Top 5 contenders for Purple Cap this IPL

On February 17, 2023, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the IPL schedule official. According to the IPL 2023 schedule, all teams will play 7 home games and 7 away games throughout the league stage. Matches will be played in a home and away format. The 70 league-stage games for the 16th season of the Indian Premier League will be spread out over 12 locations and 52 days.

While batters win you matches, it's the bowlers who win you tournaments. If you look at the record in the IPL, the teams winning the IPL had a very strong bowling lineup. Let us have a look at the top 5 contenders to win the purple cap this year:

Umran Malik

In just two years since he first appeared on the IPL scene, Umran Malik has swept the cricket community off their feet. Widely regarded as the fastest bowler in the world, has 22 wickets while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 14 games. Batsmen are having nightmares with to his devastating pace and flawless yorker deliveries. While he can go for runs in some matches, the fast bowler can take wickets and break crucial partnerships. Umran Malik is unquestionably among the top 5 candidates to win the purple hat in the IPL in 2023.

Arshdeep Singh

Punjab left-arm pacer has been a standout bowler in the last 2 editions of the IPL. His brilliant performances in the tournament led him to the national side and was a crucial member of the 2022 T20 World Cup. He can bowl in any phase of the match. He gets the ball to swing both ways in the powerplay and can get you wickets. Last year, even well-known finishers like Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell struggled to hit big shots against him in the death overs. He is surely a threat to many batters in the tournament. 

Maheesh Theekshana

Theekshana is the x-factor for the Chennai Super Kings. He is a mystery bowler having got many variations under his sleeve. The Sri Lankan spinner can bowl knuckleball, leg spin, off spin, carrom ball, and flipper. He can bowl in the powerplay as a wicket-taking option as well as bowl one over at the death if needed. The pitches in Chennai will suit him and the batters will face challenges while facing him. Maheesh Theekshana is surely a contender for the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.

Wanindu Hasranga

Wanindu Hasaranga was signed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL 2022 mega auction for 10.75 crores. With 26 wickets in 16 innings, Hasaranga was the second-highest wicket-taker in the IPL 2022.

He is a very versatile player with the ability to lure the batter and effectively take wickets. The Sri Lankan leggie is crucial for RCB's success in the tournament. Hasaranga is one of the contenders for the purple cap in the IPL 2023. 

Harshal Patel

In IPL 2021, Harshal Patel had a breakthrough season, getting the most wickets and earning the purple cap. In Patel's case, perseverance and hard effort paid off. He was repurchased by RCB for INR 14 crores at the IPL Mega Auction. Patel took 19 wickets last year and kept his mystery intact. While he was not a part of the playing 11 in the 2022 World Cup and later dropped from the squad, Patel will be hungry to make a statement this IPL. He will once more use his slow cutters and incisive yorkers to eliminate opponents in the IPL 2023 season.

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