The high-scoring IPL 2024 encounter at Eden Gardens on April 26 witnessed a high-scoring drama between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. While Punjab Kings chased down a record-breaking 262 runs to secure a historic victory, Harshal Patel's bowling performance propelled him to the top of the Purple Cap leaderboard. Patel, with 14 wickets in just nine innings, dethroned Mumbai Indians' Jasprit Bumrah (13 wickets). His teammate, Arshdeep Singh, also made strides up the Purple Cap rankings, grabbing two wickets against KKR and climbing to the sixth spot with 12 wickets in nine innings.
Punjab Kings' chase, spearheaded by Jonny Bairstow's magnificent century, was a masterclass in run-scoring. They surpassed the previous record of 259/4 set by South Africa against West Indies in 2023, etching their name in T20 cricket history with the highest successful chase ever.
Interestingly, the highest run chase in IPL history previously belonged to Rajasthan Royals, who chased down 224 runs against KKR, equaling their earlier record set against Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) in 2020. This high-octane match rewrote the record books for both IPL and T20 cricket.
List of bowlers who are in contention of Purple Cap:
- 1. Harshal Patel: The PBKS fast bowler has been performing well, capturing a crucial wicket that propelled him to the lead in the purple-cap standings with a total of 14 wickets. However, he has been somewhat expensive, maintaining an economy rate of 10.18.
2. Jasprit Bumrah: The MI standout continues to excel as one of the tournament's top bowlers, effectively delivering in all phases of the game and consistently taking wickets. He ranks second with 13 wickets across eight games and boasts an impressive economy rate of 6.37.
3. Yuzvendra Chahal: Despite being overlooked by the national team, the veteran leg-spinner has proven he remains one of India's elite spinners. He recently became the first bowler in IPL history to reach the 200-wicket milestone.
4. Kuldeep Yadav: DC's key spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, has been vital in taking wickets for his team, regularly claiming multiple dismissals. Despite playing only six games, he is currently fourth in the wicket-taking rankings.
5. T Natarajan: The left-arm fast bowler has regained his form after overcoming injuries, reestablishing himself as a specialist in death overs for SRH. He has claimed 12 wickets in just six games this season.
ALSO READ: IPL 2024: Shell-shocked KKR captain Shreyas Iyer reacts after getting hammered by PBKS in historic match, says ‘...not being able to defend 260’
POSITION | NAME | TEAM | WICKETS | MATCHES | RUNS | AVERAGE | ECONOMY |
| 1 | Harshal Patel | PBKS | 14 | 9 | 326 | 23.29 | 10.18 |
| 2 | Jasprit Bumrah | MI | 13 | 8 | 204 | 15.69 | 6.37 |
| 3 | Yuzuvendra Chahal | RR | 13 | 8 | 265 | 20.38 | 8.83 |
| 4 | Kuldeep Yadav | DC | 12 | 6 | 181 | 21.92 | 7.54 |
| 5 | T Natarajan | SRH | 12 | 6 | 209 | 22.9 | 8.7 |
| 6 | Arshdeep Singh | PBKS | 12 | 9 | 302 | 23.3 | 9.53 |
| 7 | Sam Curran | PBKS | 12 | 9 | 271 | 19.3 | 9.67 |
| 8 | Mustafizur Rahman | CSK | 12 | 7 | 277 | 18.3 | 10.07 |
| 9 | Gerald Coetzee | MI | 12 | 8 | 288 | 26.3 | 10.1 |
| 10 | Matheesha Pathirana | CSK | 11 | 5 | 152 | 13.82 | 7.6 |
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