IPL Purple Cap winners List – from (2008–2025)

In the IPL, it’s not just batters who steal the spotlight; bowlers play an equally crucial role in shaping match results. The IPL Purple Cap celebrates the players who claimed the most wickets in each season, showcasing consistency, skill, and pressure management throughout the tournament. 

From deadly pacers to clever spinners, these bowlers broke partnerships and turned games in their teams’ favour. Each Purple Cap winner tells a story of dominance with the ball.

IPL Purple Cap Winners List – Season Wise Highest Wicket Takers

Dwayne Bravo (2013) and Harshal Patel (2021) share the joint record with 32 wickets in a single season.

Season Highlights: Purple Cap Winners Through the Years

• Sohail Tanvir – 2008 (RR): Tanvir’s left-arm angle and cutters caught batters off guard in the inaugural IPL. His early breakthroughs played a crucial role in the Rajasthan Royals’ first-ever IPL trophy win.
• R. P. Singh & Pragyan Ojha – 2009–2010 (DCH): These two spinners spearheaded Deccan Chargers’ bowling dominance. Ojha’s control through the middle overs complemented RP Singh’s powerplay swing perfectly.
• Lasith Malinga – 2011 (MI): Malinga’s slingy yorkers became death-over nightmares. His 28-wicket season defined the Mumbai Indians’ bowling blueprint for years.
• Morne Morkel – 2012 (DD): Morkel exploited bounce and pace at the top, regularly dismissing elite openers with hard lengths.
• Dwayne Bravo – 2013 & 2015 (CSK): Bravo mastered slower balls before they became fashionable. His 2013 season remains iconic, often breaking partnerships at the death.
• Mohit Sharma – 2014 (CSK): Using variations and clever angles, Mohit thrived under MS Dhoni’s tactical guidance.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 2016 & 2017 (SRH): Bhuvi combined swing upfront with pinpoint yorkers late. His back-to-back Purple Caps underline rare consistency for a fast bowler.
• Andrew Tye – 2018 (KXIP): Tye’s knuckle balls troubled batters on flat pitches, making him Punjab’s surprise weapon.
• Imran Tahir – 2019 (CSK): At 40, Tahir showed that age is irrelevant for spinners. His celebratory sprints became as famous as his wickets.
• Kagiso Rabada – 2020 (DC): Rabada dominated UAE surfaces with raw pace and bounce, reaching 30 wickets despite reduced home advantage.
• Harshal Patel – 2021 & 2024: Harshal reinvented himself with slower deliveries and clever lengths, matching Bravo’s 32-wicket record in 2021 and returning strong in 2024.
• Yuzvendra Chahal – 2022 (RR): Chahal’s loop and drift brought wickets in clusters, reviving leg-spin’s relevance in T20 cricket.
• Mohammed Shami – 2023 (GT): Shami’s upright seam and relentless accuracy made him the Gujarat Titans’ spearhead.
• Prasidh Krishna – 2025 (GT): Krishna’s bounce and hard lengths signalled the rise of India’s next fast-bowling leader.

Key Trends in IPL Purple Cap History

• Death-over specialists dominate modern seasons.
• Variations matter more than raw speed.
• Spinners still win Purple Caps on slower pitches.
• Indian bowlers now rival overseas pacers
• Fitness and workload management define longevity.

Bowling in IPL has evolved from pace-only to tactical mastery.

Conclusion

The IPL Purple Cap List reflects cricket’s changing bowling philosophy. From Malinga’s yorkers to Chahal’s flight and Rabada’s pace, every era produces its own wicket-taking heroes.

As the IPL continues to grow faster and tougher, Purple Cap winners remind us that bowlers still decide championships.

Because in T20 cricket, wickets change momentum, and momentum wins titles.

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