The Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s most prestigious T20 franchise tournament, is set to return for its 18th season on March 22, 2025. As excitement builds, let’s revisit a rare achievement in Indian Premier League (IPL) history – bowlers who have won the Purple Cap twice.
The Exclusive List: Bowlers with Two Purple Caps
Only three bowlers have managed to claim the Purple Cap twice in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, featuring one overseas star and two Indian pacers.
Dwayne Bravo (2013 & 2015): The West Indies all-rounder won his first Purple Cap in 2013 with 32 wickets and claimed his second in 2015 with 26 wickets.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2016 & 2017): The Indian pacer made history by becoming the first and only bowler to win back-to-back Purple Caps in IPL, taking 23 and 26 wickets in successive seasons.
Harshal Patel (2021 & 2024): Known as “Purple Patel,” Harshal secured his first Purple Cap in 2021 with 32 wickets and repeated the feat in 2024 with 24 wickets.
The First-Ever Purple Cap Winner
The inaugural Purple Cap in Indian Premier League (IPL) history was claimed by Pakistan’s Sohail Tanvir in 2008. The left-arm pacer dominated with 22 wickets in just 11 matches. However, Pakistani players have not participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since that season.
IPL 2025: The Battle Begins
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season will feature 10 teams competing in 74 matches for the coveted title. The opening match of IPL 2025 will see defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a high-voltage clash.
With just weeks to go, eight franchises have confirmed their captains, while Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders are yet to announce their skippers.
Delhi Capitals have moved on from Rishabh Pant and secured KL Rahul in the mega auction. Rahul is now a leading contender to captain the team in IPL 2025.
Multiple media reports indicate that Venkatesh Iyer is a strong contender for KKR’s captaincy. After being released, KKR reacquired him for Rs 23.75 crore in the auction, making him the fourth most expensive player in IPL history.
