The Prestige of the Purple Cap in the IPL
The Purple Cap, awarded to the bowler who takes the most wickets in an IPL season, is one of the most prestigious individual accolades in the tournament. While the IPL is often associated with high-scoring batting performances, there have been several bowlers who have consistently delivered crucial wickets throughout the history of the competition.
In the 2026 season, Gujarat Titans’ fast bowler Kagiso Rabada claimed the Purple Cap after finishing the campaign with 29 wickets in 17 matches. His performance was instrumental in helping the Gujarat Titans reach the final. With this achievement, Rabada became the second bowler in the tournament’s history to win the Purple Cap on two occasions.
A Comprehensive List of Purple Cap Winners (2008–2026)
Below is a detailed list of all the Purple Cap winners from the inception of the tournament up to the 2026 season:
| Year | 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 |
Rabada Joins an Elite Group
Kagiso Rabada first won the Purple Cap in 2020 while playing for Delhi Capitals, where he took 30 wickets in a season. This year’s victory makes him only the fourth bowler in IPL history to claim the award multiple times.
Dwayne Bravo was the first to achieve this feat, winning the Purple Cap in 2013 and 2015, both times representing Chennai Super Kings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar followed suit by winning back-to-back Purple Caps in 2016 and 2017 with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Harshal Patel later joined the group, securing the award in 2021 and 2024 while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings respectively.
Notable Bowlers on the List
While only four bowlers have won the Purple Cap more than once, many others have claimed the award at least once during their careers. These include:
- Sohail Tanvir
- RP Singh
- Pragyan Ojha
- Lasith Malinga
- Morne Morkel
- Mohit Sharma
- Andrew Tye
- Imran Tahir
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Mohammed Shami
- Prasidh Krishna
Dwayne Bravo and Harshal Patel hold the record for the highest number of wickets taken in a single season while winning the Purple Cap. Both took 32 wickets in 2013 and 2021, respectively. Kagiso Rabada’s haul of 30 wickets in 2020 also stands out as a remarkable achievement.
The Legacy of the Purple Cap
The list of Purple Cap winners highlights how some bowlers have made a lasting impact on the IPL, despite the tournament’s reputation for high-scoring batting. From Sohail Tanvir, who won the first Purple Cap in 2008, to Kagiso Rabada’s impressive performance in 2026, the award continues to recognize outstanding bowling talent in the league.
