IPL 2022: Team-wise one player who can win the purple cap this season

As announced by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the 15th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) is starting from March 26. The inaugural match of IPL 2022 will be played between defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and other finalist Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Unlike last season, two more franchises- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) will be presenting their case for the title.

Several players will also be looking to perform with both bat and the ball to achieve their personal milestones and grab the orange cap (most runs) and purple cap (most wickets). On that note, let’s have a look at possible contenders for the purple cap from each squad.

Team-wise one player who can win the purple cap:

1. Harshal Patel (RCB)

After being  released by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, pacer Harshal Patel was bought back by the franchise at a whopping amount of INR 10.75 crore. His franchise had a neck to neck competition with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), but RCB managed to bring him back home.

The right-arm pacer won the purple cap in IPL 2021. Harshal scalped a total of 32 wickets in last edition which is the joint-highest in a single edition of the cash-rich league. CSK all-rounder Dwayne Bravo had also managed to pick up the same number of wickets in the 2013 season.

The 31-year-old would want to replicate his performance in the upcoming season to win the maiden IPL trophy for his franchise and also reclaim the purple cap during the process. RCB have also confirmed their new skipper in Faf du Plessis for the upcoming season and it would be interesting to see how things pan out for the red army.

2. Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)

Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah will always be in contention to win the purple cap due to his wicket-taking ability at any stage of the game. The right-arm pacer has been the go-to bowler for skipper Rohit Sharma over the years and continues to do so. Bumrah’s pace along with his accuracy are two of his most lethal weapons.

Bumrah has been a key performer for the five-time champions and yet again the franchise will rely on the pacer with ball in hand to emulate his performance. The express pacer has played 106 IPL games and has scalped a total 130 wickets with the ball.

Bumrah is also very shy in giving runs. He has an economy rate of 7.42, which is quite exceptional. In IPL 2021,  the right-arm pacer will look to emulate his performance of 2020 when he bagged the purple cap after taking 27 wickets in just 14 matches. 

3. Yuzvendra Chahal (Rajasthan Royals)

Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was bagged by Rajasthan Royals (RR) at a price of INR 6.5 Crores in the IPL 2022 mega auction and is a match-winner on his own with the ball. The 31-year old spinner was one of the most consistent performers for his former franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) over the years and it came as a surprise for cricket fans after he was not retained.

In IPL 2021, Chahal finished with 18 wickets in 15 games overall. He bowled some extraordinary spells for his former franchise. Talking about his overall IPL career, the 31-year old has played 114 matches in the tournament scalping a total of 139 wickets and going at a good economy of 7.59.

The leg-spinner is a very clever bowler and gives the ball a lot of air. With amount of experience in IPL and in the international circuit, his new franchise will expect him to pick a lot of wickets during the middle-over phase. Chahal will also be looking to perform well to get a ticket to Australia for upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

4. Varun Chakravarthy (Kolkata Knight Riders)

After having two good seasons with Kolkata Knight Riders, mystery-spinner Varun Chakravarthy was retained by the franchise for a cost of INR eight crore ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. The 30-year-old will look to replicate his performance in the upcoming season as well.

Making his international debut for India in July 2021, Chakravarthy’s variations can be extremely difficult to a batsman who hasn’t faced him very often before. Even in the IPL, the 30-year-old was seen confounding the best players in the world. Chakravarthy’s canny alterations in pace, line, length and direction of spin makes him a different bowler as compared to other spinners.

Talking about his IPL career, the spinner has played 31 matches in biggest cricketing league of the world scalping a total 36 wickets. Going at a wonderful economy of 6.82, the 30-year-old also has a five-wicket haul under his name.

5. Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings)

Local lad and young pacer Arshdeep Singh was one of the two retentions made by the Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. The franchise paid a hefty amount of INR 4 crore to retain the services of the left-arm quick and will be hoping for a good performance from him in the upcoming season.

The 23-year-old has been one of the finds in recent years of the tournament. Arshdeep registered his best-ever figures in the IPL against the Rajasthan Royals in last year edition, when he took 5 for 32 in his four over quota. The young pacer demolished the RR team, making him the third-youngest player to bag a five-wicket haul in the IPL.

The 23-year-old is a death overs specialist and has bowled in crunch situations for the Punjab Kings. Talking about his stats in IPL, Arshdeep has played 23 IPL matches and has scalped a total of 30 wickets going at an economy of 8.78.

6. Ravi Bishnoi (Lucknow Super Giants)

Young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi was picked by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction at a price of INR 4 crore. After having two good seasons with Punjab Kings (PBKS), the 21-year-old will be expected to replicate his performances for his new franchise as well.

Bishnoi made his international debut in a T20I series against West Indies played in February 2022. The young leg-spinner in his debut match scalped two wickets while only spending 17 runs in his four-over quota. The 21-year old has transformed into a valuable spinner being under the guidance of head coach Anil Kumble for PBKS in last season.

In 23 IPL games, Bishnoi has picked up 24 wickets going with an economy rate of 6.96. The leg-spinner has a lot of variations and does not rely on turn which makes him a unique bowler. LSG will be banking on Bishnoi to provide vital breakthroughs especially during the middle overs.

7. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

India’s veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also one of the most successful bowlers in the history of IPL. A few years back, Bhuvi was in his prime as he won the purple cap twice in successive seasons. Kumar is the only Indian bowler to win the purple cap twice in the biggest cricketing league in the world. The 32-year-old has been a prominent figure for the orange army over the years.

Bhuvi has played 132 IPL matches and has scalped a total of 142 wickets to his name at an amazing average of 25.27. The right-arm pacer will surely complete his 150 mark in the upcoming season. Just like the previous seasons, the veteran pacer is expected to lead SRH pace attack.

Talking about his T20I career, Bhuvi has played 59 matches for India and has scalped a total of 58 wickets going at an economy rate of 6.99. Not in his prime form, the right-arm pacer will be looking to get another purple cap in the upcoming IPL 2022.

8. Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans)

Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan was picked by the Gujarat Titans ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. The franchise paid a hefty amount of INR 15 crore to secure his services. The 23-year-old is one of the most effective spinners going around in the limited-overs format and he is a match-winner with the ball.

Rashid has some staggering numbers in the T20 format and has been plying his trade for various franchises all across the globe. He has scalped 93 wickets in 76 IPL games at an amazing economy rate of 6.33 and likes to bowl the tough overs for the side as well.

Rashid is very quick and deceptive through the air and hardly gives anything to batters to play big shots against him. He also has one of the most venomous googlies which is also hard to be picked by the batters. Rashid apart from doing well for his new franchise, will look to grab the purple cap for himself as well.

9. Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals)

Left-handed all-rounder Axar Patel has made a name for himself playing IPL for a lot of years. Axar who made his IPL debut for Punjab Kings in 2013 did a decent job for the franchise. In IPL 2019, when he was purchased by the Delhi Capitals. After two successful seasons with DC, Axar was retained by the franchise at a whopping cost of INR nine crore.

Talking about his numbers, Axar has played 109 IPL matches in which he has scalped a total of 95 wickets with a strike rate of 24.16. The 28-year-old is quite economical as well conceding runs at an economy of 7.22. He is a decent batter as well having scored a total of 953 runs with a strike rate of 125.33.

Axar has been a key player for the Delhi franchise and will look to emulate his performance in the upcoming season as well. It remains to be seen if skipper Pant uses the left-arm spinner during the field restrictions considering his knack of bowling tight lines.

10. Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings)

Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since his inclusion in the franchise in 2011. Apart from being a match winner for the yellow army, Bravo has also guided young players in the CSK camp.

In 151 IPL games, Bravo has scalped 157 wickets going at an economy of 8.36. The right-arm pacer has been skipper Dhoni’s go-to man during the death overs. With the bat, Bravo has scored 1537 runs at a good strike rate of 130.25.

He is an excellent fielder as well and will look to give his 100% for CSK to defend their title. Bravo will yet again have the responsibility to provide vital breakthroughs for his side and try to win the purple cap.