Explosive batting has always been a trademark of the Indian Premier League; however, world-class bowling has always been a vital component of success in the competition. Over the years, the IPL has produced outstanding wicket-takers, including Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sunil Narine, Jasprit Bumrah, Rashid Khan, Dwayne Bravo, and Lasith Malinga.
At the time of the 2026 Indian Premier League, Yuzvendra Chahal leads the chart of most wickets in the IPL’s history, having 233 wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the second place in this chart with 223 wickets, followed by Sunil Narine, who has 207 wickets. In addition, Yuzvendra Chahal is the first ever bowler to reach the 200-wickets barrier in the IPL, while the number of his wickets keeps growing.
The IPL 2026 also brought the new Purple Cap winner, Kagiso Rabada, who took 29 wickets for the Gujarat Titans and outranked Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jofra Archer.
This article discusses the most wickets in IPL history, the record of the most wickets in a single IPL season, the Purple Cap in IPL 2026, IPL 2025 and IPL 2024, and other relevant wicket-taking records.
Most Wickets in IPL History
The record of the most wickets in IPL history belongs to Yuzvendra Chahal at the moment. Being one of the most consistent IPL bowlers, the leg-spinner has always been able to take wickets in the middle overs.
It should be noted that the record of Yuzvendra Chahal is outstanding in the context of the fact that it was earned not only thanks to some particular teams and moments in time but also being effective through different stages of his career. In particular, Yuzvendra Chahal has played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals, and Punjab Kings.
Top 10 Players With Most Wickets in IPL History
| Rank | Player | Wickets | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuzvendra Chahal | 233 | 187 |
| 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 223 | 202 |
| 3 | Sunil Narine | 207 | 202 |
| 4 | Jasprit Bumrah | 187 | 158 |
| 5 | Rashid Khan | 179 | 153 |
| 6 | Dwayne Bravo | 177 | 154 |
| 7 | Piyush Chawla | 176 | 180 |
| 8 | Ravindra Jadeja | 172 | 240 |
| 9 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 167 | 205 |
| 10 | Amit Mishra | 155 | 148 |
Figures are based on IPL career records through the end of the 2026 season.
1. Yuzvendra Chahal – 233 Wickets
Yuzvendra Chahal leads the list of most wickets in IPL history with 233 wickets. It should be pointed out that taking wickets in the middle overs has always been the biggest advantage of Yuzvendra Chahal. As a result of this fact, the bowler does not rely solely on pace but also uses other factors, such as flight, turn, pace change, and variations of trajectory.
In addition, Yuzvendra Chahal had several successful seasons with Rajasthan Royals and is one of the best Indian spinners of the IPL history.
2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 223 Wickets
The second place in the list of most wickets in the history of the IPL belongs to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took 223 wickets. It should be pointed out that Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the most reliable IPL bowlers at the moment and takes wickets both in the first and last overs.
It should be noted that the season of 2026 was quite successful for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Being a member of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bhuvneshwar took 28 wickets and ended up second in the Purple Cap race.
3. Sunil Narine – 207 Wickets
Sunil Narine has taken 207 wickets in the IPL history, remaining one of the most difficult IPL bowlers to score against.
It should be noted that mystery spinner has spent the major part of his IPL career playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, which is why his variations, accuracy, and ability to take wickets during the powerplay make him an important part of KKR’s bowling attack.
4. Jasprit Bumrah – 187 Wickets
Jasprit Bumrah is the fourth bowler on the list of top all-time wicket-takers in IPL with 187 wickets. Bumrah’s unique bowling style, yorkers, slower deliveries and ability to deliver under pressure have made him one of the most lethal bowlers.
Bumrah has become one of the most important death-over bowlers in world cricket and a crucial asset of Mumbai Indians.
5. Rashid Khan – 179 Wickets
Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has taken 179 wickets in IPL. Rashid has been one of the most successful foreign bowlers in the IPL with his speed through the air, googly and attacking approach towards wicket taking.
Rashid also played a significant role in Gujarat Titans’ 2026 campaign, taking 21 wickets in the season.
Who Is the Highest Wicket Taker in IPL?
Yuzvendra Chahal is the highest wicket taker in IPL history with 233 wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is second with 223 wickets, while Sunil Narine is third with 207 wickets. Yuzvendra Chahal holds the unique record for being the first bowler to take over 200 wickets in IPL.
Most Wickets in a Single IPL Season
The most wickets in a single IPL season record is shared between Harshal Patel and Dwayne Bravo. Both bowlers have taken 32 wickets in one IPL season.
Dwayne Bravo achieved the record in 2013 playing for Chennai Super Kings, while Harshal Patel also took 32 wickets in 2021 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Most Wickets in a Single IPL Season
| Rank | Player | Team | Season | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harshal Patel | RCB | 2021 | 32 |
| 1 | Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 2013 | 32 |
| 3 | Kagiso Rabada | Delhi Capitals | 2020 | 30 |
| 4 | Kagiso Rabada | Gujarat Titans | 2026 | 29 |
| 5 | Lasith Malinga | Mumbai Indians | 2011 | 28 |
| 5 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2017 | 26 |
| 5 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2016 | 23 |
The 32-wicket record has survived despite the increasing number of matches played in modern IPL seasons.
Harshal Patel – 32 Wickets in 2021
2021 has been one of the best seasons ever produced by any IPL bowler. Harshal Patel has taken 32 wickets in 15 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His variations, slower deliveries and death over bowling made him almost impossible to target.
Also, Patel has become the joint holder of the record for the most wickets in one IPL season, sharing the record with Dwayne Bravo’s 32 wickets in 2013.
Dwayne Bravo – 32 Wickets in 2013
Dwayne Bravo is the first bowler in IPL history who has taken 32 wickets in one season. Dwayne Bravo has achieved this record playing for Chennai Super Kings in 2013. Dwayne Bravo was lethal at death overs with his variations and slower deliveries that used to deceive batters looking to score quickly.
Purple Cap in IPL 2026: Top 10 Most Wickets
Kagiso Rabada of Gujarat Titans became the winner of the Purple Cap in IPL 2026. In total, Rabada took 29 wickets in 17 matches and thus became the leading wicket-taker of IPL 2026.
However, Rabada had to compete with such players as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jofra Archer, Rashid Khan and some others.
Purple Cap in IPL 2026: Top 10
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kagiso Rabada | Gujarat Titans | 17 | 29 | 9.68 |
| 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 16 | 28 | 7.95 |
| 3 | Jofra Archer | Rajasthan Royals | 16 | 25 | 9.32 |
| 4 | Rashid Khan | Gujarat Titans | 17 | 21 | 9.08 |
| 5 | Anshul Kamboj | Chennai Super Kings | 14 | 21 | 10.53 |
| 6 | Eshan Malinga | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 15 | 20 | 9.33 |
| 7 | Mohammed Siraj | Gujarat Titans | 17 | 19 | 9.06 |
| 8 | Rasikh Salam | RCB | 12 | 19 | 9.46 |
| 9 | Kartik Tyagi | Kolkata Knight Riders | 13 | 18 | 9.76 |
| 10 | Jason Holder | Gujarat Titans | 11 | 17 | 7.57 |
Kagiso Rabada’s IPL 2026 Purple Cap
Rabada took 29 wickets in 17 matches and five of them were three-wicket hauls. Rabada won the Purple Cap of 2026 with a narrow lead of one wicket over Bhuvneshwar Kumar, thus 2026 Purple Cap race became one of the closest races for the first place.
Rabada’s success was built on his ability to take wickets all through the innings as he did not rely solely on one particular phase of the game. Rabada’s pace, bounce and attacking style of the game brought him success.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Excellent IPL 2026
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was one of the stars of the 2026 bowling season. The RCB pacer took 28 wickets in 16 matches and thus became second after Rabada. However, Bhuvneshwar’s economy rate of 7.95 was better than Rabada’s 9.68.
Thus, 2026 season of Bhuvneshwar was excellent not only because of his ability to take wickets, but also because of his ability to control the scoring rate. Also, his 2026 season helped RCB to win the IPL championship.
Purple Cap in IPL 2025: Most Wickets in IPL 2025
The Purple Cap of IPL 2025 was won by the fast bowler of Gujarat Titans Prasidh Krishna. He took 25 wickets in 15 matches, finishing one wicket ahead of Noor Ahmad of Chennai Super Kings.
Consistency was the key of Prasidh’s success during the whole season of IPL 2025 as he regularly helped Gujarat Titans to get breakthroughs. At the end of the tournament, Prasidh finished with bowling average of about 19.5.
Purple Cap in IPL 2025: Top 10
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prasidh Krishna | Gujarat Titans | 15 | 25 |
| 2 | Noor Ahmad | Chennai Super Kings | 14 | 24 |
| 3 | Trent Boult | Mumbai Indians | 16 | 22 |
| 4 | Josh Hazlewood | RCB | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Arshdeep Singh | Punjab Kings | 17 | 21 |
| 6 | Sai Kishore | Gujarat Titans | 15 | 19 |
| 7 | Jasprit Bumrah | Mumbai Indians | 12 | 18 |
| 8 | Varun Chakaravarthy | Kolkata Knight Riders | 13 | 17 |
| 9 | Krunal Pandya | RCB | 15 | 17 |
| 10 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 14 | 17 |
Prasidh Krishna’s 25-Wicket Season
Prasidh Krishna had the season of his life in 2025. He bowled 59 overs in total and took 25 wickets with an average of 19.52. His best figures were 4/41.
Purple Cap in IPL 2024
The winner of the Purple Cap for the 2024 IPL was Harshal Patel from the team Punjab Kings. He took 24 wickets in 14 matches in IPL and won the Purple Cap just above KKR spinner Varun Chakaravarthy and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah of Mumbai Indians.
Purple Cap in IPL 2024: Top 10
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harshal Patel | Punjab Kings | 14 | 24 |
| 2 | Varun Chakaravarthy | KKR | 15 | 21 |
| 3 | Jasprit Bumrah | Mumbai Indians | 13 | 20 |
| 4 | T Natarajan | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 19 |
| 5 | Harshit Rana | KKR | 13 | 19 |
| 6 | Avesh Khan | Rajasthan Royals | 16 | 19 |
| 7 | Arshdeep Singh | Punjab Kings | 14 | 19 |
| 8 | Andre Russell | KKR | 15 | 19 |
| 9 | Pat Cummins | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 16 | 18 |
| 10 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Rajasthan Royals | 15 | 18 |
Harshal Patel’s 24 wickets were enough to secure the Purple Cap despite strong challenges from Varun Chakaravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah.
What Is the Purple Cap in IPL?
The Purple Cap is awarded to the bowler who has taken the maximum number of wickets in any season of the Indian Premier League. The award has been there right from the beginning of the IPL tournament and is one of the most prestigious awards for individual players in the IPL.
Throughout the season, the bowler taking the maximum wickets wears the Purple Cap. In case of two or more bowlers being equal in terms of wickets taken, the bowler with the better economy is considered to be superior.
Winning the Purple Cap in an IPL season is very challenging as the bowlers have to continue their form throughout the whole tournament rather than depending on a few innings.
Most Purple Caps in IPL History
Some bowlers have won the Purple Cap multiple times during their career in IPL. For instance, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the most successful bowlers winning the Purple Cap in 2016 and 2017.
Dwayne Bravo, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and some other bowlers have greatly contributed in making history of bowling in IPL.
Notable Purple Cap Winners
| Player | Purple Cap Seasons |
|---|---|
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 2016, 2017 |
| Dwayne Bravo | 2013 |
| Harshal Patel | 2021, 2024 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 2022 |
| Mohammed Shami | 2023 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 2025 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 2026 |
The list shows how the Purple Cap has been shared between pace bowlers and spinners across different IPL eras.
Most Wickets by an Indian in IPL
Yuzvendra Chahal is the highest wicket-taker among Indian bowlers in IPL history. His 233 wickets put him well ahead of the other Indian bowlers on the all-time list.
Leading Indian Wicket-Takers in IPL
| Rank | Player | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuzvendra Chahal | 233 |
| 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 223 |
| 3 | Jasprit Bumrah | 187 |
| 4 | Piyush Chawla | 176 |
| 5 | Ravindra Jadeja | 172 |
| 6 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 167 |
| 7 | Amit Mishra | 155 |
| 8 | Sandeep Sharma | 151 |
| 9 | Harshal Patel | 151 |
| 10 | Umesh Yadav | 142 |
Chahal’s record is particularly impressive because he has consistently taken wickets despite playing most of his career as a specialist middle-overs spinner.
Most Wickets by an Overseas Player in IPL
Among overseas players, Sunil Narine is one of the leading wicket-takers with 207 IPL wickets.
Rashid Khan is close behind with 179, while Dwayne Bravo finished his career with 177 wickets.
Leading Overseas Wicket-Takers
| Rank | Player | Country | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunil Narine | West Indies | 207 |
| 2 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 179 |
| 3 | Dwayne Bravo | West Indies | 177 |
| 4 | Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | 148 |
| 5 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 142 |
Narine’s long association with Kolkata Knight Riders has played a major role in his position among the tournament’s leading overseas wicket-takers.
Why Is Taking Wickets So Important in the IPL?
T20 cricket often encourages teams to focus heavily on scoring rate, but wickets can be just as valuable.
A wicket can:
- Break a dangerous partnership
- Stop a batter from reaching a big score
- Force a new batter to rebuild the innings
- Change the momentum of a match
- Reduce the scoring rate at crucial moments
- Put pressure on the opposition’s middle and lower order
The best IPL bowlers therefore do more than simply keep runs down. They create breakthroughs when their teams need them most.
Which Type of Bowler Takes the Most IPL Wickets?
Both pace bowlers and spinners have enjoyed long periods of dominance in the IPL.
Spinners
Spinners such as Chahal, Narine and Rashid Khan have been particularly effective in the middle overs. They can use changes in pace, flight and turn to force batters into attacking mistakes.
Fast Bowlers
Fast bowlers such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Bumrah, Rabada and Bravo have often excelled during the powerplay and death overs.
Death bowling is especially important because batters attack aggressively during the final overs, creating both the possibility of boundaries and wicket-taking opportunities.
Most Wickets in IPL: Key Records at a Glance
| Record | Player | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Most wickets in IPL history | Yuzvendra Chahal | 233 |
| Highest wicket-taker in IPL | Yuzvendra Chahal | 233 |
| Most wickets in a single IPL season | Harshal Patel & Dwayne Bravo | 32 |
| Most wickets in IPL 2026 | Kagiso Rabada | 29 |
| Purple Cap IPL 2026 | Kagiso Rabada | 29 wickets |
| Purple Cap IPL 2025 | Prasidh Krishna | 25 wickets |
| Purple Cap IPL 2024 | Harshal Patel | 24 wickets |
| Most wickets by an Indian | Yuzvendra Chahal | 233 |
| Most wickets by an overseas player | Sunil Narine | 207 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has taken the most wickets in IPL history?
Who has taken the most wickets in a single IPL season?
Who won the Purple Cap in IPL 2026?
Who won the Purple Cap in IPL 2025?
Who won the Purple Cap in IPL 2024?
Who has taken the most wickets by an Indian in IPL?
How many wickets did Kagiso Rabada take in IPL 2026?
How many wickets did Prasidh Krishna take in IPL 2025?
How many wickets did Harshal Patel take in IPL 2024?
Conclusion
The player who holds the record for the most wickets in IPL history is Yuzvendra Chahal, with 233 wickets. The second most successful bowler in IPL history is Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has 223 wickets. Other top bowlers in IPL history include Sunil Narine, Jasprit Bumrah and Rashid Khan.
The record for the most number of wickets in one IPL season is shared between Harshal Patel and Dwayne Bravo, with 32 wickets. However, Kagiso Rabada has almost broken the record in 2026, with 29 wickets. The record of winning the Purple Cap is also indicative of the highly competitive nature of bowling in IPL. In 2024, Harshal Patel won the award with 24 wickets, while Prasidh Krishna won it in 2025 with 25 wickets. In 2026, Rabada won it with 29 wickets.
While new bowlers are constantly emerging and existing stars like Bumrah, Chahal, Narine and Rashid Khan are contributing to the competition, the wicket records of IPL will definitely change. Currently though, Yuzvendra Chahal stands as the highest wicket taker in IPL history and Harshal Patel and Dwayne Bravo hold the record for the most wickets in one IPL season.
Also, Read About: Most Sixes in IPL 2026: History, Season, Innings and Team Records