries the hook.

Anrich Nortje’s quickest over wasn’t just fast; it was mean in the tactical sense. He read the batter’s cues, shortened the length by half-stump widths, and only then cranked the throttle. Fast bowling is a conversation. He spoke louder every ball.

Umran Malik’s 157 wasn’t a ceiling; it was a chapter. He’d already been pounding 150+ in prior matches, and his rhythm on the night told a story about repetition. If you train the final three strides to be identical regardless of ball type, the arm speed will come along for the ride. That’s a lesson in sustainable pace.

Mark Wood’s surges remind you that not all high speeds look the same on the bat. His heavy length and skiddy trajectory rob batters of postural time. A 152 that hurries you at the ribs can feel faster than a 154 that lands fuller, which is why perceived pace and recorded pace often diverge in the commentary.

Tactical deployment: captains and the speed card

New ball blitz: Two overs of a 150+ quick with fine leg back and a wide slip leave batters negotiating ego and survival. Even if wickets don’t fall, dot-ball pressure inflates required rates.
Middle overs shock: Drop a pace missile into an over where two spinners have lulled a set batter. That single bouncer at 153 changes the next four balls.
Death overs pairing: Raw speed plus a specialist yorker bowler is a familiar template. One rushes the hard length; the other nails toes. Mixing the two shapes decision trees for batters who suddenly can’t premeditate.
Match-ups: Not all batters handle pace the same. Captains use databases to deploy the fastest delivery in IPL arsenals at specific names: a batter with a known pull-shot quirk, a tailender who backs away, a top-order player whose bat path closes early under chest-high heat.

Indian domestic pipeline: why more 150s are coming

To sustain a leaderboard that keeps creeping up, a system needs three things:

Volume of ball: Young quicks bowling a lot, with workload managed to avoid stress injuries. The league environment provides those overs in high-pressure windows.
Coaching sophistication: Biomechanical input that respects individuality yet nudges bowlers toward efficient patterns. You can’t copy-paste action; you refine what’s there.
Incentive: When a speed gun reading can change your role, your auction value, or your national prospects, the system self-selects for pace. The key is channeling it safely — posterior chain strength, ankle stiffness, hip mobility — so pace doesn’t come with a side order of strain.

Hindi corner, because fans ask it in the stands

ipl me sabse tez gend: Shaun Tait, 157.7 km/h
ipl me sabse tez ball kisne dali: Tait again
ipl ka sabse tez gendbaz: For raw speed peaks, the roll call includes Tait, Ferguson, Nortje, and Umran for India

These phrases trend each season, and broadcasters often answer them in real time with on-screen leaderboards.

Video and highlights: where to watch the heat

The cleanest way to verify the fastest ball in IPL history is to revisit official highlight packages on league and broadcaster channels. Clips that show the speed graphic immediately after release are the most credible. Aggregated montages titled “fastest deliveries IPL highlights” often stitch together the key spells from Tait, Nortje, Ferguson, Umran, Rabada, Archer, and Wood. When you watch closely, you’ll notice the consistent last three steps before release — the common denominator across different styles.

FAQ

Who bowled the fastest ball in IPL history?
Shaun Tait, at 157.7 km/h as per the host broadcaster and corroborated by major cricket databases.

What is the fastest ball this IPL season?
The leader typically emerges within the first fortnight and is updated match by match by the broadcaster. Recent seasons have seen Lockie Ferguson, Anrich Nortje, Umran Malik, and Mark Wood cycle atop the in-season leaderboard.

Which Indian bowler holds the fastest IPL delivery?
Umran Malik, with a recorded 157.0 km/h in Mumbai. Multiple overs above 150 accompanied that peak.

Has anyone hit 160 km/h in the IPL?
No official, validated 160 km/h delivery exists in IPL records. The top end clusters in the 156–158 band.

How accurate is the IPL speed gun?
Accurate within a small tolerance. The broadcast gun measures peak release speed; ball-tracking can present speed at different points of the trajectory. Differences of a few tenths — occasionally a whole km/h — are normal across venues and devices.

All-time table: consolidated high marks with source notes

Player	Team	Speed (km/h)	Speed (mph)	Source/Notes
Shaun Tait	Rajasthan Royals	157.7	97.9	Host broadcast; widely cited databases
Lockie Ferguson	Kolkata Knight Riders/Gujarat Titans	157.3	97.7	Host broadcast; final-stage match
Umran Malik	Sunrisers Hyderabad	157.0	97.6	Host broadcast; Mumbai leg
Anrich Nortje	Delhi Capitals	156.2	97.0	Host broadcast; multiple 155+ in one over
Mark Wood	Lucknow Super Giants	154+	95.7+	Host broadcast; early-season surge
Dale Steyn	Royal Challengers Bangalore/Sunrisers Hyderabad	154+	95.7+	Host broadcast; multiple seasons
Kagiso Rabada	Delhi Capitals/Punjab Kings	154+	95.7+	Host broadcast; repeated peaks
Jofra Archer	Rajasthan Royals/Mumbai Indians	153–154	95.1–95.7	Host broadcast; effortless action
Mitchell Johnson	Mumbai Indians	152–153	94.4–95.1	Host broadcast; left-arm burst
Navdeep Saini	Royal Challengers Bangalore/Rajasthan Royals	152–153	94.4–95.1	Host broadcast; high-arm release

Note: Where a plus sign appears, it indicates multiple spikes above the threshold with minor variance across sources.

Conversion quicklook: km/h to mph

150 km/h = 93.2 mph
155 km/h = 96.3 mph
157 km/h = 97.6 mph

Seasonal workflow: keeping this page current

Pre-season: Establish a blank leaderboard and link it from the season hub.
In-season: Update weekly with the fastest ball list and note the latest spike.
Post-season: Freeze the leaderboard, promote the annual leader into the all-time section if applicable, and annotate new entries with source details.

Update log

Last updated: this week. Confirmed top entries and refreshed methodology notes; checked broadcaster logs for the latest in-season leaders.

Sources and verification

ESPNcricinfo ball-by-ball commentary and match reports: for contextual cross-checks of broadcast callouts.
Cricbuzz commentary logs and post-match notes: for corroborating on-air gun readings.
Host broadcaster graphics: primary source for speeds flashed during play.
Team press notes and official IPL communications: occasional confirmations post-match for standout metrics.

Editorial policy and inclusion rules

We cite the recording device where possible.
We avoid definitive claims where reputable sources diverge without resolution; such entries are labeled by source.
We track not only the absolute top speed but also clusters of near-top speeds that reflect a bowler’s sustainable high gear.
We revisit archived broadcasts to confirm visuals when two written sources disagree.

The emotional truth of speed

Cricket understands theater. When a quick hits 155 at twilight and the crowd’s roar crests just as the number pops on the big screen, that’s live sport distilled. And yet the fastest delivery in IPL history isn’t a carnival stunt; it’s the end product of repetition, technique, and nerve. Shaun Tait’s number became a north star. Lockie Ferguson brought composure to the chase. Anrich Nortje added menace in sequences, not just spikes. Umran Malik made every Indian fast bowler believe that the threshold was not a foreign thing. Mark Wood reminded everyone that the gun can’t measure skids and bruises, only speed.

Speed changes fields. It changes plans. It changes auction tables and national selectors’ notes. But it also demands honesty. When a player cranks past 150 in April, can he carry that into the business end, under lights, on a surface that bites back? The fastest ball is a headline; sustained pace is a story.

Final takeaways

The fastest ball in IPL history is 157.7 km/h by Shaun Tait, as recorded by the host broadcaster and affirmed by major cricket databases.
The modern pace era has a cluster of elite entries from Lockie Ferguson, Umran Malik, and Anrich Nortje that sit just below the absolute record.
Indian fast bowling has crossed the psychological 150 barrier with conviction, led by Umran Malik, and supported by peaks from Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Varun Aaron.
Venue, device, and methodology matter. Trust but verify, and always align claims with stated measurement points.
The pursuit of the fastest delivery in IPL competition endures because speed is more than spectacle. It’s a choice — to run in hard, to hit the seam, to dare the batter to blink — and it’s the heartbeat of a league that thrives on split-second drama.