IPL 2021: 5 dark horses who could win the Purple Cap for the first time

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has largely become a batsman's game, and quality T20 bowlers who can regularly pick up wickets aren't easy to come by these days.

In recognition of bowlers who do manage to provide frequent breakthroughs, the IPL announced the Purple Cap award ahead of the inaugural season. Interestingly, the accolade has largely been dominated by pace and only two spinners have claimed it - Pragyan Ojha (2009) and Imran Tahir (2018).

Last year, Delhi Capitals pacer Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap with 30 wickets - the second-highest tally in a season after Dwayne Bravo in 2013 (32 wickets). Apart from the usual suspects like Rabada, we name 5 dark horses who could win the Purple Cap in IPL 2021.

---

#5 Rahul Chahar - Mumbai Indians

MI's Rahul Chahar [C]

As mentioned above, the Purple Cap hasn't frequented the heads of spinners. But Rahul Chahar, who will play 5 matches in Chennai and 4 matches in Ahmedabad in IPL 2021, could be a genuine contender for the award.

The addition of veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla to the Mumbai Indians squad has cast a slight doubt over Chahar's place in the XI. But competition will only elevate the game of the youngster, who's certain to be given the first opportunity for MI in IPL 2021.

Chahar played a couple of T20Is for India recently and is in and around the national squad. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon and India's other wrist-spinners struggling, he'll eye a strong IPL season - ideally one in which he contends for the Purple Cap.

---

#4 Mohammed Siraj - Royal Challengers Bangalore

RCB's Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj doesn't have a great T20 record, but his game has improved by leaps and bounds over the last year or so. International experience seems to have given the Hyderabad native a renewed sense of confidence, and he's set to one of the Royal Challengers Bangalore's most important players in IPL 2021.

Expected to take the new ball for RCB this year, Siraj could build upon the few strong performances he put in during the previous campaign. With support in the form of INR 15-crore signing Kyle Jamieson and Navdeep Saini, he could scalp a bagful of wickets in IPL 2021.

Always a wicket-taking bowler, Siraj could seriously make a run to the top of the Purple Cap charts in IPL 2021.

---

#3 Ravichandran Ashwin - Delhi Capitals

DC's Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin is a world-class bowler and is right up there with the leading wicket-takers in tournament history, but he hasn't been in the reckoning for the Purple Cap in recent years. The myriad of variations at his disposal and a tendency to overuse them has meant that the off-spinner has become a slightly defensive bowler.

But that could all change in IPL 2021. Ashwin is on the back of a stellar Test run with the Indian team, and he even took on the role of an attacking spinner for the Delhi Capitals in last year's tournament. Although he managed only 13 wickets in 15 games, his returns were comparable to almost every other spinner's - such was the quality of wickets on offer in the UAE.

Ashwin has spoken of a desire to return to the Indian white-ball setup, and an IPL campaign in which he is high up on the Purple Cap table would be more than ideal.

---

#2 T Natarajan - Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH's T Natarajan

T Natarajan has become a household name now, but it's important to realise that he was an unknown mere months ago. Ahead of the start of IPL 2020, not many expected the left-armer to make the Sunrisers Hyderabad playing XI.

But now, Natarajan is one of the most important bowlers in the team with his lethal yorkers and subtle variations. Opposition batsmen will probably choose to play out his more illustrious teammates Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan, and a number of wickets could fall to Natarajan if they try to take him on.

Natarajan has been troubled by a few minor niggles in the recent past. If he manages to stay fit over the course of IPL 2021, he could win the Purple Cap in only his second full season.

---

#1 Shardul Thakur - Chennai Super Kings

CSK's Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur is a major value addition to any team he is part of, and that's not only because of his handy lower-order batting. The Mumbai-born pacer has developed the ability to scalp wickets at any stage of the innings, and will be one of the Chennai Super Kings' primary death bowlers in IPL 2021.

Thakur is in a rich vein of form, having taken a truckload of wickets in the recent white-ball series against Australia and England. High on confidence and at the top of his game, the 29-year-old also has the faith of captain MS Dhoni.

It wouldn't come as a surprise if Thakur seriously contends for the Purple Cap in IPL 2021.