Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The wait is finally over as the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to get underway on March 31. The tournament opener will witness defending champions Gujarat Titans and four-time IPL winners Chennai Super Kings take center stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Top-drawer bowlers from around the world will feature in the IPL 2023. However, among them, there are certain players who can set the upcoming edition of the marquee tournament on fire with their stunning bowling performances and end up as the leading wicket-taker of the T20 extravaganza.
Here are the top 10 contenders who can win Purple Cap in IPL 2023
10. Umran Malik
Umran Malik is one of those rare breeds of fast bowlers in the Indian cricketing circles who can clock over 145 kmph consistently. In the previous edition of the cash-rich league, the 23-year-old unsettled batters with his whizzing pace and wreaked havoc with the ball.
Umran featured in 14 games for Sunrisers Hyderabad and bagged 22 wickets at an average of 20.18. He was adjudged as the ‘Emerging Player of the Season’ for his sensational showing. Courtesy of his exploits in the IPL, the speedster broke into the Indian white-ball set-up.
Umran has been superb in the international too. He has featured in eight ODIs and bagged 13 wickets. Talking about the T20Is, the ace pacer has taken 11 scalps in eight matches. His stocks in world cricket have been on a meteoric rise and he could be a force to be reckoned with in IPL 2023.
9. Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj has been a consistent performer for India across formats. He has featured in 18 Tests and bagged 47 wickets at an average of 31.29. Coming to the ODIs, the 29-year-old has picked up 43 wickets in 24 matches at an economy of 4.78.
Siraj had done a decent job in the lucrative T20 tournament as well, bagging 59 wickets in 65 IPL games at an economy of 8.78. However, the ace pacer was dismal with his performances in the 2022 season and could manage only nine scalps in 15 matches at an economy of 10.08.
Siraj has been in a rich vein of form of late and it would not be a surprise if he vindicates himself in the coming edition of the T20 extravaganza The Hyderabad-born has played eight ODIs this year thus far and bagged 19 wickets at an economy of 4.61. Therefore, he could be one of the contenders to grab the IPL 2023 Purple Cap.
8. Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav has been a bankable name in Test cricket. He has featured in 56 matches in the longest format of the game and bagged 168 wickets at an economy of 3.52. The Nagpur-born has displayed his class in the IPL arena too and taken 135 scalps in 133 matches at an economy of 8.32.
Kolkata Knight Riders acquired the services of the Indian pacer at the IPL 2022 auction in a bid to add experience to their bowling unit. Umesh was entrusted to provide his side with early breakthroughs and the 35-year-old played the role to perfection.
Umesh featured in 12 games for the Kolkata franchise and bagged 16 wickets at an economy of 7.06. As KKR bid to go for glory in IPL 2023, the onus will again be on the ace pacer to deliver the goods with the ball. He has all the class in the world and set the forthcoming edition of the cash-rich league ablaze with his bowling displays.
7. Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav is one of the top-drawer spinners in the Indian cricketing circles. ODI cricket has been his stronger suit where he has bagged 134 wickets in 81 matches at an economy of 5.21. The 28-year-old has been excellent in the T20Is as well and picked up 46 wickets in 28 games at an economy of 6.76.
Kuldeep has also weaved his magic in the Indian Premier League. He has featured in 59 matches and bagged 61 wickets at an economy of 8.32. The Kanpur-born displayed his brilliance with the ball last season and took 21 wickets in 14 matches for Delhi Capitals at an economy of 8.44.
Kuldeep has been astonishing in the international arena of late and has bagged 14 wickets in his last 10 white-ball games. Given the left-arm wrist spinner has been at the top of his game, he could take the IPL 2023 by storm with his bowling displays.
6. Anrich Nortje
Anrich Nortje has been a proven performer in the international arena. He has featured in 19 Tests and picked up 70 wickets at an average of 26.71. When it comes to the shortest format, the 29-year-old has bagged 36 wickets in 30 games at an economy of 7.07.
Nortje has displayed his bowling might in the lucrative T20 tournament as well. He has rattled batters with his fiery pace and dismantled top-quality batting line-ups. The ace pacer has featured in 30 IPL games and picked up 43 wickets at an economy of 8.06.
Nortje was incredible in the inaugural season of SA20 and was the joint-highest wicket-taker of the tournament alongside Roelof van der Merwe, bagging 20 wickets in 11 matches at an economy of 6.18. Given the kind of form he is in, the right-arm pacer could make IPL 2023 his own.
5. Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal has been a prominent figure in the international arena. He has featured in 72 ODIs and picked up 121 wickets at an economy of 5.26. Talking about the shortest format, the 32-year-old has bagged 91 scalps in 75 outings at an economy of 8.13.
Chahal has been quite magnificent in the lucrative T20 tournament and has been a strike force with the ball in the middle phases of the innings. The Indian leg-spinner has featured in 131 IPL matches and bagged 166 wickets at an economy of 7.61.
Chahal was at his best in the 2022 season of the cash-rich league. The Haryana-born ripped through batting line-ups for fun and bagged 27 wickets in 17 matches for Rajasthan Royals. His staggering tally of wickets was the most by a bowler in the season. The ace spinner would look to replicate his previous edition’s performance and bag the Purple Cap in IPL 2023.
4. Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada is one of those players who have made heads turn every time he has stepped into the cricket field. He has tormented batters with his express pace and made world cricket his happy hunting ground. The 27-year-old has featured in 60 Tests and bagged 280 wickets at an average of 22.34.
When it comes to the shortest format, Rabada has made 54 appearances for South Africa and picked up 56 wickets at an economy of 8.51. The ace pacer has been spectacular in the Indian Premier League and bagged 99 wickets in 63 IPL matches at an economy of 8.26.
Rabada breathed fire in the 2020 season of the marquee event and bagged 30 wickets in 17 matches. He also ended up winning the Purple Cap of the season. The Johannesburg-born would look to play in the same vein in the upcoming season and grab the coveted prize for the second time.
3. Wanindu Hasaranga
Wanindu Hasaranga has been Sri Lanka’s mainstay with the ball in the white-ball circuit. He has featured in 55 T20Is and bagged 89 wickets at an economy of 6.80. Coming to the ODIs, the 25-year-old has picked up 39 wickets in 38 matches at an economy of 5.12. Besides his bowling might, he has been a vital contributor with the bat.
Royal Challengers Bangalore went hammer and tongs to sign Hasaranga at the 2022 mega auction and paid a staggering sum of INR 10.75 crore to acquire him. RCB’s big investment bore fruit as the Galle-born did splendid job with the ball and ended the tournament as its second most leading wicket-taker, with 26 wickets in 16 games.
Hasaranga also showed his bowling credentials in the recently culminated International League T20 and bagged 15 wickets in nine games at an economy of 7.18. The Sri Lankan spinner would look to bring his A-game into play in the 16th IPL edition and clinch the Purple Cap.
2. Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami is one of the finest pacers Indian cricket has ever produced. He has featured in 63 Tests and picked up 225 wickets at an average of 27.48. When it comes to the 50-over format, the 32-year-old has bagged 162 scalps in 90 matches at an economy of 5.60.
Shami has been one of the seasoned performers in the IPL arena and displayed his bowling prowess time and time again. The 32-year-old has featured in 93 matches in the marquee tournament and bagged 99 wickets at an economy of 8.52.
In the previous edition of the T20 carnival, Shami was exceptional with the ball and bagged 20 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of 8.00. His bowling displays were instrumental in Gujarat Titans clinching the IPL title. The Amroha-born would look to carry on the good work for Gujarat in the forthcoming edition of the cash-rich league.
1. Trent Boult
Trent Boult has been a giant of a player in world cricket. He has demolished batting line-ups with his swing and stamped his authority on the cricket field. The 33-year-old has featured in 78 Tests and bagged 317 wickets at an average of 27.49. Talking about the T20Is, he has played 55 matches and taken 74 scalps at an economy of 7.86.
Boult has been associated with Indian Premier League since 2015 and established his supremacy in the T20 extravaganza on many occasions. The left-arm pacer has featured in 78 matches in the high-profile competition and picked up 92 wickets at an economy of 8.30.
Boult put up an exhibition of some world-class bowling in the previous edition of the T20 extravaganza and bagged 16 wickets in as many games for Rajasthan Royals at an economy of 7.94. The Kiwi pacer would be eager to put up another bowling masterclass in the 16th IPL edition.
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