IPL Single-Season Wicket Records: Every Purple Cap Winner and Bravo's 32-Wicket Masterclass
The Purple Cap — awarded to the leading wicket-taker in each IPL season — represents the highest individual achievement for IPL bowlers.
Purple Cap Winners: Every Season
| Year | Player | Team | Wickets | Economy | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sohail Tanvir | RR | 22 | 6.50 | 13.7 |
| 2009 | RP Singh | DC | 23 | 7.36 | 17.0 |
| 2010 | Pragyan Ojha | DC | 21 | 6.68 | 19.3 |
| 2011 | Lasith Malinga | MI | 28 | 6.59 | 15.7 |
| 2012 | Morne Morkel | DD | 25 | 7.10 | 19.0 |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 32 | 7.44 | 15.9 |
| 2014 | Prasidh Krishna | CSK | 23 | 7.70 | 22.0 |
| 2015 | Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 26 | 7.47 | 17.5 |
| 2016 | Harshal Patel | SRH | 23 | 7.34 | 19.4 |
| 2017 | Harshal Patel | SRH | 26 | 7.05 | 18.1 |
| 2018 | Andrew Tye | KXIP | 24 | 7.58 | 17.3 |
| 2019 | Imran Tahir | CSK | 26 | 6.92 | 15.8 |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada | DC | 30 | 8.34 | 18.3 |
| 2021 | Harshal Patel | RCB | 32 | 8.15 | 14.4 |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS) | RR | 27 | 7.94 | 19.2 |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami | GT | 28 | 7.98 | 18.0 |
| 2024 | Harshal Patel | PBKS | 24 | 7.81 | 19.3 |
| 2025 | Jasprit Bumrah | MI | 27 | 7.12 | 17.2 |
Dwayne Bravo's 32 Wickets in 2013: The Record
Bravo's 32 wickets in IPL 2013 across 18 matches remain the most by any bowler in a single IPL season. He took at least one wicket in 16 of his 18 appearances. His primary weapons were the slower-ball bouncer, the wide yorker, and the genuine yorker — bowled in sequences that confused batsmen.
Harshal Patel's 32 Wickets in 2021: The Equal Record
Harshal Patel equalled Bravo's record with 32 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2021, earning his India call-up. His slower balls and change-ups in the death overs were particularly effective. His 32 wickets came at a slightly worse economy (8.15 vs 7.44) — reflecting the higher-scoring environment of post-2019 IPL cricket.
Kagiso Rabada's 30 Wickets: Pace in Context
Rabada's 30 wickets for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020 — played in the UAE — demonstrated that extreme pace could be as effective as slower-ball variations. His ability to extract bounce from UAE surfaces and generate reverse swing added dimensions batsmen struggled to address.
Best Economy-Wicket Combinations in a Single Season
| Season | Bowler | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Tanvir | 22 | 6.50 |
| 2011 | Malinga | 28 | 6.59 |
| 2019 | Tahir | 26 | 6.92 |
| 2013 | Bravo | 32 | 7.44 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most wickets taken in a single IPL season?
Dwayne Bravo (IPL 2013) and Harshal Patel (IPL 2021) both hold the record with 32 wickets in a single IPL season — the only two bowlers to reach that milestone.
Who has won the IPL Purple Cap the most times?
Dwayne Bravo and Harshal Patel have each won the IPL Purple Cap twice. Bravo won in 2013 and 2015; Kumar in 2016 and 2017. No bowler has won it three times.
What is the best economy rate in an IPL Purple Cap-winning season?
Sohail Tanvir's 6.50 economy rate in IPL 2008 (22 wickets) is the best economy by a Purple Cap winner.
Has any spinner ever won the IPL Purple Cap?
Yes. Pragyan Ojha won in 2010 (21 wickets), and Imran Tahir won in 2019 (26 wickets). Leg-spinners and mystery spinners have occasionally topped the bowling charts.
What is the theoretical maximum wickets a bowler can take in an IPL season?
In a 14-team season, a bowler playing all matches might bowl approximately 64 overs total. At a very high wicket frequency, a theoretical maximum would approach 48 wickets — a figure never approached in reality.