Sandeep Sharma's 11-Ball Over Sets Unwanted IPL Record in Thriller Against Delhi Capitals

Apr, 30 2025

Sandeep Sharma's Tough Night in Delhi: 11-Ball Over Sets IPL Record

Cricket fans love high drama, but not every record is one you’d want to own. That’s exactly how Sandeep Sharma will remember his latest outing for the Rajasthan Royals. The fast bowler’s final over against the Delhi Capitals on April 16, 2025, at Arun Jaitley Stadium didn’t just keep fans on the edge of their seats—it also dragged an unwanted IPL record straight into the spotlight.

With fans roaring and the stakes sky-high, Sharma was handed the job of bowling the last over of the Delhi Capitals’ batting innings. What followed left even seasoned cricket commentators at a loss for words. Instead of a tight, pressure-packed end, Sharma’s over stretched out to a jaw-dropping 11 balls—marking him down in history as the joint-holder of the record for the most balls in a single IPL over. The over was littered with four wides and a costly no-ball, pumping extra life (and runs) into the DC innings.

By the time he finished, Sharma had coughed up 19 runs in that single, marathon over. Delhi’s Tristan Stubbs was quick to cash in on the chaos, smashing a boundary and a towering six, making those additional deliveries count. The Royals’ strategy to use Sharma in the death overs backfired, shifting the momentum sharply toward the Capitals right when they needed it most.

Tough Club: Sharma Joins Siraj and Thakur in IPL’s Record Books

This isn’t the first time an IPL bowler has found his name attached to an 11-ball over. Sharma now shares this dubious distinction with Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur, both of whom had their own rough rides in earlier editions. In a league that celebrates superhuman consistency in the final overs, finding yourself in this category is a tough pill to swallow.

Sharma’s final figures—33 runs from four overs, without a single wicket—paint the picture of a hard day on a usually unforgiving pitch. Each extra ball didn’t just cost runs; it gave the Capitals the opening to push their total to a solid 188 for 5 wickets. That late surge proved crucial. The Royals’ own batting left things tied, and in the nerve-wracking Super Over that followed, Delhi grabbed victory and all two points.

This match will likely haunt Sharma for some time. It was a classic IPL scene—boisterous crowd, tension pulsing through every run, late batting fireworks, and then a bowler’s nightmare etched in the record books. The Royals will regroup for their next outing, but this rare chapter in IPL history is sure to spark conversations in cricket circles across the country for days to come.