IPL Purple Cap Winners List (2008-2026)

Kagiso Rabada, IPL 2026 Purple Cap (Source: AFP)

Not much has been written about the evolution of bowling in the shortest format of the game, T20. However, Bowling in T20 cricket has transformed from containing runs into a highly aggressive, specialised craft.

There’s a famous saying, "batting wins matches, bowling wins tournaments". In the recent times, we have seen this quote come to life in the Indian Premier League.

Understanding the importance of a bowler in the IPL, the Purple Cap is a distinguished accolade that is awarded to the bowler who secures the most wickets during a season.

IPL 2026 Purple Cap winner

Playing for Gujarat Titans, pacer Kagiso Rabada won the IPL 2026 Purple Cap. He finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 29 wickets in 17 matches. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished in a close second with 28 wickets.

Also read: IPL Orange Cap Winners List (2008-2026)

Notable past recipients include Sohail Tanvir (2008), Lasith Malinga (2011), and Imran Tahir (2019). Dwayne Bravo and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have each won the Purple Cap twice, showcasing consistent bowling prowess.

IPL Purple Cap winners over the years (2008-2026)

Here are all the winners of the Purple Cap in the IPL, which is awarded to the bowler who takes the most wickets each season:

2008: Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan Royals) - 22 wickets
2009: RP Singh (Deccan Chargers) - 23 wickets
2010: Pragyan Ojha (Deccan Chargers) - 21 wickets
2011: Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians) - 28 wickets
2012: Morne Morkel (Delhi Daredevils) - 25 wickets
2013: Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings) - 32 wickets
2014: Mohit Sharma (Chennai Super Kings) - 23 wickets
2015: Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings) - 26 wickets
2016: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 23 wickets
2017: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 26 wickets
2018: Andrew Tye (Kings XI Punjab) - 24 wickets
2019: Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings) - 26 wickets
2020: Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals) - 30 wickets
2021: Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers Bangalore) - 32 wickets
2022: Yuzvendra Chahal (Rajasthan Royals) - 27 wickets
2023: Mohammed Shami (Gujarat Titans) - 28 wickets
2024: Harshal Patel (Punjab Kings) - 24 wickets
2025: Prasidh Krishna (Gujarat Titans) - 25 wickets
2026: Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans) - 29 wickets

FAQs: IPL Purple Cap Winners

Q.1. Who has won the most Purple Caps in the IPL?

Ans. Dwayne Bravo, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, and Kagiso Rabada hold the record for the most Purple Cap wins in Indian Premier League history, with two titles each.

Q.2. What is the Purple Cap in IPL?

Ans. In the Indian Premier League, the Purple Cap is an annual award presented to the leading wicket-taker of the respective edition.

Q.3. Who won the Purple Cap in IPL 2026?

Ans. Gujarat Titans’ Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap in the 2026 Indian Premier League, finishing the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 29 wickets in 17 matches.

Q.4. Who is the highest wicket-taker in IPL?

Ans. Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal holds the record for the most wickets in IPL history, taking 233 wickets in 188 matches.

Also read: All Awards Won By Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In IPL 2026