Most Wickets in IPL 2021 – The race for the purple cap

With the IPL 2021 set to resume in September and October, the race for the Purple Cap will continue, albeit in a different location from where it started. Since the suspension of the tournament in May, the BCCI have announced that the remaining 31 games will be held in the UAE. This isn’t uncharted territory […]
 
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Most Wickets in IPL 2021 – The race for the purple cap

With the IPL 2021 set to resume in September and October, the race for the Purple Cap will continue, albeit in a different location from where it started. Since the suspension of the tournament in May, the BCCI have announced that the remaining 31 games will be held in the UAE. This isn’t uncharted territory for the Indian Premier League, which played the entirety of the previous edition in the Middle East. 

Also ReadMost Runs In IPL 2021 | Players In The Orange Cap Race

Now that the road ahead seems clearer from an organisational point of view, players will be focused on scoring runs and taking wickets for their teams. Given that, the best IPL betting sites will have dozens of markets available for the resumption of the competition including the Purple Cap and Orange Cap winners. Here’s who is currently topping the race for the prize:

 

Harshal Patel – Royal Challengers Bangalore – 17 Wickets

Having begun his IPL career with Bangalore in 2012, Harshal Patel is enjoying a triumphant return. The 31-year-old showed signs of his talent but never really established himself as a regular during his three-year spell in Delhi and was traded back to RCB before the 2021 season got underway. 

Most Wickets in IPL 2021 – The race for the purple cap
Most Wickets in IPL 2021 – The race for the purple cap

RCB’s Harshal Patel is currently leading the race for the Purple Cap in IPL 2021

He’s certainly proved a great acquisition for the franchise. The 17 wickets he has taken thus far have already equalled his best ever IPL tally for a single season, which was set back in 2015. He’s the only player to have taken a 5-fer in this edition of the IPL too, a milestone the seamer achieved in the very first game of the campaign against Mumbai Indians.

 

Avesh Khan – Delhi Capitals – 14 Wickets

Avesh Khan comes next in the standings, although he has played a game more (8) than the current leader. Still relatively inexperienced, he has just 17 IPL appearances to his name, but has proved the focal point of the table-topping DC attack this year. 

While Capitals fans might have expected the likes of Chris Woakes, Tom Curran or Kagiso Rabada to be dominating with the ball in hand, it’s the 24-year-old quick bowler who has led from the front so far. Consistency in taking wickets hasn’t meant comprising on leaking runs either, Avesh has gone at just 7.70 runs per over in IPL 2021 so far. If he’s able to keep chipping away and adding to his tally, DC could be a formidable challenge in the UAE.

Also ReadMost Runs in IPL History

Chris Morris – Rajasthan Royals – 14 Wickets

South African all-rounder Chris Morris came into this edition of the IPL with plenty of attention on him. Having been sold for 16.25 crore in the 2021 auction, Morris became the most expensive player in IPL history, surpassing Yuvraj Singh in the process. 

While the discussion about whether he’s value for money or not will continue, Morris has certainly contributed with the ball for the Royals. A best of 4/23 was vital in a low-scoring victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 18 has helped the team to fifth in the overall standings ahead of the resumption. However, with such a hefty price tag, Morris will be expected to provide more firepower with the bat too. He’s scored just 48 runs so far with 36 of those coming in one game.

 

Other Contenders

While Harshal holds a three-wicket lead for now, there are plenty of other big names that could yet compete for the Purple cap prize. Rahul Chahar has been Mumbai’s leading bowler thus far with 11 wickets while Rashid Khan has 10. Sam Curran and Pat Cummins both sit on 9 wickets although there are doubts over the participation of some international players for the second half of the tournament.