IPL : Three Bowlers with Extreme Pace and Short run up 

The run-up is the crucial element for any fast bowlers and helps them generate the pace that makes them such a difficult proposition for most batters. The longer the run-up is, the more energy generated and the faster the ball is. However, some bowlers have a pretty short run up but still bowl with lightning speed, leaving everyone stunned. These bowlers have confounded batters with their ability to generate such extreme pace from a short run-up. Here is a look at three bowlers from the IPL who can bowl with express speed despite their short run-up.

Mark Wood

The 27-year English right arm pacer also holds his name on bowlers' list with a short run-up. His run-up may be short, but it is a pounding one. He is a slippery and skiddy bowler and has a surprise bouncer in his arsenal. However, there is something that distinguishes him from many other fast bowlers in the world. He bowls off a remarkably slow run-up but generates a pace above 90 miles per hour on even the most unresponsive pitches. Usually, fast bowlers hit the top speed in their run-up at the crease; however, the approach of Mark Wood is quite different. He stretches his right leg back and launches into a sprint. The pacer made his IPL debut in 2018 for Chennai Super Kings.

Harshal Patel

Harsh Patel, a bowler who is an ace card in the RCB bowling line up has been defying batters with his lightning speed and variations despite his short run-up. His control of the ball is something unique that only Harshal Patel has. His out-swinger, in-swinger, slower ball, cutters, and many other variations are what give him his identity. He is reputed for his lusty blows down the order in the death overs, making it difficult for batters to score. In the last few years, the pacer has emerged as one of the key players for RCB. Overall, Harshal has 91 wickets under his belt in 73 IPL matches with an average of 23.12. He also was the Purple Cap holder in the 2021 edition of the tournament with 32 wickets, the joint highest in an IPL season. Harshal is consistent with his magic in the current season, with the ball clinching 13 wickets in 10 matches. Harshal Patel also owns a hat trick on his name against MI, which might be one of the most outstanding achievements by the bowler.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah, one of the finest bowlers that the cricketing world has ever seen, is ruling the IPL with sensational bowling. His toe crushing Yorkers at more than 140 Kmph is like a nightmare for any batter. The right-arm pacer doesn't have a long run-up but still gets over 140 kph. He is one of the few bowlers who are outstanding with the ball despite short run-ups. Coming to Bumrah's unique style, one might observe that his point of release of the ball helps him generate an angle that a left-handed gets to a right-handed, although Bumrah is a right-handed bowler. So, this allows him to bowl perfect yorkers along with lightning speed. Over the years, Bumrah has become a significant asset for Mumbai Indians and has contributed to the team's success throughout the league. In his 116 IPL matches so far, Bumrah has clinched 135 wickets at an average of 24.44. Bumrah's unique bowling action, especially with the short run-up, is what makes it difficult for batters to formulate in their minds the pace at which that ball is coming.