The blockbuster 15th edition of the IPL begins with chartbuster Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders at 7:30 PM IST on 26th March 2022 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
From Boom Boom Bumrah to Proteas Paceman Rabada to Swing King Bhuvi to Death Over Specialist Patel to Indian Pace Sensation, Umran Malik is few among the many who will aim to bring the purple cap to their respective franchise.
Who will be the ace to win the purple cap race?
Cricreads bring you the list of the top 8 bowlers at the front of holding the purple cap in this edition of IPL.
Anrich Nortje
The Proteas pacer was retained over Kagiso Rabada, the former purple cap winner by Delhi Capitals, in IPL Mega Auction 2022. It proves how highly the Delhi Capitals management rates him. The speedster is at the core of their bowling attack and is expected to lead the pack of bowlers at Delhi. Nortje had an impressive economy of 6.16 while taking 12 wickets in 8 matches. Suppose the periodic injury scares do not interfere with Nortje in this edition. In that case, he will definitely be among the highest wicket-takers in this edition and the top contender for the coveted purple cap.
Jasprit Bumrah
It would be criminal to not include Bumrah in the prospects of the purple cap in IPL 2022. The Mumbai Indians’ yorker and death overs specialist is already counted among the greatest IPL bowlers compared to the legend like Lasith Malinga. Bumrah has been the Mr. dependable for skipper Rohit Sharma in IPL for so many years. In last year’s IPL, he removed 21 batters in 14 matches to finish at number four in the list of most wickets.
Rashid Khan
The right-arm leg-spin wizard is still a mystery to decode in IPL even after being part of the tournament for more than 5 years. Perhaps the most-economical spinner in the history of the Indian Premier League. The spinner is lauded by critics and sportspersons all over the globe and is always a favourite to win the purple cap. He has dismissed 93 batters in 76 matches in IPL and would continue to dominate the batters in 2022 as well with the newborn franchise Gujarat Titans.
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Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel reinvented himself in the IPL 2021 to win the purple cap and form the record of taking the most number of wickets in an IPL season. Patel’s success story is nothing sort of a miracle; he was traded by Delhi Capitals to RCB in 2021 after the auctions, where he found his home to polish and hone his talents. He was repurchased by RCB at IPL Mega Auctions for a hefty sum of 14 crore rupees. RCB will again depend on his cutters, slower and pin-point yorkers, to destroy the opposition’s batting.
Lockie Ferguson
An underrated gem in the T20 format. Ferguson bowls at an express pace of about 150 km/hr. His worth was finally realized at this year’s Mega Auctions when he went on to sell for a whopping 10 crore rupees to Gujarat Titans. Lockie had an impressive 2021 IPL with 13 wickets in just 8 matches. If Ferguson becomes a regular in Titans playing XI, one can expect him to shatter many stumps at IPL 2022.
Kagiso Rabada
A player who is consistently among the wickets in IPL. Rabada had won the purple cap in IPL 2020 when he dismissed 30 batters in just 17 games. Since then, he shot to overnight fame and always brings a flurry of wickets with him in IPL. Rabada was released by Delhi Capitals before the IPL 2022 Mega Auctions and fetched a massive 9.25 crore rupees from Punjab Kings. Rabada has performed exceptionally well in the recent series against Bangladesh and will carry that form in IPL 2022 to stake his claim for the purple cap.
Umran Malik
The Indian pace sensation is a surprise and bold entry into the list of contenders for the purple cap in IPL. However, Cricreads believe that Malik’s pace and bounce will be a menace to deal with on the pitches of Wankhede and DY Patil Stadium. Malik was retained by SRH, who has a keen eye for identifying the diamonds in the rough. He has featured in only 3 matches to account for 2 wickets, but his turbo pace had kept everyone on the hook. Umran may emerge to be the find of Tata IPL 2022.
Avesh Khan
The sensation from IPL 2021 was the talk of the town during his stint at Delhi Capitals. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2021 with 24 wickets in 16 matches. Released by Delhi Capitals, Avesh Khan became the most expensive uncapped buy in the history of IPL Auctions when he was bought for 10 crore rupees by Lucknow Super Giants. Khan will be keen to replicate his success from the last year and perform even better to lay his hands on the elusive purple cap finally.
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