Purple Cap / IPL top wicket taker
Use the Purple Cap list as a wicket-volume reference. For "Purple Cap 2025" or "current Purple Cap holder", confirm in the publisher's current season page; this page is the historical list.
IPL bowling records
IPL Purple Cap winners and wicket-taking context.
The Purple Cap list shows who led an IPL season in wickets. Read it alongside bowling phase, overs expected and pitch conditions instead of using a historic total as a shortcut.
Phrase hub
Near-variant searches — answered in place
Purple Cap most times / repeat winners
Repeat Purple Cap winners show sustained wicket-taking; check bowling phase (powerplay / middle / death) and expected overs before treating the cap as a captaincy trigger.
Purple Cap winners by season
The Purple Cap recognises the leading wicket-taker in a completed IPL season. Bowling opportunity varies by powerplay, middle overs, death overs and matchups. The 2026 season went to Kagiso Rabada — see the dedicated 2026 recap for the top three.
| Rank / season | Player / team | Record context |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sohail Tanvir | 22 wickets |
| 2009 | RP Singh | 23 wickets |
| 2010 | Pragyan Ojha | 21 wickets |
| 2011 | Lasith Malinga | 28 wickets |
| 2012 | Morne Morkel | 25 wickets |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bravo | 32 wickets |
| 2014 | Mohit Sharma | 23 wickets |
| 2015 | Dwayne Bravo | 26 wickets |
| 2016 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 23 wickets |
| 2017 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 26 wickets |
| 2018 | Andrew Tye | 24 wickets |
| 2019 | Imran Tahir | 26 wickets |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada | 30 wickets |
| 2021 | Harshal Patel | 32 wickets |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal | 27 wickets |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami | 28 wickets |
| 2024 | Harshal Patel | 24 wickets |
| 2025 | Prasidh Krishna | 25 wickets |
| 2026 | Kagiso Rabada | 29 wickets (GT, 17 matches) |
- Season totals are listed for completed seasons through 2026.
- Wickets depend on matches played, innings state and bowling allocation.
- The 2026 Purple Cap went to Kagiso Rabada with 29 wickets — paired with Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 28 and Jofra Archer's 25.
- Player names use ordinary text; verify record spellings against the current official scorecard before republishing.
How to use Purple Cap history in fantasy cricket
Start with expected overs, not the cap itself. A death-overs specialist can have a higher wicket ceiling but more run-risk; a powerplay bowler benefits from a new ball; a spinner depends on matchup and surface. Check current selection and phase allocation before captaincy.
Continue to the IPL stats hub, team-building framework, or captain selection guide.
FAQ
Is this a live IPL leaderboard?
No. These pages are historical reference guides using completed-season or published-record data. Confirm current standings, squads and match conditions in the competition's current information before making a fantasy decision.
Can historical IPL records guarantee fantasy points?
No. A record is context, not a prediction. Combine it with announced selection, current role, workload, venue and contest format.
Does a Purple Cap winner always make the best captain?
No. Captaincy needs a current role with multiple routes to points. Compare expected overs, wicket opportunities, economy risk, fielding and the match surface before choosing.
Make the next decision from current evidence
Historical records are a starting point. Confirm the XI, map the role and choose a contest you can explain.
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