IPL 2018: 5 Players who can snatch the purple cap from Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The Purple Cap is an award presented to the leading wicket-taker in the IPL. After the start of the tradition of the orange cap on 25 April 2008, the Indian Premier League introduced the Purple Cap on 13 May 2008.

The bowler who is leading wicket-taker during the season wears the Purple Cap while fielding.

The overall leading wicket-taker the end of the tournament wins the actual Purple Cap award at on the day of the season's final.

In case of a tie, the bowler with the best economy rate would wear the Purple Cap.

Sohail Tanvir won the award in the inaugural season and last year it was Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

In IPL 2017, Bhuvi grabbed 26 wickets in 14 matches at an economy rate of 7.05. The Indian pacer was also the winner of the 2016 purple cap award, as he picked up 23 wickets in 16 matches that season at an economy rate of 7.42.

Kumar has improved a lot as a bowler from where he started in International cricket as he can now bowl slower ones to deceive the batsmen, yorkers at death overs and knuckle-ball to get the breakthroughs.

Today he has become one of the best T20 bowlers in the world and it would not be easy to snatch the purple cap from him.

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#5 Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep will lead the spin attack for KKR this season

Kuldeep Yadav is the slow left-arm unorthodox or chinaman bowler. Yadav is all set to lead the spin bowling department for KKR and get them their third IPL title.

He first grabbed the limelight in 2014 edition of the U-19 World Cup in Dubai when picked up a hat-trick in the game against Scotland.

Yadav is having a season of his life as he took 17 wickets in six ODIs this year at an astonishing strike rate of 4.62.

South African bowlers were not able to even read him properly.

He used his stock ball, googly and wrong’un to good effect in the series such that even the best batsmen failed to pick his ball from the hand.

Yadav allows the bowl to spin and has the ability to deceive the batsman in the air.

In his 20 ODIs, he has taken 39 wickets at an amazing economy rate of 4.8. His form on the international level is a signal to everyone that he would take a lot of wickets in this IPL season to snatch the purple cap from Bhuvi.

#4 Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah is ranked No.1 in ODI's

Jasprit Bumrah bowls with an unorthodox action. His peculiar action and his release point of the bowl makes his bowling troublesome for the batsmen.

Bumrah's pace and his ability to bowl constant yorkers set him apart from all the contemporary bowlers.

He used to play the second fiddle to Lasith Malinga a few years back, but now he is the crux of Mumbai Indians bowling.

Last year he was exceptional in IPL for MI and the highlight was his superb super over for them which won them that match against Gujarat Lions.

In his 16 matches last year, he picked up 20 wickets for the team. Today Bumrah is the prime bowler of India and is currently ranked no. 1 in ODI bowling.

Bumrah would surely want to play an important role for MI to defend its title. He would also want to snatch that purple cap from his national teammate and lead the wicket taker's tally.

#3 Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is currently the No.1 T20 bowler in the world

Rashid Khan was surprisingly picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017 auction, thereby becoming the first Afghan player to represent in the IPL.

He was superb that year as he troubled the batsman with his googlies and his stump to stump line.

Khan picked 17 wickets in 14 matches while containing the batsmen with an economy rate of 6.62.

This performance of him grabbed the attention of all the IPL franchises. His bid reached up to 9 crores when he was finally retained by Sunrisers by using RTM card.

He was a menace in this year's BBL. He is also showing some outstanding performance in the 2018 world cup qualifier where he grabbed 13 wickets in six matches. Khan would definitely like to maintain his performance in this year's IPL and grab the purple cap.

#2 Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal is one of Kohli's most trusted bowlers

Chahal is a bowler who owns the confidence of Kohli.

Kohli has so much faith in Chahal that whenever the team needs a breakthrough the Indian captain gives the ball to him.

Chahal was brought back by RCB this year using the RTM. Chahal is a smart attacking leg spinner who has picked the highest 23 wickers in 11 T20Is this year.

In his 56 matches for RCB, Chahal grabbed 70 wickets. He is in sensational form this year and he does not believe in defence.

He traps the batsman by allowing them to go after him. His recent form shows that Chahal will be on another level in this year's IPL and no batsman should make mistake to underestimate him.

Chahal is on a wicket-taking spree this year and he was unplayable in recently completed South African series. Chahal would be the prime contender for 'purple cap'.

#1 Mitchell Starc

Starc can be a nightmare to batsmen

Mitchell Starc was a hot property in this year's IPL auction, KKR paid a whopping sum of 9.4 crores for him.

Starc is known to give nightmares to the batsman with his fearsome bowling. He generates good bounce from his height and he is unplayable with his reverse swing and in-swingers.

Starc created havoc in the 2015 World Cup with his bowling and was awarded player of the tournament for his 22 wickets at at an average of 10.18 and a startling economy rate of 3.50.

In his 72 ODIs he took 141 wickets, he holds the record for the fastest to reach the 100 wickets.

In his 22 T20Is, he has taken 30 wickets with an amazing economy rate of 6.74. If Starc plays all matches for KKR, he would be the top contender to snatch the 'Purple Cap' from Bhuvi.

His lethal bowling would be too much for the Indian batsman that would be playing him and he has a habit of finishing up the tail.