IPL History: Every Purple Cap winner from the 12 editions so far

2017 | 26 wickets by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

For the second year in a row, Kumar was the leading wicket-taker. In 2017, he picked up 26 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 14.19 and a strike rate of 12.07. He had a decent economy rate of 7.05 as well.

Kumar’s best of 5 for 19 came against KXIP in the 19th match at Hyderabad. Thanks to his brilliant bowling, Hyderabad defended a target of 160 despite Manan Vohra’s 95.

Hyderabad bowed out of the edition as KKR chased 48 in 6 overs in a shortened eliminator at Bengaluru. Kumar picked up 1 for 11.

2018 | 24 wickets by Andrew Tye (Kings XI Punjab)

Andrew Tye

Australia’s T20 specialist Andrew Tye won the Purple Cap in 2018, claiming 24 wickets in 14 games at an average of 18.66 and a strike rate of 14. He finished with an economy rate of 8.

Tye’s best of 4 for 16 came against MI at Wankhede in the 50th match. He picked up the top three of Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis and Ishan Kishan. However, Punjab lost by game the three runs, failing to chase 187.

Tye also picked up 4 for 34 against Rajasthan and 4 for 41 against KKR. Despite Tye’s success, Punjab failed to make the playoffs, managing only six wins.

2019 | 26 wickets by Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings)

Imran Tahir

The ageless Imran Tahir dominated the bowling charts in IPL 2019, with 26 wickets in 17 matches for CSK at an average of 16.57 and a strike rate of 14.84. He maintained an impressive economy rate of 6.69.

Tahir’s best of 4 for 12 came against Delhi Capitals in the 50th match at Chennai. DC were rolled over for 99 chasing 180.

He also claimed 4 for 27 against KKR and 3 for 9 against RCB in the season opener as the latter were bowled out for 70.

CSK tantalizingly went down to MI by 1 run in the pulsating final at Hyderabad. Tahir’s impressive figures of 2 for 23 went in vain.