Sohail Tanvir to Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Meet all the Purple Cap winners in IPL

Bengaluru, April 23: Cricket is often called a batsman's game. The batsmen dominate the sport and most of the rules have been tweaked over the years to benefit them.

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As the famous WG Grace once said "When you win the toss - bat. If you are in doubt, think about it, then bat. If you have very big doubts, consult a colleague then bat."

While Grace said these words a century back, the cricket fans across the globe still echo similar opinion. In short, fans come to see batsmen perform rather than bowlers.

When it comes to Twenty20 cricket, the scenario worsens for the bowlers as the focus completely shifts to their colleagues with the willows. IPL is obviously no different as the batsmen over the past 9 seasons have completely dominated the proceedings.

But it does not mean that the bowlers are completely sidelined. Over the years in the tournament, we have seen on numerous occasions that bowlers have outshined Batsmen and taken the centre stage.

IPL from the very beginning had the Purple Cap to honour the highest wicket taker of a particular edition.

From Sohail Tanvir's brilliance in the inaugural season which won him the Purple Cap to Bhuvneshwar Kumar's triumph last season, bowlers have had their fair share of the limelight.

West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has won the Purple Cap most number of time twice in 2013 and 2015. He has also taken the most number of wickets in a season (32) in 2013 among all the Purple Cap winners.

RP Singh was the first Indian to win it in 2009. Three Other Indians have won it, Pragyan Ojha (2011), Mohit Sharma (2014) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2016).

Here are the Purple Cap winners in 9 seasons (2008-2016)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (right) (SRH, 2016)

Sunrisers Hyderabad speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 23 wickets in 17 matches to win the Purple Cap in 2016. He was one of the key factors behind SRH winning the IPL last season.

Dwayne Bravo (CSK, 2015)

Then playing for Chennai Super Kings, West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo had won the Purple Cap in 2015 taking 26 wickets in 17 matches.

Mohit Sharma (CSK, 2014)

Indian international fast bowlers Mohit Sharma had won the Purple Cap in 2014, playing for Chennai Super Kings. He took 23 wickets in 16 matches.

Dwayne Bravo (CSK, 2013)

Dwayne Bravo is one of the best cricketers ever to grace the IPL since its inception. He has performed brilliantly in every single edition of the tournament for each and every team has played with. In 2013, Bravo had won the Purple Cap for the first time taking 32 wickets in 18 matches.

Morne Morkel (left) (DD, 2012)

South African fast bowlers won the Purple Cap in 2012 as a Delhi Daredevils bowler. He took 25 wickets in 16 matches.

Lasith Malinga (MI, 2011)

Lasith Malinga is one of the best bowlers in the history of IPL. He is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 147 wickets. He had won the Purple cap in 2011 taking 28 wickets in 16 matches.

Pragyan Ojha (left) (DC, 2010)

Pragyan, then playing for Deccan Chargers, won the Purple Cap in 2010 taking 21 wickets in 16 matches. He was the second Indian bowler to win the honour.

R.P Singh (DC, 2009)

R.P Singh became the first Indian bowler to win the Purple Cap in 2009. He was playing for Deccan Chargers. Singh took 23 wickets in 16 matches.

Sohail Tanvir (RR, 2008)

Pakistani fast bowler Sohail Tanvir (centre) won the first ever Purple Cap playing for Rajasthan Royal in the inaugural edition of IPL. He took 22 wickets in 11 matches.

OneIndia News

Story first published: Thursday, August 3, 2017, 7:47 [IST]

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