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 - Kagiso Rabada
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.
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.
Most wickets in a single IPL season - Harshal Patel 32 wickets in 2021
Pacer Harshal Patel delivered an unforgettable performance in IPL 2021, becoming the joint-highest wicket-taker in a single season with 32 wickets in just 15 matches.
Representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Patel mastered the art of death bowling. His sharp slower balls, perfect yorkers, and deceptive pace made life difficult for even the most destructive batter. He was awarded the Purple Cap for his brilliance and remains a benchmark for bowlers in the IPL.
Notably, before Harshal Patel’s heroics, it was Dwayne Bravo who held the record for the most wickets in a single year, achieving the feat in 2013. Playing for Chennai Super Kings, Bravo ended the season with 32 wickets in 18 matches, helping CSK reach the final.
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:
Year
Purple Cap Winner
Team
Wickets
2008
Sohail Tanvir
Rajasthan Royals
22
2009
RP Singh
Deccan Chargers
23
2010
Pragyan Ojha
Deccan Chargers
21
2011
Lasith Malinga
Mumbai Indians
28
2012
Morne Morkel
Delhi Daredevils
25
2013
Dwayne Bravo
Chennai Super Kings
32
2014
Mohit Sharma
Chennai Super Kings
23
2015
Dwayne Bravo
Chennai Super Kings
26
2016
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Sunrisers Hyderabad
23
2017
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Sunrisers Hyderabad
26
2018
Andrew Tye
Kings XI Punjab
24
2019
Imran Tahir
Chennai Super Kings
26
2020
Kagiso Rabada
Delhi Capitals
30
2021
Harshal Patel
Royal Challengers Bangalore
32
2022
Yuzvendra Chahal
Rajasthan Royals
27
2023
Mohammed Shami
Gujarat Titans
28
2024
Harshal Patel
Punjab Kings
24
2025
Prasidh Krishna
Gujarat Titans
25
2026
Kagiso Rabada
Gujarat Titans
29
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.
Kagiso Rabada, IPL 2026 Purple Cap (Source: AFP)
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