Kamal Ghorui
Gujarat Titans unearthed a moment of raw pace brilliance in IPL 2026 as Ashok Sharma sent down the quickest delivery of the season so far during their clash against the Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The young pacer consistently hurried the Royals batters, but it was the final ball of the 16th over that truly stood out. Charging in with intent, Sharma unleashed a searing yorker at 154.2 kmph to Dhruv Jurel, marking the fastest delivery recorded in the ongoing season. The effort not only highlighted his potential but also placed him among the quickest bowlers to feature in the league this year. The Indian Premier League has long been a stage for extreme pace, with several fast bowlers pushing the limits of speed. Despite Sharma’s effort, the all-time record still belongs to Shaun Tait, whose thunderous 157.71 kmph delivery in 2011 remains unmatched. Representing the Rajasthan Royals, Tait produced that fiery spell against the then Delhi Daredevils in Jaipur. Bowling with hostility, he had already dismissed Virender Sehwag before testing Aaron Finch with sheer pace. The record delivery beat Finch all ends up, narrowly flying over the stumps. Over the years, a few have come close. Lockie Ferguson clocked 157.3 kmph during the IPL 2022 final while playing for Gujarat Titans, falling just short of Tait’s mark. Meanwhile, Umran Malik set the benchmark for Indian pacers with a 157 kmph rocket for Sunrisers Hyderabad the same season, later earning an India call-up after a 22-wicket campaign. He also went on to record a 155 kmph delivery in international cricket against Sri Lanka in 2023. More recently, Mayank Yadav made headlines in IPL 2024 by hitting 156.7 kmph for Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, registering one of the fastest deliveries by an Indian in the tournament.
Fastest deliveries in IPL history
| Bowler | Team | Speed (kmph) | Opponent | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaun Tait | Rajasthan Royals | 157.71 | Delhi Daredevils | 2011 |
| Lockie Ferguson | Gujarat Titans | 157.30 | Rajasthan Royals | 2022 |
| Umran Malik | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 157.00 | Delhi Capitals | 2022 |
| Mayank Yadav | Lucknow Super Giants | 156.70 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2024 |
| Anrich Nortje | Delhi Capitals | 156.22 | Rajasthan Royals | 2020 |
Even as new names continue to emerge, Tait’s iconic Jaipur thunderbolt remains the benchmark for extreme pace in the IPL, with every new generation of fast bowlers chasing that elusive record.
