IPL 2018: 5 Bowlers who can win the Purple Cap

The biggest and the most competitive T20 League in the world, the Indian Premier League is all set to set the stage on fire. IPL will kick off on April 7 and this season is expected to be bigger, better and grander than all the previous seasons.

In the initial years of its inception, T20 was considered to be a batsmen game but over the years bowlers have shown time and time again that even on flat wickets or the grounds with shorter boundaries, you can not rule them out. Bowlers play a decisive role in the victory of a team, be it providing crucial breakthroughs or stopping runs in slog overs.

Over the years the IPL has seen various great bowlers bowling their heart out for their teams but only a handful of them have been able to win one of the IPL's most prized award- the Purple Cap, which is given to the bowler who takes maximum number of wickets in a single season of IPL.

Here we take a look at the potential candidates who could win the Purple Cap in 2018:

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#1 Bhuvneshvar Kumar

Bhuvi looks set to win the Purple Cap for the third time in a row

The Indian Swing King is the only bowler in the history of the IPL to have won the Purple Cap twice in two consecutive seasons. While playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Bhuvi won the Purple Cap in the 2016 and 2017 seasons of IPL.

Bhuvneshar Kumar is a tried and tested bowler in all the formats of the game and has experience of bowling at various types of wickets. Initially known for his swing bowling, Bhuvi also developed a toe cracking yorker and an equally effective knuckle ball. Bhuvi does the tough job of bowling in the powerplay and in the slog overs, but it also provides him with opportunities to pick up wickets regularly as batsmen look to attack during these overs.

In the last two season combined, Bhuvi has picked up 49 wickets and he only seems to get better and better. Still young and passionate about the game, Bhuvi looks all set to win the purple cap for the third season in a row.

#2 Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan in action for SRH

Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan is one of the most exciting and promising young cricketers in the world cricket right now. The 19-year-old prodigy first rose to prominence in the IPL itself, taking 17 wickets for SRH. The stature and effectiveness of Rashid Khan has only grown since then.

He has been in sublime form recently, taking 18 wickets from just 11 matches in the Big Bash League and also becoming the youngest player to top the ICC Player Rankings for bowlers in ODI. With the resurgence of wrist spin in the year gone by, every team is looking to add top quality wrist spinners in their side, which was evident in the 2018 IPL Auctions too. SRH had to go as far as spending Rs. 9 Cr to avail the services of Rashid Khan.

Now after playing in the big T20 leagues around the world, he has got the experience along with the talent that he already possessed. IPL 2018 could well be the year for Rashid Khan and he might well run away with the Purple Cap.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah

This could be the year for Boom Boom Bumrah

For a long time, Indian Cricket Team had struggled to find a bowler who could be effective in the death overs, that long search of a death over specialist bowler finally ended when Bumrah burst on to the scene with his ability to bowl toe cracking yorkers.

If the IPL is all about spotting Indian talent and giving them the platform, then Jasprit Bumrah is a perfect example of that. John Wright scouted Bumrah while he was playing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and took him to the Mumbai Indians camp and the rest is history. Still just 24, Bumrah is one of India's leading fast bowlers and has shown maturity beyond his age. The yorker is his most dangerous delivery but it's his unorthodox action that makes him special. He is improving every season with the Mumbai Indians under the guidance of Lasith Malinga and his best is yet to come.

Bumrah is in sublime form having recently performed well on the South Africa tour while also becoming the NO. 1 ranked bowler in ICC ODI rankings and he looks a solid candidate to win the Purple Cap in the IPL 2018 edition.

#4 Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal has been in good form recently

One half of India's spin twins, Yuzvendra Chahal is another one of those cricketers who rose to prominence because of the IPL. Chahal earned a name for himself after a string of match winning performances for the RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium which is called as the graveyard of the spinners.

Chahal bowls with a big heart and doesn't shy in tossing the ball up and giving it flight, thus tempting the batsmen to go for the big shots which in turn create chances for the wickets. He has become an integral part of the Indian limited overs side and has been in the form of his life lately. He proved his mettle by taking 16 wickets in the 6 match ODI Series in South Africa thus proving that he is effective on any kind of wickets in the world. Chahal is also one of the only two bowlers who have taken a six wicket haul in T20Is.

He also took the most wickets (23) in T20Is in 2017 and looks well set to cash in on his good form in IPL too. Going by his recent form he will be a serious contender for the Purple Cap this year.

#5 Andrew Tye

Andrew Tye in action for the Gujarat Lions

Andrew Tye, the Australian quick bowler is known for his trademark knuckle delivery and is one of the most sought after players in the T20 Leagues around the world. Tye is one of the most damaging T20 bowlers and he deceives batsmen by change of pace and his inch perfect yorkers.

Andrew Tye is a late bloomer in cricket and rose to prominence is Australia while playing the 2013 Ryobi Cup after which he made an impression in the Big Bash League. He made his Twenty20 debut for Australia against India in January 2016 on the basis of his BBL performances.

He made his IPL debut in 2017, playing for Gujarat Lions he picked up 12 wickets from just 6 matches at a mind blowing average of 11.75 and economy of just 6.71 runs per over. He was in red hot form during BBL 07 picking up 16 scalps in just 6 matches and he looks well set to continue his good form in the IPL for the Kings XI Punjab this year.