IPL Purple Cap Winners List: Every Season from 2008 to 2026 With Full Stats
The IPL Purple Cap goes to the tournament’s leading wicket-taker and it has been won by some of the most devastating bowlers T20 cricket has ever seen. IPL 2026 is now live and a new race has begun. Check the full IPL 2026 match schedule to follow every game as the bowling charts start taking shape.
What is the IPL Purple Cap?
The Purple Cap is awarded each season to the bowler who takes the most wickets across all matches. It is updated after every game during the season and the final holder at the end of the tournament keeps it. Unlike batting where strike rate and average both matter for the Orange Cap, the Purple Cap is straightforward. Most wickets wins.
Dwayne Bravo holds the record for most Purple Caps with two, winning in 2013 and 2015. Harshal Patel is the only other player to win it twice, taking it in 2021 and 2024. Bhuvneshwar Kumar won back-to-back Purple Caps in 2016 and 2017, the only player to defend the title in consecutive seasons.
IPL Purple Cap Winners: All Seasons 2008 to 2025
| Season | Player | Team | Wickets | Matches | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Prasidh Krishna | Gujarat Titans | 25 | 15 | 19.52 | 8.27 |
| 2024 | Harshal Patel | Punjab Kings | 24 | 14 | 19.88 | 9.73 |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami | Gujarat Titans | 28 | 17 | 18.64 | 8.03 |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Rajasthan Royals | 27 | 17 | 19.52 | 7.75 |
| 2021 | Harshal Patel | RCB | 32 | 15 | 14.34 | 8.15 |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada | Punjab Kings | 30 | 17 | 18.26 | 8.34 |
| 2019 | Imran Tahir | CSK | 26 | 17 | 16.57 | 6.69 |
| 2018 | Andrew Tye | Rajasthan Royals | 24 | 14 | 18.66 | 8.00 |
| 2017 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | SRH | 26 | 14 | 14.19 | 7.05 |
| 2016 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | SRH | 23 | 17 | 21.30 | 7.42 |
| 2015 | Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 26 | 17 | 16.38 | 8.14 |
| 2014 | Mohit Sharma | CSK | 23 | 16 | 19.65 | 8.39 |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 32 | 18 | 15.53 | 7.95 |
| 2012 | Morne Morkel | Delhi | 25 | 16 | 18.12 | 7.19 |
| 2011 | Lasith Malinga | Mumbai Indians | 28 | 16 | 13.39 | 5.95 |
| 2010 | Pragyan Ojha | Deccan Chargers | 21 | 16 | 20.42 | 7.29 |
| 2009 | RP Singh | Deccan Chargers | 23 | 16 | 18.13 | 6.98 |
| 2008 | Sohail Tanvir | Rajasthan Royals | 22 | 11 | 12.09 | 6.46 |
Records and Highlights in Purple Cap History
A few numbers from the history books stand out and deserve their own spotlight.
- Most wickets in a single season: Harshal Patel took 32 wickets in IPL 2021, the joint highest alongside Dwayne Bravo’s 32 in 2013
- Most Purple Caps: Dwayne Bravo and Harshal Patel both have two each
- Best economy by a Purple Cap winner: Lasith Malinga at 5.95 in 2011 remains the best economy rate by any Purple Cap holder
- Best average by a Purple Cap winner: Sohail Tanvir with 12.09 in 2008 in just 11 matches
- Only back-to-back winner: Bhuvneshwar Kumar won in 2016 and 2017 for Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Overseas winners: Sohail Tanvir, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Andrew Tye and Lasith Malinga have all won from outside India
- Gujarat Titans players: Both Prasidh Krishna (2025) and Mohammed Shami (2023) won the Purple Cap for GT in their two most recent seasons
Team-Wise Purple Cap Wins
| Team | Purple Cap Wins | Players |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 4 | Bravo x2, Mohit Sharma, Imran Tahir |
| Gujarat Titans | 2 | Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar x2 |
| Punjab Kings | 2 | Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel |
| Rajasthan Royals | 2 | Sohail Tanvir, Andrew Tye |
| Mumbai Indians | 1 | Lasith Malinga |
| Deccan Chargers | 2 | RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha |
| Rajasthan Royals | 1 | Yuzvendra Chahal (as RR) |
| Delhi | 1 | Morne Morkel |
| RCB | 1 | Harshal Patel (2021) |
CSK lead the team count with four Purple Cap seasons, driven heavily by Dwayne Bravo’s two titles and their historically strong bowling culture. Deccan Chargers, despite folding after 2012, won two Purple Caps in 2009 and 2010.
Top Five-Wicket Hauls in Purple Cap History
Only a handful of bowlers have taken five wickets in an innings while competing in the Purple Cap race. It is rare in T20 cricket and the list is short across 18 seasons.
- Sohail Tanvir, 2008
- Harshal Patel, 2021
- Yuzvendra Chahal, 2022
- Wanindu Hasaranga, 2022
- Umran Malik, 2022
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 2017
- JP Faulkner, 2013
- Sunil Narine, 2012
- Lasith Malinga, 2011
- Munaf Patel, 2011
- Anil Kumble, 2009
2022 was the most prolific year for five-wicket hauls in the Purple Cap race with three different bowlers taking fifers in the same season.
Who Can Win IPL 2026 Purple Cap?
IPL 2026 started on March 28 and the Purple Cap race is already underway. Based on recent form and squad compositions, these are the bowlers to watch. Check the live IPL 2026 points table to track how team results are shaping the bowling charts in real time.
| Bowler | Team | Why They Are a Contender |
|---|---|---|
| Prasidh Krishna | GT | Defending Purple Cap, 25 wickets in 2025 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | MI | Best economy in recent seasons, match-winner every game |
| Arshdeep Singh | PBKS | 21 wickets in 2025, improving with age |
| Noor Ahmad | GT | 24 wickets in 2025, lethal left-arm wrist spin |
| Josh Hazlewood | RCB | 22 wickets in 2025 for RCB |
| Varun Chakravarthy | KKR | 21 wickets in 2024, mystery spinner |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | – | Multiple top-five finishes, proven wicket-taker |
Jasprit Bumrah’s average of 16.80 and economy of 6.48 in IPL 2024 were both the best among any bowler with 20-plus wickets. If he stays fit through IPL 2026 he is the standout favourite regardless of what the early wicket charts show. Browse the full IPL 2026 team squads and player details to check bowling rosters for every franchise.
Season-by-Season Purple Cap Top Five at a Glance
| Season | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Prasidh Krishna 25 | Noor Ahmad 24 | Hazlewood 22 |
| 2024 | Harshal Patel 24 | Varun Chakravarthy 21 | Bumrah 20 |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami 28 | Mohit Sharma 27 | Rashid Khan 27 |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal 27 | Hasaranga 26 | Rabada 23 |
| 2021 | Harshal Patel 32 | Avesh Khan 24 | Bumrah 21 |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada 30 | Bumrah 27 | Trent Boult 25 |
The competition at the top of the Purple Cap leaderboard in 2023 was the tightest in IPL history. Shami, Mohit Sharma and Rashid Khan all finished within one wicket of each other across 17 matches. Shami’s final tally of 28 edged out Mohit’s 27 by the narrowest margin at the top since the award began. Watch all the action live with the IPL 2026 streaming guide so you never miss a wicket that shifts the rankings.
FAQs
Who has won the most IPL Purple Caps?
Dwayne Bravo and Harshal Patel have both won the IPL Purple Cap twice. Bravo won in 2013 and 2015 for CSK while Harshal won in 2021 for RCB and 2024 for Punjab Kings.
Who won the IPL 2025 Purple Cap?
Prasidh Krishna of Gujarat Titans won the IPL 2025 Purple Cap with 25 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 19.52 and economy of 8.27.
What is the highest number of wickets taken by a Purple Cap winner?
Harshal Patel took 32 wickets in IPL 2021, jointly matched by Dwayne Bravo’s 32 wickets in IPL 2013. Both remain the highest single-season tally by any Purple Cap winner.
Which team has produced the most Purple Cap winners?
Chennai Super Kings lead with four Purple Cap seasons through Dwayne Bravo twice, Mohit Sharma and Imran Tahir. Gujarat Titans are next with two from Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna.
Who was the first IPL Purple Cap winner?
Sohail Tanvir of Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural IPL Purple Cap in 2008 with 22 wickets in just 11 matches at an average of 12.09, one of the most dominant bowling displays relative to games played in the award’s history.
Who has the best economy rate among Purple Cap winners?
Lasith Malinga’s economy of 5.95 in IPL 2011 remains the best economy rate ever recorded by a Purple Cap winner. He took 28 wickets that season for Mumbai Indians while conceding under 6 runs per over.
