Updated October 2026 | All stats are as of the end of IPL 2026 (final played 31 May 2026).
The IPL Purple Cap goes to the leading wicket taker of each season. Below is every winner from 2008 to 2026, with the full numbers behind each campaign, the closest races, the biggest winning margins and the franchises that have produced the most winners.
More award and record pages live in our IPL awards and IPL records sections.
What the Purple Cap Is and How It Is Decided
The Purple Cap is worn on the field by the bowler with the most wickets in the season so far, and the final holder at the end of the tournament, including the playoffs, keeps the award. Only wickets credited to the bowler count, so run-outs do not. When two bowlers finish level on wickets, the tie is broken on bowling performance, with the more economical bowler ranked ahead. The award has existed since the first season in 2008, and it often tells the story of a season: a bowler who takes 25 or more wickets has usually been the difference between a mid-table side and a playoff side.
Complete Purple Cap Winners List, Season by Season
| Season | Player | Team | Wickets | Matches | Econ | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sohail Tanvir | RR | 22 | 11 | 6.46 | 6/14 |
| 2009 | RP Singh | DCG | 23 | 16 | 6.99 | 4/22 |
| 2010 | Pragyan Ojha | DCG | 21 | 16 | 7.29 | 3/26 |
| 2011 | Lasith Malinga | MI | 28 | 16 | 5.95 | 5/13 |
| 2012 | Morne Morkel | DC | 25 | 16 | 7.19 | 4/20 |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 32 | 18 | 7.95 | 4/42 |
| 2014 | Mohit Sharma | CSK | 23 | 16 | 8.40 | 4/14 |
| 2015 | Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 26 | 17 | 8.14 | 3/22 |
| 2016 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | SRH | 23 | 17 | 7.42 | 4/29 |
| 2017 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | SRH | 26 | 14 | 7.05 | 5/19 |
| 2018 | Andrew Tye | PBKS | 24 | 14 | 8.00 | 4/16 |
| 2019 | Imran Tahir | CSK | 26 | 17 | 6.70 | 4/12 |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada | DC | 30 | 17 | 8.35 | 4/24 |
| 2021 | Harshal Patel | RCB | 32 | 15 | 8.15 | 5/27 |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal | RR | 27 | 17 | 7.75 | 5/40 |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami | GT | 28 | 17 | 8.03 | 4/11 |
| 2024 | Harshal Patel | PBKS | 24 | 14 | 9.73 | 3/15 |
| 2025 | Prasidh Krishna | GT | 25 | 15 | 8.27 | 4/41 |
| 2026 | Kagiso Rabada | GT | 29 | 17 | 9.68 | 3/25 |
Purple Cap 2008
Sohail Tanvir took the Purple Cap for Rajasthan Royals with 22 wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 6.46, with best figures of 6/14. That was 23% of all the bowler wickets Rajasthan Royals managed that season. Shane Warne (RR) was runner-up with 19, 3 behind, and S Sreesanth (PBKS) third with 19. Rajasthan Royals also won the title that year.
Purple Cap 2009
RP Singh took the Purple Cap for Deccan Chargers with 23 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 6.99, with best figures of 4/22. That was 24% of all the bowler wickets Deccan Chargers managed that season. Anil Kumble (RCB) was runner-up with 21, 2 behind, and Ashish Nehra (DC) third with 19. Deccan Chargers also won the title that year.
Purple Cap 2010
Pragyan Ojha took the Purple Cap for Deccan Chargers with 21 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 7.29, with best figures of 3/26. That was 23% of all the bowler wickets Deccan Chargers managed that season. Anil Kumble (RCB) was runner-up with 17, 4 behind, and Amit Mishra (DC) third with 17. The title went to Chennai Super Kings, who beat Mumbai Indians in the final.
Purple Cap 2011
Lasith Malinga took the Purple Cap for Mumbai Indians with 28 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 5.95, with best figures of 5/13. That was 31% of all the bowler wickets Mumbai Indians managed that season. Munaf Patel (MI) was runner-up with 22, 6 behind, and Sreenath Aravind (RCB) third with 21. The title went to Chennai Super Kings, who beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final.
Purple Cap 2012
Morne Morkel took the Purple Cap for Delhi Daredevils with 25 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 7.19, with best figures of 4/20. That was 29% of all the bowler wickets Delhi Daredevils managed that season. Sunil Narine (KKR) was runner-up with 24, 1 behind, and Lasith Malinga (MI) third with 22. The title went to Kolkata Knight Riders, who beat Chennai Super Kings in the final.
Purple Cap 2013
Dwayne Bravo took the Purple Cap for Chennai Super Kings with 32 wickets in 18 matches at an economy rate of 7.95, with best figures of 4/42. That was 29% of all the bowler wickets Chennai Super Kings managed that season. James Faulkner (RR) was runner-up with 28, 4 behind, and Harbhajan Singh (MI) third with 24. The title went to Mumbai Indians, who beat Chennai Super Kings in the final.
Purple Cap 2014
Mohit Sharma took the Purple Cap for Chennai Super Kings with 23 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 8.40, with best figures of 4/14. That was 26% of all the bowler wickets Chennai Super Kings managed that season. Sunil Narine (KKR) was runner-up with 21, 2 behind, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SRH) third with 20. The title went to Kolkata Knight Riders, who beat Kings XI Punjab in the final.
Purple Cap 2015
Dwayne Bravo took the Purple Cap for Chennai Super Kings with 26 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 8.14, with best figures of 3/22. That was 25% of all the bowler wickets Chennai Super Kings managed that season. Lasith Malinga (MI) was runner-up with 24, 2 behind, and Yuzvendra Chahal (RCB) third with 23. The title went to Mumbai Indians, who beat Chennai Super Kings in the final.
Purple Cap 2016
Bhuvneshwar Kumar took the Purple Cap for Sunrisers Hyderabad with 23 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 7.42, with best figures of 4/29. That was 26% of all the bowler wickets Sunrisers Hyderabad managed that season. Yuzvendra Chahal (RCB) was runner-up with 21, 2 behind, and Shane Watson (RCB) third with 20. Sunrisers Hyderabad also won the title that year.
Purple Cap 2017
Bhuvneshwar Kumar took the Purple Cap for Sunrisers Hyderabad with 26 wickets in 14 matches at an economy rate of 7.05, with best figures of 5/19. That was 30% of all the bowler wickets Sunrisers Hyderabad managed that season. Jaydev Unadkat (RPS) was runner-up with 24, 2 behind, and Jasprit Bumrah (MI) third with 20. The title went to Mumbai Indians, who beat Rising Pune Supergiant in the final.
Purple Cap 2018
Andrew Tye took the Purple Cap for Kings XI Punjab with 24 wickets in 14 matches at an economy rate of 8.00, with best figures of 4/16. That was 32% of all the bowler wickets Kings XI Punjab managed that season. Rashid Khan (SRH) was runner-up with 21, 3 behind, and Siddarth Kaul (SRH) third with 21. The title went to Chennai Super Kings, who beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.
Purple Cap 2019
Imran Tahir took the Purple Cap for Chennai Super Kings with 26 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 6.70, with best figures of 4/12. That was 25% of all the bowler wickets Chennai Super Kings managed that season. Kagiso Rabada (DC) was runner-up with 25, 1 behind, and Deepak Chahar (CSK) third with 22. The title went to Mumbai Indians, who beat Chennai Super Kings in the final.
Purple Cap 2020
Kagiso Rabada took the Purple Cap for Delhi Capitals with 30 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 8.35, with best figures of 4/24. That was 31% of all the bowler wickets Delhi Capitals managed that season. Jasprit Bumrah (MI) was runner-up with 27, 3 behind, and Trent Boult (MI) third with 25. The title went to Mumbai Indians, who beat Delhi Capitals in the final.
Purple Cap 2021
Harshal Patel took the Purple Cap for Royal Challengers Bangalore with 32 wickets in 15 matches at an economy rate of 8.15, with best figures of 5/27. That was 35% of all the bowler wickets Royal Challengers Bangalore managed that season. Avesh Khan (DC) was runner-up with 24, 8 behind, and Jasprit Bumrah (MI) third with 21. The title went to Chennai Super Kings, who beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the final.
Purple Cap 2022
Yuzvendra Chahal took the Purple Cap for Rajasthan Royals with 27 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 7.75, with best figures of 5/40. That was 28% of all the bowler wickets Rajasthan Royals managed that season. Wanindu Hasaranga (RCB) was runner-up with 26, 1 behind, and Kagiso Rabada (PBKS) third with 23. The title went to Gujarat Titans, who beat Rajasthan Royals in the final.
Purple Cap 2023
Mohammed Shami took the Purple Cap for Gujarat Titans with 28 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 8.03, with best figures of 4/11. That was 24% of all the bowler wickets Gujarat Titans managed that season. Mohit Sharma (GT) was runner-up with 27, 1 behind, and Rashid Khan (GT) third with 27. The title went to Chennai Super Kings, who beat Gujarat Titans in the final.
Purple Cap 2024
Harshal Patel took the Purple Cap for Punjab Kings with 24 wickets in 14 matches at an economy rate of 9.73, with best figures of 3/15. That was 26% of all the bowler wickets Punjab Kings managed that season. Varun Chakravarthy (KKR) was runner-up with 21, 3 behind, and Jasprit Bumrah (MI) third with 20. The title went to Kolkata Knight Riders, who beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.
Purple Cap 2025
Prasidh Krishna took the Purple Cap for Gujarat Titans with 25 wickets in 15 matches at an economy rate of 8.27, with best figures of 4/41. That was 29% of all the bowler wickets Gujarat Titans managed that season. Noor Ahmad (CSK) was runner-up with 24, 1 behind, and Josh Hazlewood (RCB) third with 22. The title went to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who beat Punjab Kings in the final.
Purple Cap 2026
Kagiso Rabada took the Purple Cap for Gujarat Titans with 29 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 9.68, with best figures of 3/25. That was 25% of all the bowler wickets Gujarat Titans managed that season. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB) was runner-up with 28, 1 behind, and Jofra Archer (RR) third with 25. The title went to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who beat Gujarat Titans in the final.
Players Who Have Won the Purple Cap More Than Once
| Player | Wins | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Dwayne Bravo | 2 | 2013, 2015 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 2 | 2016, 2017 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 2 | 2020, 2026 |
| Harshal Patel | 2 | 2021, 2024 |
Dwayne Bravo won it in 2013, 2015. Bhuvneshwar Kumar won it in 2016, 2017. Kagiso Rabada won it in 2020, 2026. Harshal Patel won it in 2021, 2024. In all, 15 different players have won the Purple Cap across 19 seasons.
Closest Finishes in Purple Cap History
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Morne Morkel (25) | Sunil Narine (24) | 1 |
| 2019 | Imran Tahir (26) | Kagiso Rabada (25) | 1 |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal (27) | Wanindu Hasaranga (26) | 1 |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami (28) | Mohit Sharma (27) | 1 |
| 2025 | Prasidh Krishna (25) | Noor Ahmad (24) | 1 |
| 2026 | Kagiso Rabada (29) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (28) | 1 |
The tightest race came in 2012, when Morne Morkel edged Sunil Narine by 1. Races like these are usually decided in the playoffs, because only the four playoff teams get extra matches, which gives their players a late chance to overtake.
The Biggest Winning Margins
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Harshal Patel (32) | Avesh Khan (24) | 8 |
| 2011 | Lasith Malinga (28) | Munaf Patel (22) | 6 |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bravo (32) | James Faulkner (28) | 4 |
| 2010 | Pragyan Ojha (21) | Anil Kumble (17) | 4 |
| 2024 | Harshal Patel (24) | Varun Chakravarthy (21) | 3 |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada (30) | Jasprit Bumrah (27) | 3 |
The most dominant Purple Cap season was 2021: Harshal Patel finished 8 wickets clear of the next best. The highest winning tally in any season is 32 wickets, by Dwayne Bravo (2013), Harshal Patel (2021).
Which Franchise Has Produced the Most Purple Cap Winners
| Franchise | Winners | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 4 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019 |
| Gujarat Titans | 3 | 2023, 2025, 2026 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 2 | 2008, 2022 |
| Deccan Chargers | 2 | 2009, 2010 |
| Delhi Capitals | 2 | 2012, 2020 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2 | 2016, 2017 |
| Punjab Kings | 2 | 2018, 2024 |
| Mumbai Indians | 1 | 2011 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 1 | 2021 |
Chennai Super Kings lead with 4 winners. Winning the Purple Cap and the title in the same year is rarer than you might expect: it has happened 3 times (2008, 2009, 2016). A big individual season is no guarantee of team success.
Who Is Most Likely to Win the Purple Cap Next
The best guide is the 2026 leaderboard. Here are the top five from last season:
| Player | Team | Wickets | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kagiso Rabada | GT | 29 | 17 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 28 | 16 |
| Jofra Archer | RR | 25 | 16 |
| Rashid Khan | GT | 21 | 17 |
| Anshul Kamboj | CSK | 21 | 14 |
Consistency matters as much as one hot season. Among players who appeared in IPL 2026, the highest career wickets belong to Yuzvendra Chahal (233), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (226), Sunil Narine (207), Jasprit Bumrah (187), Ravindra Jadeja (180). A Purple Cap usually goes to a player who plays every game for a team that reaches the playoffs, so squad decisions at the next auction will shape the race. We will update this page as soon as the IPL 2027 award is decided.
Related reading: IPL Orange Cap winners, most wickets in IPL history, most wickets in a single IPL season and the IPL Most Valuable Player award.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won the most Purple Cap awards?
Dwayne Bravo (2), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2), Kagiso Rabada (2) have won it more than once; Dwayne Bravo leads with 2.
Who won the Purple Cap in IPL 2026?
Kagiso Rabada of Gujarat Titans won the 2026 Purple Cap with 29 wickets.
Who has the highest wickets tally in a single Purple Cap season?
Dwayne Bravo (2013), Harshal Patel (2021), with 32 wickets.
Has a Purple Cap winner ever won the IPL title in the same season?
Yes, 3 times: Sohail Tanvir with Rajasthan Royals in 2008; RP Singh with Deccan Chargers in 2009; Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016.