The Purple Cap is one of the most prestigious awards in the Indian Premier League (IPL). It is given to the bowler who takes the highest number of wickets in a season. Introduced in 2008, this award has honored some of the finest bowlers across the world, from pace stars to spin wizards. Over the years, legends like Lasith Malinga, Dwayne Bravo, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, and Prasidh Krishna have worn the cap.
The latest winner of the Purple Cap in IPL 2025 was Prasidh Krishna, who took 25 wickets in 15 matches for Gujarat Titans. His fiery spells and consistency proved crucial for his team.
What is the IPL Purple Cap?
- Awarded to the highest wicket-taker in a season.
- If there’s a tie, the bowler with the better economy rate wins.
- During the tournament, the current leading wicket-taker wears the Purple Cap on the field.
See Also:- Most Unsuccessful Team in IPL History
IPL Purple Cap Winners List (2008–2025)
Here’s the complete year-wise list of Purple Cap winners from 2008 to 2025:
| Year | Player | Team | Wickets | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sohail Tanvir | Rajasthan Royals | 22 | 11 |
| 2009 | RP Singh | Deccan Chargers | 23 | 16 |
| 2010 | Pragyan Ojha | Deccan Chargers | 21 | 16 |
| 2011 | Lasith Malinga | Mumbai Indians | 28 | 16 |
| 2012 | Morne Morkel | Delhi Daredevils | 25 | 16 |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bravo | Chennai Super Kings | 32 | 18 |
| 2014 | Mohit Sharma | Chennai Super Kings | 23 | 16 |
| 2015 | Dwayne Bravo | Chennai Super Kings | 26 | 16 |
| 2016 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 23 | 17 |
| 2017 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 26 | 14 |
| 2018 | Andrew Tye | Punjab Kings | 24 | 14 |
| 2019 | Imran Tahir | Chennai Super Kings | 26 | 17 |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada | Delhi Capitals | 30 | 17 |
| 2021 | Harshal Patel | Royal Challengers BLR | 32 | 15 |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Rajasthan Royals | 27 | 17 |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami | Gujarat Titans | 28 | 17 |
| 2024 | Harshal Patel | Punjab Kings | 24 | 14 |
| 2025 | Prasidh Krishna | Gujarat Titans | 25 | 15 |
Purple Cap Winners Year by Year (2008–2025)
2008 – Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan Royals)
The first Purple Cap winner, Tanvir shocked everyone with his unorthodox left-arm pace. He picked 22 wickets in just 11 games and bowled the historic 6/14 against CSK – a record that lasted more than a decade.
2009 – RP Singh (Deccan Chargers)
RP Singh’s 23 wickets in 16 matches were key in DC’s title win. His accuracy in the powerplay and ability to pick early wickets helped his team dominate in South Africa.
2010 – Pragyan Ojha (Deccan Chargers)
Ojha became the first spinner to wear the Purple Cap, with 21 wickets. His middle-over control gave DC breakthroughs even on batting-friendly tracks.
2011 – Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)
Malinga’s toe-crushing yorkers fetched him 28 wickets in 16 matches, making him one of the most feared bowlers in T20 cricket. His economy under 6 was remarkable.
2012 – Morne Morkel (Delhi Daredevils)
The tall South African pacer used bounce and pace to trouble batters. With 25 wickets, he carried Delhi into the playoffs.
2013 – Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings)
Bravo broke all records with 32 wickets – the highest ever in an IPL season then. His death-over mastery made him CSK’s go-to bowler.
2014 – Mohit Sharma (Chennai Super Kings)
With 23 wickets, Mohit proved his worth as a dependable Indian pacer. His clever slower deliveries stood out in crunch games.
2015 – Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings): Bravo clinched his second Purple Cap with 26 wickets. His variations again made him CSK’s match-winner in the death overs.
See Also:- Most Successful IPL Captains (2008–2025)
2016 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Swing and accuracy earned Bhuvi 23 wickets. His consistency was vital in SRH’s maiden title run.
2017 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad): Back-to-back Purple Caps! This time Bhuvi took 26 wickets, cementing his reputation as India’s finest T20 swing bowler.
2018 – Andrew Tye (Punjab Kings)
The Aussie pacer used slower balls and knuckleballs effectively, finishing with 24 wickets in 14 matches.
2019 – Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings)
At 40, Tahir spun magic with 26 wickets. His energy and leg-spin guided CSK to another IPL final.
2020 – Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals)
Rabada’s fiery pace earned him 30 wickets, taking DC to their first IPL final. He was lethal in the death overs.
2021 – Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Harshal equalled Bravo’s record with 32 wickets. His slower balls and yorkers were game-changers for RCB.
2022 – Yuzvendra Chahal (Rajasthan Royals)
Chahal grabbed 27 wickets, including a match-winning hat-trick. His clever variations made him unstoppable in the middle overs.
2023 – Mohammed Shami (Gujarat Titans)
Shami led GT’s pace attack with 28 wickets, combining new-ball swing and death-over accuracy to perfection.
2024 – Harshal Patel (Punjab Kings)
Harshal became the first player to win Purple Cap with two different franchises. His 24 wickets underlined his death bowling mastery.
Read more: IPL Orange Cap Winners List (From 2008 to 2025)
2025 – Prasidh Krishna (Gujarat Titans)
Prasidh’s 25 wickets showed his growth as a strike bowler. His pace and bounce proved decisive for GT throughout the season.
Players with the Most Purple Cap Wins in IPL History
Some bowlers have been so consistent that they’ve won the award more than once.
| Player | Seasons Won | Total Purple Caps |
|---|---|---|
| Dwayne Bravo | 2013, 2015 | 2 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 2016, 2017 | 2 |
| Harshal Patel | 2021, 2024 | 2 |
| Others (like Malinga, Shami, Chahal, Tanvir, RP Singh, Prasidh Krishna, etc.) | 1 each |
Notable Bowling Performances by Purple Cap Winners
- Sohail Tanvir (2008) – 6/14 vs CSK (stood as record figures for over a decade).
- Dwayne Bravo (2013) – 32 wickets in a season, still joint-most in IPL history.
- Harshal Patel (2021) – 32 wickets in just 15 matches, equalling Bravo’s record.
- Mohammed Shami (2023) – Match-winning 4/11 in Qualifier 1 for Gujarat Titans.
- Prasidh Krishna (2025) – 5/21 against Delhi Capitals, his best spell of the season.
Team-Wise Purple Cap Records
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – 3 times (2013, 2015, 2019)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – 2 times (2016, 2017)
- Delhi Capitals (DC) – 2 times (2010, 2020)
- Punjab Kings (PBKS) – 2 times (2018, 2024)
- Gujarat Titans (GT) – 2 times (2023, 2025)
See Also:- Best All-Rounders in IPL History
Records in Purple Cap IPL History
- Most wickets in a season – 32 by Dwayne Bravo (2013) & Harshal Patel (2021).
- Best economy among winners – Lasith Malinga (5.95 in 2011).
- Only back-to-back winner – Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2016 & 2017).
- Latest winner (2025) – Prasidh Krishna (25 wickets for GT).
The IPL Purple Cap has showcased the brilliance of bowlers who rise above the challenges of T20 cricket. From Tanvir’s historic spell in 2008 to Prasidh Krishna’s dominance in 2025, the award highlights how crucial wicket-taking ability is in this fast-paced league.
With new talents emerging every season, the race for the Purple Cap continues to excite fans and remind everyone that in a batter’s game, bowlers still hold the power to change matches.
