Well, clinching a purple cap award is often hailed as one of the most coveted dreams for a majority of international bowlers competing in the world’s wealthiest cricket league — the Indian Premier League (IPL). The glorious history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which spans over decades, has been witness to numerous trailblazing bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah, Rashid Khan, Lasith Malinga, Dwayne Bravo and many others who have left a formidable impact on the tournament with their lethal and downright ruthless bowling attacks that have not only annihilated the greatest of the batting lineups but also played a crucial role in leading their respective franchises to a glorious streak of victories in the league.
While it continues to be a far-fetched dream for a majority of international bowlers to claim the prestigious purple cap award even once in their careers, a few legendary cricket stalwarts have managed to claim the prestigious honour in their careers so far. Have you ever wondered about the top four players who have been awarded the coveted purple cap award for the highest number of times in their respective careers? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top three bowlers who have clinched the highest number of purple cap awards in their career as of March 2026.
IPL Records: Top 3 Players With The Most Purple Cap Awards
-
Dwayne Bravo
The 42-year-old retired Trinidadian international cricketer who represented West Indies across all formats of international cricket from 2004 to 2021 is at the first spot on our list of the top three players who have clinched the most Purple Cap awards as of March 2026. Often hailed as one of the most prominent faces of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dwayne Bravo made his star-studded debut in the 2008 edition for Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise and has been a mainstay for the league ever since.
Read More
Over the decades, Dwayne Bravo has played a record total of 161 IPL matches and has picked up a spine-chilling total of 183 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 8.39. Owing to his annihilating bowling attacks, Dwayne Bravo has been honoured with the prestigious purple cap award twice in the years 2013 and 2015 for picking up a record total of 32 wickets and 26 wickets respectively.
-
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
At the second spot in our list of the top three bowlers who have clinched the highest number of purple cap awards in their career as of March 2026 we have the legendary Indian former international cricketer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is often regarded as one of the most reliable bowlers to ever represent India across all formats of international cricket between 2012 and 2022. The trailblazing King of swing deliveries, Bhuvneshwar Kumar made his star-studded IPL debut on 8 April 2011 for Pune Warriors.
Read More
Although Kumar faced a tough time during the initial phase of his IPL career and did not get any matches to play until he was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014. Bhuvneshwar Kumar proved to be one of the most sensational and successful bowlers for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise and was also honoured with the coveted purple cap award twice during his tenure with the franchise in the years 2016 and 2017 for picking up a spine-chilling total of 23 wickets and 26 wickets respectively ranking him at the second spot on our list.
-
Harshal Patel
Finally, at the third spot on our list of the top three players who have clinched the most Purple Cap awards as of March 2026, we have 35-year-old Indian international cricketer Harshal Patel who has been acquired by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) franchise for a staggering INR 8 crore ahead of the upcoming IPL 2026 edition. Harshal Patel made his much-awaited IPL debut for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise in 2012 and has been a mainstay in the league ever since.
As of March 2026, Harshal Patel has played a record total of 119 IPL matches and has picked up a spine-chilling total of 151 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 8.86 and an average of 23.7, making him one of the most influential and unbeaten bowlers in the league. Throughout his glorious and star-studded IPL career so far, Harshal Patel has won the prestigious purple cap award twice in the years 2012 and 2024 for picking up a sensational total of 32 wickets and 24 wickets respectively, ranking him at the third spot on our list.
