The fight for the coveted IPL 2024 Purple Cap has become even more intense after a nail-biting contest between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 18. MI's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has reclaimed the orange cap from Rajasthan Royals (RR) ace Yuzvendra Chahal, becoming the top wicket-taker with his three-wicket haul against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Yuzvendra Chahal, now trailing by just one wicket, occupies the second spot.
MI's Gerald Coetzee has risen to the top three in the rankings after a match-winning performance that included three wickets on April 18 against PBKS. Alongside Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada of the same team has entered the top five wicket-takers list following his latest outing against MI.
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowler Mustafizur Rahman and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) captain Pat Cummins have dropped out of the top five. Delhi Capitals (DC) left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed continues to hold the fourth position in the purple cap race.
Let’s have a look at the list of bowlers who are in contention for Purple Cap:
1. Bumrah Takes the Crown: Jasprit Bumrah (MI) is terrorizing batsmen with his lethal yorkers, currently holding the coveted Purple Cap. He's snagged an impressive 13 wickets in just seven matches, conceding a mere 21 runs in his latest spell and boasting an exceptional economy rate of 5.96.
2. Yuzvendra Chahal loses top spot: RR's wily leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal isn't far behind with 12 wickets from seven matches. He briefly held the Purple Cap before Bumrah's surge and remains the only spinner in the top contenders.
3. Gerald Coetzee Joins the Fray: South African youngster Gerald Coetzee (MI) has exploded onto the scene, grabbing 12 wickets in seven matches alongside Chahal. However, his economy rate of 9.92 needs some improvement.
4. Khaleel Ahmed Slipping: DC's left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has slipped to fourth place with 10 wickets from seven matches and an economy rate of 8.17.
5. Kagiso Rabada Makes a Late Charge: South African speedster Kagiso Rabada (PBKS) is making a late push for the Purple Cap. He finally cracked the top five after taking a wicket against MI, bringing his total to 10 wickets from seven matches with an economy rate of 8.32.
POSITION | NAME | TEAM | WICKETS | MATCHES | RUNS | AVERAGE | ECONOMY |
| 1 | Jasprit Bumrah | MI | 13 | 7 | 167 | 12.85 | 5.96 |
| 2 | Yuzuvendra Chahal | RR | 12 | 7 | 217 | 18.08 | 8.34 |
| 3 | Gerald Coetzee | MI | 12 | 7 | 263 | 21.92 | 9.92 |
| 4 | Khaleel Ahmed | DC | 10 | 7 | 229 | 22.9 | 9.15 |
| 5 | Kagiso Rabada | PBKS | 10 | 7 | 233 | 23.3 | 8.77 |
| 6 | Sam Curran | PBKS | 10 | 7 | 193 | 19.3 | 8.17 |
| 7 | Mustafizur Rahman | CSK | 10 | 5 | 183 | 18.3 | 8.32 |
| 8 | Harshal Patel | PBKS | 10 | 7 | 263 | 26.3 | 10.11 |
| 9 | Pat Cummins | SRH | 9 | 6 | 189 | 21 | 7.87 |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh | PBKS | 9 | 7 | 240 | 26.67 | 9.53 |
Purple Cap's history
Notably, the Purple Cap, awarded to the IPL's leading wicket-taker, is a coveted prize. While most seasons see a new champion emerge, Bhuvneshwar Kumar remains the sole player to claim it in back-to-back years. The record for most wickets in a single season is a thrilling tie. Both Harshal Patel (2021) and Dwayne Bravo (2013) finished strong, securing the Purple Cap with an impressive haul. The inaugural season in 2008 saw Pakistan's Sohail Tanvir become the first Purple Cap winner with 22 wickets. The following year, RP Singh, a former Indian left-arm pacer, outshone Tanvir by taking 23 wickets in South Africa. Pragyan Ojha, former Indian spinner, joined the winners' circle in 2010 with 21 scalps, before overseas players started dominating the race.
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