RCB vs PBKS: Wanindu Hasaranga Clinches Purple Cap In IPL 2022; Levels With Yuzvendra Chahal

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga on Friday (May 13) bagged the purple cap of IPL 2022 during the match against Punjab Kings (PBKS).

The Mayank Agarwal-led PBKS dented hopes in RCB’s quest for the elusive IPL title with a comprehensive 54-run victory.

The England duo of Jonny Bairstow (66) and Liam Livingstone (70) scored brisk half-centuries to put up a mammoth 209/9 on the board.

RCB vs PBKS: Wanindu Hasaranga claims 2/15 to earn the purple cap

Bairstow’s fireworks pounded 83 runs in the powerplay overs, 59 of those runs came off the Englishman’s willow.

After Bairstow’s carnage, Hasaranga was introduced in the attack in the seventh over and the leg-spinner didn’t fail to deliver. The Sri Lankan dismissed compatriot Bhanuka Rajapaksa on the very fourth delivery of his first over.

Hasaranga didn’t permit Bairstow to play the big shots, even though the England batter got a boundary behind the stumps through an inside edge.

In his final over, the Sri Lankan turner crashed the stumps of Jitesh Sharma with a wily googly delivery when the batter charged down the track only to be deceived.

Hasaranga finished with 2/15 from four overs and took his tally to 23 wickets in 13 games at an economy rate of 7.49.

The Sri Lankan moved to the top of the leading wicket-takers list in IPL 2022 even though he leveled with Rajasthan Royals leg-spin bowler Yuzvendra Chahal.

I appreciate Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling all the time: Wanindu Hasaranga

Hasaranga leads the charts based on a superior economy rate to Chahal (7.54) but the latter has played one game less than his Sri Lankan counterpart in the battle of the IPL 2022 purple cap.

Hasaranga said he maintains amicable relations with Chahal since they played together for RCB last year and appreciated his bowling.

“I played the second half of the last season with Yuzi, so we both are very good friends. I appreciate his bowling all the time and he also does the same for me,” Hasaranga said on RCB Bold Diaries. 

Chahal will have the opportunity to regain the purple cap when Rajasthan Royals clash with Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday (May 15).

Also Read: RCB vs PBKS: Watch – Wanindu Hasaranga’s Brilliant Googly Castles Jitesh Sharma For 9