Highest Wicket Taker in IPL in One Season – Most Wickets in a Season
Taking wickets consistently across an entire IPL season is difficult. A bowler may start strongly, but maintaining that form through 14 league games and the playoffs requires fitness, accuracy and the ability to perform against different batting line-ups.
Harshal Patel and Dwayne Bravo jointly hold the record for the most wickets in a single IPL season, with 32 wickets each. Bravo first set the record for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2013, while Harshal matched it for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021.
Kagiso Rabada came closest to breaking the record when he took 30 wickets for Delhi Capitals in 2020. He added another outstanding season in IPL 2026, finishing with 29 wickets for Gujarat Titans and winning the Purple Cap.
Most Wickets in One IPL Season
| Rank | Bowler | Team | Season | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harshal Patel | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 2021 | 32 |
| 1 | Dwayne Bravo | Chennai Super Kings | 2013 | 32 |
| 3 | Kagiso Rabada | Delhi Capitals | 2020 | 30 |
| 4 | Kagiso Rabada | Gujarat Titans | 2026 | 29 |
| 5 | Lasith Malinga | Mumbai Indians | 2011 | 28 |
| 5 | James Faulkner | Rajasthan Royals | 2013 | 28 |
| 5 | Mohammed Shami | Gujarat Titans | 2023 | 28 |
| 5 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2026 | 28 |
| 9 | Jasprit Bumrah | Mumbai Indians | 2020 | 27 |
| 9 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Rajasthan Royals | 2022 | 27 |
| 9 | Rashid Khan | Gujarat Titans | 2023 | 27 |
| 9 | Mohit Sharma | Gujarat Titans | 2023 | 27 |
The record of 32 wickets has now survived through IPL 2026.
Harshal Patel – 32 Wickets in IPL 2021
Harshal Patel produced one of the greatest bowling seasons in IPL history while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2021.
He took 32 wickets in 15 matches, equalling Dwayne Bravo’s eight-year-old record.
Harshal finished the season with a bowling average of 14.34 and a strike rate of just over 10 balls per wicket.
Harshal Patel IPL 2021 Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 15 |
| Wickets | 32 |
| Bowling Average | 14.34 |
| Economy Rate | 8.15 |
| Strike Rate | 10.56 |
| Best Bowling | 5/27 |
| Purple Cap | Yes |
Harshal relied heavily on slower balls, cutters and changes of pace, particularly during the death overs.
His ability to take wickets when batters were attacking made him one of RCB’s most important players that season.
Harshal Patel's 5/27 Against Mumbai Indians
Harshal started IPL 2021 with a brilliant performance against Mumbai Indians.
He took 5/27, becoming one of the few bowlers to record a five-wicket haul against MI.
The spell immediately placed him among the leading wicket-takers of the season.
He continued taking wickets throughout the tournament and eventually finished with 32.
Harshal Patel Hat-Trick Against Mumbai Indians
Later in the same season, Harshal produced another major performance against Mumbai.
He took a hat-trick, dismissing Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Rahul Chahar.
The spell further strengthened his Purple Cap campaign.
By the end of IPL 2021, Harshal had matched Bravo’s record but could not move past 32.
Dwayne Bravo – 32 Wickets in IPL 2013
Dwayne Bravo was the first bowler to take 32 wickets in a single IPL season.
He achieved the record for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2013.
Bravo played 18 matches and finished with an average of 15.53.
Dwayne Bravo IPL 2013 Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 18 |
| Wickets | 32 |
| Bowling Average | 15.53 |
| Economy Rate | 7.95 |
| Strike Rate | 11.72 |
| Best Bowling | 4/42 |
| Purple Cap | Yes |
Bravo was regularly used during the final overs by MS Dhoni.
Batters were forced to attack him, while Bravo’s slower balls made clean hitting difficult.
That combination produced a huge number of wickets.
Bravo's Record Lasted Eight Years
Bravo’s 32-wicket record stood alone from 2013 until 2021.
Several leading bowlers came close during that period, including Lasith Malinga, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kagiso Rabada.
Rabada reached 30 wickets in 2020 but remained two short.
Harshal Patel finally equalled Bravo the following season.
No bowler has taken 33 wickets in an IPL season through 2026.
Kagiso Rabada – 30 Wickets in IPL 2020
Kagiso Rabada became the first bowler after Bravo to reach 30 wickets in one IPL season.
He took 30 wickets for Delhi Capitals in 2020.
Rabada played 17 matches as Delhi reached their first IPL final.
Kagiso Rabada IPL 2020 Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 17 |
| Wickets | 30 |
| Bowling Average | 18.27 |
| Economy Rate | 8.35 |
| Best Bowling | 4/24 |
| Purple Cap | Yes |
His pace, yorkers and wicket-taking ability made him one of the standout bowlers of the tournament.
He finished only two wickets short of Bravo’s then-record.
Kagiso Rabada – 29 Wickets in IPL 2026
Rabada returned to the top of the bowling charts in IPL 2026.
Playing for Gujarat Titans, he took 29 wickets in 17 matches and won another Purple Cap.
Kagiso Rabada IPL 2026 Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 17 |
| Wickets | 29 |
| Bowling Average | 21.59 |
| Economy Rate | 9.68 |
| Purple Cap | Yes |
Rabada finished one wicket short of his own 2020 total and three short of the all-time record.
He became one of the few bowlers in IPL history to win multiple Purple Caps.
Lasith Malinga – 28 Wickets in IPL 2011
Lasith Malinga took 28 wickets in IPL 2011 for Mumbai Indians.
His economy rate was particularly impressive at 5.95 runs per over.
That remains one of the most economical Purple Cap-winning seasons in IPL history.
Lasith Malinga IPL 2011 Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 16 |
| Wickets | 28 |
| Average | 13.39 |
| Economy | 5.95 |
| Best Bowling | 5/13 |
| Purple Cap | Yes |
Malinga’s yorkers were extremely difficult to score from, especially at the death.
His 28 wickets remained among the highest single-season totals for many years.
James Faulkner – 28 Wickets in IPL 2013
James Faulkner also took 28 wickets in 2013.
He played for Rajasthan Royals and became one of the best fast bowlers of the season.
Faulkner’s 28 wickets would have won the Purple Cap in many IPL seasons, but Bravo’s extraordinary 32-wicket campaign placed him second.
Faulkner was particularly effective with slower balls and variations.
He also recorded multiple five-wicket hauls during his IPL career.
Mohammed Shami – 28 Wickets in IPL 2023
Mohammed Shami took 28 wickets for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023.
He finished as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament and won the Purple Cap.
Shami was especially dangerous with the new ball.
Mohammed Shami IPL 2023 Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 17 |
| Wickets | 28 |
| Average | 18.64 |
| Economy Rate | 8.03 |
| Purple Cap | Yes |
His early wickets played an important role in Gujarat Titans reaching their second consecutive IPL final.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 28 Wickets in IPL 2026
Bhuvneshwar Kumar enjoyed one of the best seasons of his long IPL career in 2026.
He took 28 wickets in 16 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Bhuvneshwar finished second on the Purple Cap list, one wicket behind Kagiso Rabada.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar IPL 2026 Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 16 |
| Wickets | 28 |
| Best Bowling | 4/23 |
| Purple Cap Position | 2nd |
It was his highest single-season wicket total.
His previous Purple Cap-winning seasons had come with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016 and 2017.
Jasprit Bumrah – 27 Wickets in IPL 2020
Jasprit Bumrah took 27 wickets for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020.
It remains one of his strongest seasons.
Bumrah played a major role as Mumbai went on to win the championship.
He bowled in the powerplay, middle overs and at the death, making his 27-wicket total particularly impressive.
Rabada finished three wickets ahead of him and won the Purple Cap.
Yuzvendra Chahal – 27 Wickets in IPL 2022
Yuzvendra Chahal took 27 wickets for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022.
He won the Purple Cap and helped Rajasthan reach the IPL final.
Yuzvendra Chahal IPL 2022 Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 17 |
| Wickets | 27 |
| Best Bowling | 5/40 |
| Purple Cap | Yes |
Chahal also recorded a hat-trick against Kolkata Knight Riders during the season.
His 27 wickets remain one of the highest totals ever recorded by a spinner in one IPL edition.
Rashid Khan – 27 Wickets in IPL 2023
Rashid Khan took 27 wickets for Gujarat Titans in 2023.
He finished only one wicket behind teammate Mohammed Shami.
The pair formed one of the strongest bowling combinations of the season.
Rashid’s total of 27 wickets remains his highest in a single IPL campaign.
Mohit Sharma – 27 Wickets in IPL 2023
Mohit Sharma completed an extraordinary comeback season in 2023.
He took 27 wickets in only 14 matches for Gujarat Titans.
His performances meant that three GT bowlers finished among the leading wicket-takers:
Mohammed Shami – 28
Rashid Khan – 27
Mohit Sharma – 27
Mohit also bowled the final over of the IPL 2023 final against Chennai Super Kings.
Most Wickets by an Indian Bowler in One IPL Season
Harshal Patel holds the Indian record.
He took 32 wickets in IPL 2021.
The leading Indian single-season totals include:
| Bowler | Wickets | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Harshal Patel | 32 | 2021 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 28 | 2026 |
| Mohammed Shami | 28 | 2023 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 27 | 2020 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 27 | 2022 |
| Mohit Sharma | 27 | 2023 |
Harshal remains the only Indian bowler to reach 30 wickets in an IPL season.
Most Wickets by an Overseas Bowler in One IPL Season
Dwayne Bravo holds the overseas record with 32 wickets in IPL 2013.
Kagiso Rabada is next with 30 in 2020.
| Bowler | Country | Wickets | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwayne Bravo | West Indies | 32 | 2013 |
| Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | 30 | 2020 |
| Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | 29 | 2026 |
| Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 28 | 2011 |
| James Faulkner | Australia | 28 | 2013 |
Bravo’s record has stood since 2013.
Most Wickets by a Spinner in One IPL Season
Yuzvendra Chahal and Rashid Khan share one of the highest wicket totals by specialist spinners in a single season.
Both took 27 wickets.
Chahal achieved the mark in 2022, while Rashid matched it in 2023.
Imran Tahir took 26 wickets for Chennai Super Kings in 2019.
Leading Spinner Seasons
| Spinner | Wickets | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 27 | 2022 |
| Rashid Khan | 27 | 2023 |
| Imran Tahir | 26 | 2019 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 26 | 2022 |
Spin bowlers usually operate during the middle overs, so reaching 25 or more wickets is an outstanding achievement.
Most Wickets by a Fast Bowler in One IPL Season
The overall record belongs to pace bowlers.
Harshal Patel and Dwayne Bravo both took 32 wickets.
Rabada reached 30 in 2020.
The top of the all-time list is therefore dominated by fast and medium-fast bowlers.
Death-over bowling contributes significantly because batters are forced to attack, creating more wicket-taking opportunities.
IPL 2026 Purple Cap Winner
Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap in IPL 2026 with 29 wickets.
He represented Gujarat Titans and played 17 matches.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished second with 28 wickets.
Jofra Archer was third with 25.
IPL 2026 Most Wickets
| Rank | Bowler | Team | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kagiso Rabada | Gujarat Titans | 29 |
| 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 28 |
| 3 | Jofra Archer | Rajasthan Royals | 25 |
| 4 | Rashid Khan | Gujarat Titans | 21 |
| 4 | Anshul Kamboj | Chennai Super Kings | 21 |
| 6 | Eshan Malinga | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 20 |
Rabada came closest to the 32-wicket record during the 2026 season.
IPL 2025 Purple Cap Winner
Prasidh Krishna won the IPL 2025 Purple Cap with 25 wickets for Gujarat Titans.
He finished the season ahead of the other leading bowlers.
His 25 wickets were seven short of the single-season record.
Purple Cap Winners Year by Year
| Season | Bowler | Team | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sohail Tanvir | Rajasthan Royals | 22 |
| 2009 | RP Singh | Deccan Chargers | 23 |
| 2010 | Pragyan Ojha | Deccan Chargers | 21 |
| 2011 | Lasith Malinga | Mumbai Indians | 28 |
| 2012 | Morne Morkel | Delhi Daredevils | 25 |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bravo | Chennai Super Kings | 32 |
| 2014 | Mohit Sharma | Chennai Super Kings | 23 |
| 2015 | Dwayne Bravo | Chennai Super Kings | 26 |
| 2016 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 23 |
| 2017 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 26 |
| 2018 | Andrew Tye | Kings XI Punjab | 24 |
| 2019 | Imran Tahir | Chennai Super Kings | 26 |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada | Delhi Capitals | 30 |
| 2021 | Harshal Patel | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 32 |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Rajasthan Royals | 27 |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami | Gujarat Titans | 28 |
| 2024 | Harshal Patel | Punjab Kings | 24 |
| 2025 | Prasidh Krishna | Gujarat Titans | 25 |
| 2026 | Kagiso Rabada | Gujarat Titans | 29 |
The Purple Cap is awarded to the bowler who finishes the season with the most wickets.
Bowlers With Multiple Purple Caps
A small group of players have won the Purple Cap more than once.
Dwayne Bravo
Won in:
2013 – 32 wickets
2015 – 26 wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Won in:
2016 – 23 wickets
2017 – 26 wickets
Harshal Patel
Won in:
2021 – 32 wickets
2024 – 24 wickets
Kagiso Rabada
Won in:
2020 – 30 wickets
2026 – 29 wickets
No bowler has won the Purple Cap three times through IPL 2026.
Bowlers With 30 or More Wickets in an IPL Season
Only three bowling performances have reached the 30-wicket mark.
| Bowler | Wickets | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Harshal Patel | 32 | 2021 |
| Dwayne Bravo | 32 | 2013 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 30 | 2020 |
Rabada’s 29 wickets in 2026 fell just short of joining this group for a second time.
Harshal Patel vs Dwayne Bravo – 32 Wickets
Both bowlers finished with the same total, but their seasons were different.
| Stat | Harshal Patel | Dwayne Bravo |
|---|---|---|
| Season | 2021 | 2013 |
| Team | RCB | CSK |
| Matches | 15 | 18 |
| Wickets | 32 | 32 |
| Average | 14.34 | 15.53 |
| Economy | 8.15 | 7.95 |
| Best Bowling | 5/27 | 4/42 |
| Purple Cap | Yes | Yes |
Harshal reached 32 wickets in fewer matches and had the better bowling average.
Bravo had the better economy rate.
Both remain joint record-holders.
Can Anyone Break the 32-Wicket Record?
The record has survived for more than a decade since Bravo first set it in 2013.
Rabada came close with 30 in 2020 and 29 in 2026.
Modern IPL seasons can give finalists up to 17 matches, which creates opportunities for leading bowlers to challenge the record.
However, even a bowler averaging almost two wickets per game must stay fit and maintain form for the entire tournament to reach 33.
Through IPL 2026, nobody has done it.
Who Has Taken the Most Wickets in One IPL Season?
Harshal Patel and Dwayne Bravo jointly hold the record for the highest number of wickets in a single IPL season, with 32 wickets each.
Bravo took 32 wickets for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2013.
Harshal matched him for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021.
Kagiso Rabada is next with 30 wickets in 2020, followed by his 29-wicket season in 2026.
No bowler has crossed 32 wickets through IPL 2026.
FAQs
Who is the highest wicket-taker in one IPL season?
Harshal Patel and Dwayne Bravo jointly hold the record with 32 wickets each.
How many wickets did Harshal Patel take in IPL 2021?
Harshal Patel took 32 wickets in 15 matches for RCB.
How many wickets did Dwayne Bravo take in IPL 2013?
Bravo took 32 wickets in 18 matches for Chennai Super Kings.
Has anyone taken more than 32 wickets in an IPL season?
No. The record remains 32 wickets through IPL 2026.
Who is second after Harshal Patel and Dwayne Bravo?
Kagiso Rabada is next with 30 wickets for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020.
Who won the Purple Cap in IPL 2026?
Kagiso Rabada won the 2026 Purple Cap with 29 wickets for Gujarat Titans.
Who took 28 wickets in an IPL season?
Lasith Malinga, James Faulkner, Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have all recorded 28-wicket seasons.
Which Indian bowler has taken the most wickets in one IPL season?
Harshal Patel holds the Indian record with 32 wickets in IPL 2021.
Which overseas bowler has taken the most wickets in one IPL season?
Dwayne Bravo holds the overseas record with 32 wickets in 2013.
Which spinner has taken the most wickets in one IPL season?
Yuzvendra Chahal and Rashid Khan have both taken 27 wickets in a season.
How many wickets did Mohammed Shami take in IPL 2023?
Shami took 28 wickets and won the Purple Cap.
How many wickets did Kagiso Rabada take in IPL 2020?
Rabada took 30 wickets.
Who won the IPL 2025 Purple Cap?
Prasidh Krishna won it with 25 wickets.
How many Purple Caps has Harshal Patel won?
Harshal Patel has won two Purple Caps, in 2021 and 2024.
How many Purple Caps has Kagiso Rabada won?
Rabada has won two, in 2020 and 2026.
Rivcky John
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