Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla and Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo source: IPL/BCCI)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is an annual event that is eagerly anticipated by cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Millions of fans around the world enjoy the tournament as a festival rather than just a cricket competition. The IPL never fails to enthral viewers with its thrilling matches and incredible performances by both seasoned veterans and up-and-coming prospects.
The bowlers will compete to win the Purple Cap title. The bowler who has emerged as the top wicket-taker in a specific season of the highly publicised Indian Premier League (IPL) is given the Purple Cap. There have been a plethora of different bowlers who have won this coveted cap over the years and only Dwayne Bravo and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar have been able to win it twice.
Let’s take a look at the bowlers who might be a contender to win the cap this year around –
10. Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakaravarthy. (Photo source: BCCI/IPL)
In IPL 2020, Varun Chakravarthy—the mystery spinner for the Kolkata Knight Riders—became well-known. Batters were disturbed throughout the tournament by Chakravarthy’s ability to bowl a variety of variations, notably the elusive carrom ball. In the tournament’s previous iteration, he amassed 20 wickets in 14 matches with the top bowling total of 4/15, demonstrating his enormous potential.
Given that the World Cup is scheduled to begin shortly after the Indian Premier League, he could be among the good bowlers this season as well.
9. Mohit Sharma
Mohit Sharma. (Photo Source : BCCI/IPL)
The mainstay of the Gujarat Titans’ bowling attack, Mohit Sharma, came in second place on the list of highest IPL 2023 wicket-takers. He wasn’t even in the starting lineup when the competition started, but he showed his mettle when given the opportunity to play and emerged as GT’s top bowler. With best figures of 5/10, Sharma’s bowling action and yorker execution allowed him to take 27 wickets in 14 matches.
His ability to perform under pressure was crucial to Gujarat Titans’ achievement in making it to the IPL-2023 final after he made it difficult for the Chennai Super Kings to score runs. This time, too, he might pose a serious threat.
8. Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Ravi Bishnoi has enjoyed good success over the years in the Indian Premier League for the sides he has played. He is a challenging bowler to face because of his googlies and flippers. Bishnoi is renowned for his spirit of competition and never-give-up attitude.
The wrist-spinner consistently bowls good deliveries even if the batters are looking to attack. This has been providing him success in the coveted league. He is also one of the top-ranked T20I bowlers right now and would be expected to do a great job this IPL.
7. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra-Jadeja. (Photo Source: X/Twitter)
From the start, Jadeja’s versatility as a spinner was clear. His extraordinary talent was demonstrated by his capacity to adjust to changing circumstances, bowling at different points in the innings, and outsmarting batters with his variations.
For the Chennai Super Kings, Jadeja’s reliable ball-handling was key, whether it was restricting runs in the middle overs or breaking important partnerships. With 20 wickets in 16 matches this season with a 3/20, he earned a spot in the top 10 bowlers with the most wickets in the 2023 Indian Premier League.
6. Matheesha Pathirana
Matheesha Pathirana. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Matheesha Pathirana joined CSK in 2023 and made his IPL debut. Cricket fans throughout the world were instantly captivated by his unconventional slinging movement, akin to Lasith Malinga and his exceptional pace. He gained the moniker “Little Malinga” and became a formidable force due to his distinct style and powerful spells.
His ability to consistently bowl accurate yorkers under extreme duress earned him CSK’s go-to bowler tag when things got tight. In 12 games, he bagged 19 wickets with a best bowling average of 3/15. He would be expected to do a stellar job once again this year for his side.
5. Piyush Chawla
Piyush Chawla joined the Mumbai Indians team in the last edition. The spinner adjusted to the transition well, despite the fact that joining a new team may be difficult. He was still very good at containing runs in the middle and producing breakthroughs. Chawla’s exploits with the Kolkata Knight Riders proved his adaptability and capacity to perform well in a variety of squad configurations. He had demonstrated his ability to take wickets in the middle overs the last season with MI.
In 16 games, he claimed 22 wickets, with a 3/22 best bowling average. Being one of the most experienced bowlers of the entire roster, Chawla would certainly be under pressure but would be looking forward to using his experience well too.
4. Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Rashid Khan, an Afghanistani all-rounder, is Gujarat Titans’ most formidable and reliable current recruit. The spinner is a good bet to earn the purple cap in the 2024 Indian Premier League because of his versatility in taking wickets on every surface.
In the IPL 2023, he also held the third-highest number of wickets taken. In the 17 innings of the IPL 2023 season, Rashid claimed 27 wickets. And last, if Rashid Khan makes a full recovery from his lower back surgery and plays in the 2024 Indian Premier League, the cricketing fraternity would be thrilled to witness it.
3. Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Mohammed Siraj, who was ranked ninth on the list of IPL 2023 purple cap holders, has demonstrated why the speedster is the core member of RCB’s bowling squad. During the previous season, he took 19 wickets in 14 matches, keeping an economy rate of 7.50 and an average of 19. After the IPL 2023, Siraj demonstrated his best qualities by taking six wickets in pivotal matches.
He had the best bowling figures in the specific cricket format—the Asia Cup 2023 finals—taking six wickets at a cost of just 21 runs. Siraj’s career-best bowling figures in Tests and ODIs increase his chances of winning the purple cap in the IPL 2024.
2. Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzi Chahal. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Yuzvendra Chahal is an essential bowler for the Rajasthan Royals because he possesses both complementary cricketing intelligence and a wide variety of multiple variations. Chahal took 21 wickets in 14 matches during the previous IPL season, maintaining his best bowling figures of 4-17 with an economy rate of 8.17. This earned him a spot on the purple cap list for the 2023 IPL.
Notably, he achieved a record of 27 wickets in 17 matches while playing for the Rajasthan Royals, earning him the purple cap in the TATA IPL 2022. His ability to change pace and spin allows him to adapt strategically to various match circumstances. Because of the same, he is a strong contender for the Purple Cap in the 2024 Indian Premier League due to his propensity to take wickets on batting-friendly pitches.
1. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Jasprit Bumrah, a reliable pacer, has emerged as the Mumbai Indians bowling unit’s mainstay. He is a core bowler because of his ability to bowl yorkers when it matters most. Bumrah has been praised by many cricket commentators for his impeccable length and line, which may end crucial partnerships. He will therefore be a strong contender for the Purple Cap in IPL 2024.
He sustained a serious back injury that prevented him from playing in the 2023 IPL. Later, Bumrah returned to the Indian cricket team, where he excelled in the World Cup 2023 and Asia Cup 2023. He could be a strong contender to win the purple cap this year, keeping in mind that there is a T20 World Cup just after the IPL.