The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to host the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) from April 9 to May 30 across six cities namely Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Delhi. The tournament will be hosted in a bio-secure bubble with each team playing in four venues, barring their home grounds.

Just like every season, IPL 2021 also boasts of having some world-class bowlers who are all set to rattle the batsmen with their pace or spin. The bowlers will also be competing to win the prestigious Purple Cap at the end of IPL 2021. Purple Cap is awarded to the bowler with the most number of wickets in a particular IPL season. In the same light, let’s take a look at-

5 bowlers who can win purple cap in IPL 2021

1. Yuzvendra Chahal

Right-arm leg-spin bowler Yuzvandra Chahal is in contention to win the esteemed purple cap in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over the years, Chahal has established himself as a vital cog for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and has been the backbone of the team’s bowling line-up.

Since his debut in the T20 Extravaganza in 2013, Chahal has featured in 99 IPL matches scalping 121 wickets at an economy rate of 7.67 and an average of 22.5. In the 13th edition of the league, hosted in the United Arab Emirates, the 30-year-old finished as the highest wicket-taker among spinners and fifth-highest overall with 21 scalps in 15 games.

Hence, the bowler is expected to replicate his wonderful performance in the IPL 2021 too, and make a case for himself to win the purple cap while playing on the pitches of Chennai. Mumbai, Kolkata, and Ahemdabad.

2. Jasprit Bumrah

One of the biggest mysteries of the T20 Championship is how India’s pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah does not even have a single purple cap under his belt. There is no doubt over the dominance of Bumrah on the cricket pitch with the ball across all formats. Since his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Mumbai Indians in 2013, Bumrah has picked a whopping 109 wickets at an economy of 7.41 and an average of 32.7.

Since 2016, Bumrah has been among the Top-10 leading wicket-takers in every season. During the 13th edition, UAE had witnessed the exploits of the right-arm quick as he had finished with 27 scalps under his belt in 15 games. The deadly duo of Bumrah and Kiwi speedster Trent Boult was one of the reasons behind Mumbai picking up their fifth IPL title.

Last year, the seamer had fallen short of just 3 wickets as Delhi’s Kagiso Rabada won the purple with 30 wickets to his name. However, 2021 might be the year for the celebrated pacer as he is one of the prime contenders of being the highest wicket-taker.

3. Ravi Ashwin

One of the most talked-about cricketer in recent times has been India’s veteran off-spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin is in tremendous form since the four-match Border Gavaskar Test series between India and England and is living the golden phase of his cricket career.

Playing on the pitches of Chennai and Ahmedabad in the four-match Test series against England, Ashwin was successful in bamboozling the opposition batsmen. He was adjudged as the Man of the Series for picking up a whopping 30 wickets in 4 games. The International Cricket Council (ICC) also lauded the efforts of the spinner by making him the ICC Cricketer of the month for February.

Playing for Delhi Capitals (DC), Ravi Ashwin is most likely to carry forward his exemplary form in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

4. Rashid Khan

One of the most celebrated and talked-about Afghanistan bowlers of all-time, the 22-year-old Rashid Khan is once again expected to weave his magic on the Indian pitches. Ever since his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017, Rashid has constantly made headlines with his stunning performance with the ball.

He had picked a stunning 17 wickets for Orange Army in his debut season followed by 21 wickets in IPL 2018, 17 wickets in IPL 2019, and 20 wickets from 16 games in the last season hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Coming to his T20I career, the 22-year-old has represented Afghanistan in 48 games scalping 89 wickets at an economy of 6.14.

Thus it won’t be a surprise if the leg-spinner manages to win his maiden purple cap during the 2021 edition of the T20 Championship.

5. Jhye Richardson

Australia’s right-hand fast-bowler Jhye Richardson earned big bucks during the IPL auctions for the 2021 edition as Punjab Kings included the seamer in their squad for a whopping INR 14 crore after an intense bidding war with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Though he will be making his debut on the Indian pitches, Richardson has all the attributes of shining in the T20 league.

The 24-year-old seamer had attracted the attention of the who’s who of the cricket fraternity with his all-round abilities while playing for his franchise Perth Scorchers in the 2020-21 edition of the Big Bash League. In 17 BBL games, the all-rounder had picked 29 wickets at an economy of 7.69 along with hammering 96 runs with the bat at an average of 19.25 and strike-rate of 139.13.

Since his debut in February 2017 against Sri Lanka, Richardson has also featured in 9 T20 Internationals for Australia scalping 9 wickets and scoring 13 runs at 13.00. Thus, it won’t be wrong to say that the seamer can earn the Purple cap in his debut IPL season.