The IPL 2024 bowler's race for the Purple Cap is heating up. Rajasthan Royals' Yuzvendra Chahal has snatched the lead, dethroning Chennai Super Kings' Mustafizur Rahman who sits at second with nine wickets. In the IPL 2024 clash against Gujarat Titans, Chahal returned with a spell of 2/43 in RR's losing cause. Meanwhile, there's been a shake-up in the lower ranks. Gujarat Titans' Mohit Sharma has clawed his way back into the top five, joining Punjab Kings' Arshdeep Singh, both with 8 wickets. Unfortunately for Delhi Capitals, Khaleel Ahmed has slipped from fourth to fifth position.
Check the complete list of bowlers who are in the purple cap contention
- 1. Yuzvendra Chahal (RR): The Indian leg-spinner and Rajasthan Royals' key bowler, currently leads the pack with 10 wickets from just 5 matches. He's the only spinner in the top five and has been consistently taking wickets for his team.
2. Mustafizur Rahman (CSK): The Bangladeshi pacer for Chennai Super Kings, sits at number two with 9 wickets from 4 matches. Despite missing a game due to visa issues, he remains a strong contender. He's the only foreign bowler in the top five.
3. Arshdeep Singh (PBKS): PBKS star pacer recently joined the top-five race after a 4-wicket haul against Sunrisers Hyderabad, even though his team lost the match by a narrow margin. He has 8 wickets in 5 matches and boasts an impressive economy rate of 8.72.
4. Mohit Sharma (GT): The experienced pacer for Gujarat Titans, is back in the race after taking a wicket against Rajasthan Royals. He replaces Khaleel Ahmed for the fourth spot, with 8 wickets from 6 matches and an economy of 9.39. Notably, he was the second-highest wicket-taker last season with 27 wickets.
5. Khaleel Ahmed (DC): The left-arm pacer for Delhi Capitals, has slipped to the fifth position with 7 wickets from 5 matches. While his economy rate is good at 8.50, he hasn't been able to secure any significant hauls of three or four wickets in a single match.
| Player | Team | Mat | Wkts. | Econ. | Avg. | BBI |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | RR | 5 | 10 | 7.33 | 13.20 | 3/11 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | CSK | 4 | 9 | 8.00 | 14.22 | 4/29 |
| Arshdeep Singh | PBKS | 5 | 8 | 8.72 | 20.00 | 4/29 |
| Mohit Sharma | GT | 6 | 8 | 9.39 | 27.00 | 3/25 |
| Khaleel Ahmed | DC | 5 | 7 | 8.50 | 24.28 | 2/21 |
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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