IPL 2022: Five contenders to win the Purple Cap
The 2022 Indian Premier League is slated to start from March 26. In a change, two new teams have been added in the tournament making it a total of ten teams fighting for the title. Not only the IPL title, but several players will also be looking to perform with both bat and the ball to grab priced award of Orange cap (most runs in the season) and Purple Cap (most wickets in the season).
On that note, let’s have a look at the top five contenders for the Purple Cap:
Harshal Patel (RCB)
Indian pacer Harshal Patel was bought back by RCB at a whopping amount of INR 10.75 crore in the mega auction. His franchise had a neck-to-neck competition with CSK and SRH, but RCB managed to bring him back home. The right-arm pacer was the Purple Cap holder in IPL 2021. Harshal scalped a total of 32 wickets in the last edition which is the joint-highest in a single edition of the IPL, equalling Dwayne Bravo.
Jasprit Bumrah (MI)
Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah will always be in the contention of Purple Cap due to his wicket-taking ability whether in field restrictions or death overs. Bumrah’s pace along with his accuracy are the two most lethal weapons of the bowler. Bumrah has been a key performer for the five-time champions. The express pacer has played 106 IPL games and has scalped a total of 130 wickets with the ball. The right-arm pacer has an economy rate of 7.42.
Varun Chakravarthy (KKR)
After having two good seasons with franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, mystery-spinner Varun Chakravarthy was retained by the franchise for a cost of INR 8 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. Talking about his IPL career, the right-arm bowler has played 31 matches in the 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.
Arshdeep Singh (PBKS)
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 him. 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.
Rashid Khan (GT)
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 have the services of Rashid. The 23-year-old is one of the most effective spinners going around in the limited-overs format. Rashid has some staggering numbers in the T20 format and has been plying his trade for various franchises all across the globe. The 23-year-old 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.
