IPL Purple Cap: Full List from 2008 to 2025 and Top Wicket-Takers Explained

Since its inception, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has transformed cricket into a thrilling and high-octane spectacle that fans worldwide love. Among various awards offered by IPL, the Purple Cap holds a special place as there is very little for bowlers in T20 cricket. 

The IPL Purple Cap award honors the leading wicket-takers of the season who disrupt the rhythm of opposition batters and change the course of the matches. 

In this article, we will explore the prestigious Purple Cap award. We will look at its significance, the winners list from 2008 to 2025, and the bowlers who dominated this award. 

Let’s get started!

What is the IPL Purple Cap?

Before looking at the winners list, let’s understand what is IPL Purple Cap. It is awarded to the player who takes the most wickets during a season of the IPL. The award was introduced back in 2008 when the IPL started. 

During the matches, the highest wicket-taker wears the cap. At the conclusion of the tournament, the bowler with the highest number of wickets officially wins the Purple Cap award. 

This award is there to recognize the contribution of the best bowling figures in a format dominated by the batsman. 

Purple Cap Winners Year by Year (2008–2025)

Now that you know what Purple Cap is in IPL, let’s look at the previous winners in this category. Here is the complete table showcasing every IPL Purple Cap winner since 2008. 

IPL Purple Cap Winner:

TBD: To Be Declared

Note: We will update the 2025 list after the conclusion of the current IPL 2025 season. 

Sohail Tanveer First Ever IPL Purple Cap

The first ever Purple Cap in IPL was won by Pakistan’s Sohail Tanveer playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR). It was a time when Pakistani players were allowed to participate in the IPL. 

In the inaugural season of IPL, Sohail picked up 22 wickets in just 11 matches. His performance played a pivotal role in Rajasthan winning the title. His career-best performance of 6/14 against Chennai Super Kings remained the best bowling figure for more than a decade in IPL. 

Purple Cap in IPL

Indian Bowlers’ Time in 2009 and 2010

After the extraordinary performance of Sohail Tanveer in 2008, Indian pace bowlers dominated the next two seasons. 

• In 2009, RP Singh took 23 wickets in just 16 matches. He was playing for Deccan Chargers and his unexpected performance allowed them to win the title in 2009. 
• Playing for the same franchise in 2010, Pragyan Ojha took 21 wickets in 16 matches. 

Overseas Bowlers Dominated from 2011 to 2015

• 2011 was the breakout year for Lasith Malinga in the IPL. Playing for Mumbai Indians, he took 28 wickets in 16 matches. It was a record at that time. 
• In 2012, we saw the lanky South African Morne Morkel take 25 wickets for Delhi Daredevils in just 16 matches. 
• Dwayne Bravo shattered some records in 2013 when he took 32 wickets in just 18 matches. His ability to bowl in the death was something to cheer for. 
• In 2014, Mohit Sharma took 23 wickets for Chennai Super Kings and won the Purple Cap in IPL. 
• Come 2015, Bravo again showed why he is one of the best all-rounders in the world. He took 26 wickets in 17 matches for Chennai Super Kings. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Back-to-Back Purple Caps

Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 23 wickets in 17 matches in the 2016 season of IPL. It was a good performance but not extraordinary. What he did next season was something to aspire to. 

He also won the Purple Cap in the IPL in 2017 as well for his tally of 26 wickets in 14 games. He was the first Indian bowler to win two Purple Caps in IPL. 

Another Era of Overseas Bowlers Domination (2018 to 2020)

After the excellence from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, we saw another era of overseas bowlers topping the charts of leading wicket-takers. 

• In 2018, Andrew Tye, the Australian fellow, topped the Purple Cap list with 24 wickets in 14 games. 
• Imran Tahir had a great season in 2019 while playing for Chennai Super Kings and ended the season with 26 wickets in 17 games. 
• During the pandemic year 2020, Kagiso Rabada became only the third bowler in IPL history to reach the 30-wicket mark in a single season.  

Indian Dominance in the New Century (2021 onwards)

• IPL purple cap 2021 was won by Harshal Patel as he rejuvenated himself and ended the season with a mind-boggling 32 wickets. He equaled the record of Dwyane Bravo of most wickets in a single IPL season. 
• After Royal Challengers Bengaluru let go of Yuzvendra Chahal, he was not happy. For Rajasthan Royals in 2022, he topped the wickets charts with 27 wickets in 17 matches. Thus, he received IPL purple cap 2022​
• In the 2023 IPL season, we saw another Indian speedster, Mohammad Shami, showcasing his class by taking 28 wickets in 17 matches and winning the IPL 2023 purple cap​​. 
• In the 2024 season, Harshal Patel became the only player in the history of IPL to win Purple Cap awards for two different teams. He took 24 wickets in 14 matches for Punjab Kings in 2024. 

Most Iconic Purple Cap Performances

Some of the Purple Cap performances have stood out not just because of the number of wickets but for the overall impact on the season. Here is a list of some of the best performances by top-quality bowlers in IPL. 

• Dwayne Bravo (2013): He took a record 32 wickets in that season and helped CSK (most dangerous team) to finish strong in the season. 
• Harshal Patel (2021): In 2021, he matched Bravo’s record of 32 wickets and was a game-changing bowler for RCB. 
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2016 & 2017): He became the first bowler in IPL to win consecutive Purple Cap awards. It is a very rare feat in the IPL. 
• Kagiso Rabada (2020): He delivered raw pace during an intense season played entirely in the UAE. 

Players with Multiple Purple Cap Wins

Some top-class players have etched their names in history by winning the Purple Cap more than once in this prestigious tournament. 

Here is the list. 

• Dwayne Bravo – (2013, 2015)
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar – (2016, 2017)
• Harshal Patel – (2021, 2024)

Impact of Purple Cap on a Player’s Career

Winning the Purple Cap in the IPL is something that people take great pride in. These performances often catapult players into stardom. Have a look at the impact of winning the Purple Cap in the T20 Cricket League. 

• It boosts their brand value in the IPL auction, and they start getting lucrative contracts. 
• It often leads to a call-up or solidifies their place in the national team. 
• With greater visibility, they can get more commercial deals. 

Conclusion

The IPL Purple Cap race has been one of the most thrilling aspects of every IPL season. Fans debate about it on various social media platforms and root for their favorite players. 

The award celebrates the art of bowling, which is a crucial element in T20 cricket. So, winning the Purple Cap is a badge of honor for any player. 

We are excited to bring you all the details about this special nugget in the IPL. Who will be seen sporting the Purple Cap next time? It’s a question that everybody wants to get an answer to. The answer will become clear only when the time is right. 

All you can do is cheer for your favorite bowlers and watch them create some magic on the field. 

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