Bowlers may not always have the best of times in the T20 format of cricket; however, that does not imply that they are completely out of the contest compared to the batsmen. We have seen enough proof of this during the last eight seasons of the IPL. While the batsmen have piled on the runs, the bowlers have also picked up wickets in heaps and won matches for their respective teams. We can be guaranteed of the fact that it will be the case in the 2016 edition of the IPL as well.
Also read: Orange Cap 2016 Holders: List of Highest Run Scorers
Just like the Orange Cap award for the highest run-scorer in the IPL, there is also a Purple Cap award which is given to the bowler who bags the most wickets in a season. In the years gone by, a number of champion bowlers have received this coveted prize for excelling in the tournament. West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has claimed the Purple Cap the most number of times with 2 awards in 3 years. Bravo, in fact, is the last recipient of the award as he won it in the 2015 edition of the IPL.
Also read: IPL 2016 Points Table Live: Team Standing, Ranking with Net Run Rate
Pakistan's Sohail Tanvir won the first ever Purple Cap in the 2008 IPL season by picking up 22 wickets in 11 matches for tournament champions Rajasthan Royals. The winner of the prestigious award in the following IPL also belonged to the eventual winners of the tournament. RP Singh of the now defunct Deccan Chargers franchise grabbed 22 wickets in 16 matches to lay claim to the award. Post that, none of the champion sides produced Purple Cap holders in the IPL.
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Indian bowlers have ruled the roost in terms of winning the Purple Cap with as many 3 of them receiving the honour. Apart from RP Singh, the two other Indians who won were left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and medium-pacer Mohit Sharma. Ojha took 21 wickets for Deccan Chargers in 2010, whereas Mohit claimed 23 wickets for Chennai Super Kings in the 2014 IPL. West Indies have two representations in the list of Purple Cap holders, both from Dwayne Bravo.
Talking about franchises that have produced the most Purple Cap winners, CSK is right on top with 3 representations. Interestingly, they have won the award for 3 successive years beginning from the year 2013. The dysfunctional Deccan Chargers franchise is second on the list with 2 winners, while Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils, and Mumbai Indians have won 1 Purple Cap each in the 8 seasons so far.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shane Watson occupy the first and second position respectively with 21 and 20 wickets. Chahal’s fierce spell in the first playoff takes him to 3rd place. Dhawal Kulkarni is in 4th place with 18 wickets. In the 5th place is Mitchell McCleneghan with 17 wickets.
Purple Cap 2016
| Rank | Player | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 23 |
| 2 | Shane Watson | 20 |
| 3 | Yuzvendra Chahal | 20 |
| 4 | Dhawal Kulkarni | 18 |
| 5 | Mitchell McCleneghan | 17 |
*updated till Match 59, GL vs SRH
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