Cricket, the gentleman’s game, has evolved massively over the last 20 years since its inception, evolving from the longest format of the game, Test Cricket, to the entertaining T20 format. The craze of T20 cricket has increased its popularity even more, and with the creation of various T20 leagues all around the world, the entertainment provided by cricket has reached new heights. One such crazy league is India’s very own Indian Premier League (IPL).
The IPL is a T20 league that was founded in 2008. Since the creation of the IPL, it has gone on to become one of the most popular and successful cricket tournaments. 10 teams participate in the league, and the best cricketers from all around the world play for these 10 teams.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Indian Premier League is the competition for the Purple Cap and Orange Cap. After the end of each IPL season, the purple cap is awarded to the highest wicket taker of the season, while the orange cap is given to the highest run getter of the season.
In the Indian Premier League, the race for being the highest wicket taker has really been fascinating. The T20 League has witnessed some of the best bowlers in the world showcasing their skills in the league and competing against each other for the coveted purple cap and the IPL trophy. In this article, we will be taking a look at the bowlers who have taken the highest number of wickets in the tournament’s history.
TOP 15 highest wicket takers in the history of the IPL (2008–2024)
| Player | Wickets | Matches | Team | Economy Rate |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 187 | 145 | Rajasthan | 7.66 |
| Dwayne Bravo | 183 | 161 | Chennai | 8.38 |
| Piyush Chawla | 179 | 181 | Mumbai | 7.90 |
| Amit Mishra | 173 | 161 | Lucknow | 7.36 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 171 | 197 | Rajasthan | 7.01 |
| Lasith Malinga | 170 | 122 | Mumbai | 7.14 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 170 | 160 | Hyderabad | 7.39 |
| Sunil Narine | 163 | 162 | Kolkata | 6.73 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 152 | 226 | Chennai | 7.560 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 150 | 163 | Kolkata | 7.07 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 145 | 120 | Mumbai | 7.39 |
| Rashid Khan | 139 | 108 | Gujarat | 6.60 |
| Umesh Yadav | 136 | 141 | Kolkata | 8.42 |
| Mohammed Shami | 127 | 109 | Gujarat | 8.42 |
| Sandeep Sharma | 124 | 116 | Rajasthan | 7.85 |
Don’t Miss: CSK Impact Players for IPL 2024
1. Yuzvendra Chahal
With an excellent record of 187 scalps in 145 matches next to his name, Yuzu Chahal has been a really consistent performer since his debut in the IPL. His ability to get breakthroughs at crucial moments is what makes Chahal a better bowler than the others. He has picked up wickets at a brilliant average of 21.69 and an economy rate of 7.67, which makes him a valuable asset for his IPL franchise.
The 33 year old has played for multiple teams in the IPL, having started his journey with the Mumbai Indians as a youngster before making his IPL debut with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014. Currently, he’s plying his trade for the Rajasthan Royals.
2. Dwayne bravo
Dwayne Bravo’s wicket tally of 183 wickets in 161 matches makes him the second highest wicket taker in the history of the Indian Premier League. He averages 23.82 in the IPL with the bowl, while his economy rate of 8.38 indicates his ability to keep the opponent’s run rate in check.
The all-rounder from the West Indies has played for the Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Gujarat Lions (2016 & 2017). He has lifted the IPL Trophy three times with CSK: in 2011, 2018, and 2021. He even won the purple cap twice with CSK.
3. Piyush Chawla
Piyush Chawla has dismissed batters 179 times in the Indian Premier League. He has played for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, and Mumbai Indians (current franchise). His best IPL season came with the Mumbai Indians last year, as he managed to get 22 scalps in his bag in 16 games at an economy rate of 8.11.
His brilliant outing in the previous season impressed the Mumbai Indians, and they didn’t even sign a proper spinner in the 2024 IPL auction.
4. Amit Mishra
The experienced leggie, Amit Mishra, has been a really good and consistent player in the IPL, having picked up 173 wickets in 161 matches at an outstanding economy rate of 7.36. His ability to ball constant googlie’s and leg spin bowls has troubled the best batsman in the world, and his wicket-taking ability has helped his team pick up important wickets in the most crucial moments.
5. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravi Ashwin is the fifth-highest wicket taker in the IPL, with 171 wickets next to his name. He rose through the ranks with the Chennai Super Kings in the early stages of his career and even helped them lift the IPL in 2010 and 2011. His magic delivery against Chris Gayle in the 2011 IPL final, which dismissed him on a first-ball duck, is still quite fresh in the memory of CSK fans. He has a lot of spin tricks up his sleeve, and his variations have troubled the best players out there over the years. He’s currently plying his trade for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.
Read: Four players Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) can use as Impact Players in the IPL 17th edition