Most Wickets in Indian Premier League

Just as the batting has improved many folds, bowling also took many turns over the years. Several improved techniques of bowling have always given an edge to the bowlers. The bowler who has the most aggregate wickets at the end of the season is awarded purple cap in IPL. Improved performances in the IPL add up to their value for the next IPL auction and also at times, gives them a chance to represent their country in International tournaments. Cricket Addictor presents the list of players who won the purple cap in IPL history.

Purple cap in Indian Premier League is the most highly rated award for a bowler and players compete to their level best to perform well, leading their teams to win and at the same time, to appear on the IPL purple cap list all season. When the tournament began in 2008, Sohail Tanvir who bagged 22 wickets playing for RR was the first purple cap holder in IPL. RP Singh followed the next year bagging 23 wickets for Deccan Chargers (now defunct). Pragyan Ojha and the Sri Lankan stump-wreck Lasith Malinga won the purple cap in IPL for MI in the next two seasons bagging 21 and 28 wickets respectively. South African pacer Morne Morkel became the best bowler in IPL 2012, winning the award for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) scalping 25 wickets. Dwayne Bravo playing for CSK in the fourth season of the league set a record of scalping 32 wickets in a single season and hence became the most successful IPL purple cap holder. Mohit Sharma won the cap for CSK again in the following season with 23 wickets in his bag. CSK bagged their third consecutive purple cap with Dwayne Bravo scalping  26 wickets for the team in 2015.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the only bowler to win the purple cap in Indian Premier League history for two consecutive seasons with 23 and 26 wickets in his bank in the 9th and 10th seasons of the league respectively. Andrew Tye (PBKS), Imran Tahir (CSK), and Kagiso Rabada (DC) won the purple cap in the three following years (2018, 2019, and 2020) bagging 24, 26, and 30 wickets respectively. In the 14th season, Harshal Patel, who went by the name “Purple Patel” wrecked havoc on teams, scalping 32 wickets and equalling the record set by Dwayne Bravo. Yuzvendra Chahal, the leggie from India, rooted 27 wickets for RR and won the purple cap in 2022. Mohammad Shami was the last purple cap holder IPL (2023) taking 28 wickets for GT at a stunning strike rate.

Now with the commencement of another season of IPL, stay updated on the list of purple cap in IPL all season on Cricket Addictor.