5 Bowlers Who Can Break Harshal Patel’s Record of Most Wickets in an IPL season

Harshal Patel (L) and Arshdeep Singh (R) (Source: X)

In IPL 2021, the former RCB pacer Harshal Patel scripted history with the ball, becoming the bowler with the most wickets in an IPL season in the tournament’s history. 

He picked 32 wickets in 15 innings, with a brilliant bowling strike rate of 10.56, including one four-wicket haul and one five-wicket haul. However, RCB were knocked out of the tournament after a defeat in the Eliminator, but Harshal Patel ended up winning the purple cap. 

Harshal Patel equalled former CSK great Dwayne Bravo’s record of 32 wickets in an IPL season, but the former achieved the feat in three fewer innings than Bravo did. Harshal’s record is unbroken for the last four editions across almost five years. 

Nevertheless, there are some of the currently active bowlers in IPL who can break Harshal Patel’s record of most wickets in an IPL season. So, here we’ll have a look at the five players who can achieve this rare milestone. 

5 Bowlers who can break Harshal Patel’s record of most wickets in an IPL season 

Kagiso Rabada - Gujarat Titans

The former DC and PBKS pacer, Kagiso Rabada, was bought by the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He is set to be in action for GT in the upcoming IPL 2026. Earlier, Rabada was one of the most successful bowlers in an IPL season on two occasions, while playing for DC in 2019 and 2021.

In IPL 2019, he was the second-leading wicket-taker with 25 wickets in 12 innings, at an economy rate of 7.82, and claimed two four-wicket hauls. Furthermore, he became the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2020-21, bagging 30 wickets in 17 innings, including two four-wicket hauls. 

Given that, Rabada’s wicket-taking abilities make him one of the strong contenders to break Harshal Patel’s record of most wickets in an IPL season. 

Jasprit Bumrah - Mumbai Indians

The star pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, was one of the vital cogs in the wheel in the Mumbai Indians’ title-winning journey in IPL 2020-21. He was the second leading wicket-taker in the tournament, alongside being the leading wicket-taker for his side. 

Bumrah claimed 27 wickets in 15 innings, with a decent economy rate of 6.73, including two four-wicket hauls. It also includes his best performance of ‘four wickets for just 14 runs in a match’. 

Currently, he is enjoying an amazing run of form with the ball in the shortest format of the game. So, he could also be the bowler to achieve the milestone of most wickets in an IPL season. 

Rashid Khan - Gujarat Titans

The star Gujarat Titans spinner, Rashid Khan, has emerged as one of the most successful bowlers in IPL over the last few editions. He was also the joint-second leading wicket-taker in IPL 2023, alongside his teammate Mohit Sharma, following the senior pacer Mohammed Shami. 

Rashid snared 27 wickets in 17 innings, with an economy rate of 8.23, picking one four-wicket haul. Rashid will be in action for GT in the upcoming IPL 2026, so he can also become the first bowler to surpass Harshal Patel’s record of 32 wickets in an IPL season. 

Sunil Narine - Kolkata Knight Riders

The veteran KKR spin-bowling all-rounder, Sunil Narine, has been one of the most unplayable bowlers in the IPL. In the entire 19-year history of the IPL across 18 editions, Narine is the third-highest wicket-taker of all time. 

He has picked 192 wickets in 187 innings of the 189 IPL games he has played, including seven four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul. Besides that, he played a pivotal role with the ball in KKR’s first-ever IPL title win in 2012. 

In IPL 2012, Sunil Narine finished the tournament as the second leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets in 15 innings, with an outstanding economy rate of 5.47, including one four-wicket haul and one five-wicket haul. 

Narine has the ability to repeat the same kind of performance to become the bowler with the most wickets in an IPL season, surpassing Harshal Patel. 

Arshdeep Singh - Punjab Kings

The left-arm pacer, Arshdeep Singh, has been in action for the Punjab Kings since his IPL debut in 2019. In his seven-year-long IPL career across seven editions, Arshdeep has picked 97 wickets in 81 innings, including two four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul. 

Besides that, he was the leading wicket-taker for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 and played a crucial role in the team's journey to the tournament’s final. Arshdeep claimed 21 wickets in 16 innings, with an economy rate of 8.88, including the best performance of ‘three wickets for just 16 runs in a match’. 

He has an amazing wicket-taking ability to take wickets with the new ball during the powerplay phase and later in the death overs. So, he also has a knack for surpassing Harshal Patel to become the bowler with the most wickets in an IPL season.