Prasidh Krishna won the IPL Purple Cap in 2025, finishing with 25 wickets in 15 matches for Gujarat Titans.
The Purple Cap is awarded each season to the highest wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League. Since 2008, this award has been a badge of honour for bowlers who dominate a format that heavily favours batters.
This guide covers every IPL Purple Cap winner from 2008 to 2025, including wicket counts, key stats, records, and team-wise trends. Whether you want a quick reference table or deep season-by-season detail, it’s all here.
Complete IPL Purple Cap Winners List (2008–2026)
The table below covers every Purple Cap winner across 18 seasons of the Indian Premier League. Quick-reference style, with all the numbers you need.
| Year | Player | Team | Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sohail Tanvir | Rajasthan Royals | 11 | 22 |
| 2009 | RP Singh | Deccan Chargers | 16 | 23 |
| 2010 | Pragyan Ojha | Deccan Chargers | 16 | 21 |
| 2011 | Lasith Malinga | Mumbai Indians | 16 | 28 |
| 2012 | Morne Morkel | Delhi Daredevils | 16 | 25 |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bravo | Chennai Super Kings | 18 | 32 |
| 2014 | Mohit Sharma | Chennai Super Kings | 16 | 23 |
| 2015 | Dwayne Bravo | Chennai Super Kings | 16 | 26 |
| 2016 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 17 | 23 |
| 2017 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 26 |
| 2018 | Andrew Tye | Kings XI Punjab | 14 | 24 |
| 2019 | Imran Tahir | Chennai Super Kings | 17 | 26 |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada | Delhi Capitals | 17 | 30 |
| 2021 | Harshal Patel | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 15 | 32 |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Rajasthan Royals | 17 | 27 |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami | Gujarat Titans | 17 | 28 |
| 2024 | Harshal Patel | Punjab Kings | 14 | 24 |
| 2025 | Prasidh Krishna | Gujarat Titans | 15 | 25 |
Season-by-Season Breakdown of Every IPL Purple Cap Winner
Numbers tell one story. Context tells a richer one. Let’s walk through each season and understand what made these bowling performances special.
2008: Sohail Tanvir (Rajasthan Royals) – 22 Wickets in 11 Matches
Pakistan’s Sohail Tanvir became the first-ever IPL Purple Cap winner in the tournament’s inaugural season.
His unorthodox left-arm pace and late swing made him nearly unplayable. Tanvir’s figures of 6/14 against Chennai Super Kings at Jaipur remain one of the greatest bowling spells in IPL history
That spell held the record for the best bowling figures in IPL for over a decade until Alzarri Joseph’s 6/12 in 2019.
Tanvir finished with a bowling average of 12.09 and an economy rate of 6.46. He also hit the winning runs in the final, helping Rajasthan Royals pull off a fairytale title win under Shane Warne.
2009: RP Singh (Deccan Chargers) – 23 Wickets in 16 Matches
RP Singh became the first Indian to win the Purple Cap. The left-arm seamer was instrumental in Deccan Chargers‘ title-winning campaign in South Africa.
Singh maintained an economy of 6.98 and consistently struck with the new ball during powerplay overs. His 4-wicket haul in the final against Royal Challengers Bangalore sealed Deccan’s championship run.
Fun fact: RP Singh is one of only three players to win both the Purple Cap and IPL title in the same season (alongside Sohail Tanvir in 2008 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in 2016).
2010: Pragyan Ojha (Deccan Chargers) – 21 Wickets in 16 Matches
Pragyan Ojha wrote a piece of history by becoming the first spinner to win the IPL Purple Cap.
The left-arm orthodox spinner was a quiet assassin in the middle overs for Deccan Chargers. He combined tight economy with regular breakthroughs, proving spinners could be match-winners in T20 cricket too.
Ojha’s 21 wickets came at a time when IPL was still figuring out its identity, and his success opened the door for future spinners chasing the Purple Cap.
2011: Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians) – 28 Wickets in 16 Matches
When you think toe-crushing yorkers, you think Lasith Malinga. The Sri Lankan speedster terrorised batting lineups for Mumbai Indians with 28 wickets.
That was the highest wicket tally in a single IPL season at the time. His economy rate of 5.95 is still the best among all Purple Cap winners (source: Sportskeeda IPL stats).
Malinga’s slingy action and precise yorkers made him effective in both powerplay and death overs, a rare combination even today.
2012: Morne Morkel (Delhi Daredevils) – 25 Wickets in 16 Matches
Morne Morkel used his 6’5″ frame to extract steep bounce on Indian pitches. The South African pacer’s 25 wickets for Delhi Daredevils made him the first South African Purple Cap winner.
His best figures of 4/20 against Kolkata Knight Riders showcased his ability to combine pace with sharp bounce, something few bowlers could replicate in Indian conditions.
2013: Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings) – 32 Wickets in 18 Matches
This is where the Purple Cap record got serious. Dwayne Bravo smashed through the 30-wicket barrier with 32 wickets for CSK, a record that stood for eight years.
Bravo’s death bowling was elite. Slower balls, wide yorkers, and clever changes of pace made him the go-to man in the final four overs. No wonder MS Dhoni trusted him with the most pressure-filled overs.
Those 32 wickets remained the most wickets in a single IPL season until Harshal Patel matched it in 2021.
2014: Mohit Sharma (Chennai Super Kings) – 23 Wickets in 16 Matches
Mohit Sharma was not the fastest bowler around, but he was smart. His 23 wickets came through clever swing with the new ball and devastating slower deliveries at the death.
Playing alongside Bravo and Ashish Nehra at CSK clearly helped him sharpen his T20 craft. This was CSK’s third different bowler to win the Purple Cap, proving MS Dhoni’s teams always backed their bowlers.
2015: Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings) – 26 Wickets in 16 Matches
Dwayne Bravo became the first bowler to win the Purple Cap twice. His 26 wickets in 2015 confirmed his status as T20 cricket’s finest death bowler at the time.
Two Purple Caps, both for Chennai Super Kings. If there’s ever a debate about CSK’s bowling legacy, Bravo’s name settles it pretty quickly.
2016: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 23 Wickets in 17 Matches
Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s swing bowling was on a different level in 2016. His 23 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad helped the franchise win their maiden IPL title.
Bhuvi is one of the rare bowlers who won both the Purple Cap and IPL trophy in the same season. His ability to move the ball both ways with the new ball and maintain accuracy at the death was a complete package.
2017: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 26 Wickets in 14 Matches
Bhuvneshwar Kumar went back-to-back, becoming the only bowler to win consecutive Purple Caps. His 26 wickets came in just 14 matches, giving him a better strike rate than his 2016 campaign.
His 5-wicket haul against Kings XI Punjab in that season was a masterclass in swing bowling. Bhuvi’s economy of 7.05 showed he wasn’t just taking wickets; he was choking the runs too.
2018: Andrew Tye (Kings XI Punjab) – 24 Wickets in 14 Matches
Australian Andrew Tye brought his knuckleball to Kings XI Punjab and batters simply couldn’t figure it out. His 24 wickets came through clever variations rather than raw pace.
Tye’s success showed that in T20 cricket, a bowler doesn’t need to clock 150 kph. Intelligence and unpredictability are just as lethal.
2019: Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings) – 26 Wickets in 17 Matches
At 40 years old, Imran Tahir became the oldest Purple Cap winner in IPL history. His 26 wickets for CSK came with an economy of just 6.69, proving age is genuinely just a number.
Tahir’s wild celebration sprints after every wicket became as iconic as the wickets themselves. His leg-spin and sharp googlies made him almost unreadable in the middle overs.
This was also CSK‘s fourth Purple Cap win overall (Bravo twice, Mohit Sharma, and Tahir), making them the team with the most Purple Cap winners in IPL history.
2020: Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals) – 30 Wickets in 17 Matches
Kagiso Rabada dominated the UAE edition of the IPL with 30 wickets for Delhi Capitals. That made him only the third bowler (after Bravo and Malinga’s 28) to breach the 30-wicket mark.
Rabada’s raw pace combined with sharp bouncers made him effective across all phases. His consistency helped Delhi Capitals reach their first-ever IPL final.
2021: Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – 32 Wickets in 15 Matches
Harshal Patel equalled Dwayne Bravo’s record of 32 wickets in a single IPL season, and he did it in fewer matches (15 vs. 18).
Playing for RCB, Harshal used slower balls, dipping yorkers, and off-pace bouncers to perfection. His death bowling was so effective that captains had to completely rethink their approach against him.
By IPL’s official tiebreaker rules, Bravo still leads because of his better economy rate, but the 32-wicket club currently has just two members.
2022: Yuzvendra Chahal (Rajasthan Royals) – 27 Wickets in 17 Matches
Yuzvendra Chahal‘s leg-spin earned him 27 wickets for Rajasthan Royals, including a hat-trick against Kolkata Knight Riders (finishing with 5/40 in that match).
Chahal’s ability to outthink batters with subtle variations in flight and pace makes him one of the best spinners in IPL history. His economy of 7.75 reflected both control and wicket-taking intent.
2023: Mohammed Shami (Gujarat Titans) – 28 Wickets in 17 Matches
Mohammed Shami‘s seam bowling was a thing of beauty in 2023. His 28 wickets for Gujarat Titans came with an impressive economy of 7.00.
Shami excelled especially in powerplay overs, using his upright seam position and ability to hit the right lengths consistently. His new ball spells regularly set the tone for Gujarat’s bowling attack.
2024: Harshal Patel (Punjab Kings) – 24 Wickets in 14 Matches
Harshal Patel claimed his second Purple Cap, this time playing for Punjab Kings. That made him the only bowler to win the Purple Cap with two different IPL teams
His best figures of 3/15 came against Gujarat Titans. Harshal’s slower ball variations continued to be his biggest weapon, and his 24 wickets proved his 2021 season was no fluke.
2025: Prasidh Krishna (Gujarat Titans) – 25 Wickets in 15 Matches
Prasidh Krishna capped off a stellar season by winning the IPL 2025 Purple Cap with 25 wickets for Gujarat Titans.
He edged out CSK’s Noor Ahmad (24 wickets) and Mumbai Indians’ Trent Boult (22 wickets) in a tightly contested race. Krishna’s pace and bounce troubled batters throughout the tournament.
Krishna became the seventh Indian and second Gujarat Titans bowler (after Shami in 2023) to win the Purple Cap. The IPL 2025 season was won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who lifted their maiden title by defeating Punjab Kings in the final.
IPL Purple Cap Rules and Criteria
The rules are straightforward, but the tiebreaker is what trips people up. Here’s the breakdown.
- Primary Criterion: The bowler with the most wickets in the season wins the Purple Cap.
- Tiebreaker: If two bowlers finish on equal wickets, the one with the better (lower) economy rate wins. This was confirmed by multiple IPL sources including Wikipedia’s IPL awards page and CricTracker.
- Mid-Match Rule: If an opposition bowler overtakes the current leader during a live match, the previous holder keeps the cap until that match ends. The cap changes hands after the match concludes.
- Eligibility: All bowlers registered for the current IPL season are eligible, regardless of nationality.
Players With Multiple IPL Purple Cap Wins
Only three bowlers have won the IPL Purple Cap more than once. Here’s the exclusive club.
| Player | Seasons Won | Total Caps |
|---|---|---|
| Dwayne Bravo | 2013, 2015 | 2 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 2016, 2017 | 2 |
| Harshal Patel | 2021, 2024 | 2 |
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the only bowler to win it in consecutive seasons (2016 and 2017). Harshal Patel is the only bowler to win it for two different franchises (RCB in 2021, Punjab Kings in 2024).
Team-Wise IPL Purple Cap Winners Analysis
Some franchises have consistently produced top-wicket takers while others are still waiting. Here’s the team-by-team count.
| Team | Purple Cap Wins | Players |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 4 | Bravo (2), Mohit Sharma, Imran Tahir |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2) |
| Gujarat Titans | 2 | Mohammed Shami, Prasidh Krishna |
| Deccan Chargers | 2 | RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha |
| Rajasthan Royals | 2 | Sohail Tanvir, Yuzvendra Chahal |
| Delhi Daredevils/Capitals | 2 | Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada |
| Mumbai Indians | 1 | Lasith Malinga |
| Kings XI Punjab/PBKS | 2 | Andrew Tye, Harshal Patel |
| RCB | 1 | Harshal Patel |
Chennai Super Kings lead with 4 Purple Cap wins (Bravo in 2013 and 2015, Mohit Sharma in 2014, and Imran Tahir in 2019). MS Dhoni’s bowling-friendly captaincy clearly paid dividends.
Interestingly, KKR and LSG are the only current franchises yet to produce a Purple Cap winner.
Pace vs Spin: Who Dominates the Purple Cap?
T20 cricket is supposed to be a batter’s game, but fast bowlers have clearly owned the IPL Purple Cap. Here’s the split.
| Category | Wins | Notable Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Pace Bowlers | 14 | Tanvir, Malinga, Morkel, Bravo, Bhuvneshwar, Tye, Rabada, Shami, Krishna |
| Spin Bowlers | 4 | Pragyan Ojha, Imran Tahir, Yuzvendra Chahal, Noor Ahmad (runner-up 2025) |
Pace bowlers have won 14 out of 18 Purple Caps, which is roughly 78%. Only Pragyan Ojha (2010), Imran Tahir (2019), and Yuzvendra Chahal (2022) have won it as specialist spinners. Bravo is often classified as a medium-pace bowling all-rounder.
The takeaway? Death bowling with pace still matters most when it comes to piling up wickets across a full IPL season.
Key IPL Purple Cap Records and Interesting Facts
Most wickets in a single season: 32, held jointly by Dwayne Bravo (2013, 18 matches) and Harshal Patel (2021, 15 matches). Bravo holds the official edge due to better economy rate per IPL rules.
Fewest matches to win Purple Cap: Sohail Tanvir won it in just 11 matches (2008), the fewest in IPL history.
Oldest winner: Imran Tahir at 40 years old (2019). Proof that wrist-spin ages like fine wine.
Best economy among winners: Lasith Malinga‘s 5.95 economy in 2011 remains the most miserly among all Purple Cap holders.
First spinner to win: Pragyan Ojha in 2010 broke the pace-dominated streak.
Only consecutive winner: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2016 and 2017) is the only bowler to win back-to-back.
Purple Cap + IPL Title in the same season: Only three bowlers have achieved this double: Sohail Tanvir (2008), RP Singh (2009), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2016).
Indian vs Overseas winners: Indian bowlers have won the Purple Cap 9 times while overseas players have won it 9 times, making it an evenly split contest.
IPL 2026: What to Expect From the Purple Cap Race
The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to start on 28 March 2026 and will run until 31 May 2026, featuring 84 matches across 10 teams (source: ESPNcricinfo, Olympics.com).
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will host the opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
With 10 extra matches compared to IPL 2025 (84 vs 74), bowlers will get more opportunities to rack up wickets. That means the Purple Cap race in 2026 could see higher wicket tallies than recent years.
Keep an eye on bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Matheesha Pathirana (bought by KKR for ₹18 crore at the 2026 auction), and Prasidh Krishna looking to defend his crown.
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Conclusion: 18 Seasons Of IPL Purple Cap Winners
The IPL Purple Cap has celebrated 18 seasons of bowling brilliance, from Sohail Tanvir’s inaugural run in 2008 to Prasidh Krishna’s 2025 triumph.
Pacers dominate the list, but spinners like Chahal, Tahir, and Ojha have proven that guile can match fire. With IPL 2026 starting on 28 March, the next Purple Cap battle is just around the corner.
