The Indian Premier League in its history has witnessed several great players, alongside many batters who have scored a large number of runs. The likes of veteran bowlers have also been match-winners over the course of the IPL. and many will be contenders for the same in IPL 2025.
While several veterans like Zaheer Khan, Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil Kumble have played in the IPL in its earlier seasons, many Indian greats like Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harbhajan Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah have been exceptional with their performances in recent days of cricket.
While Lasith Malinga was one of the overseas players with the most solidifying performance alongside t20 stalwart Dwayne Bravo, the two being veterans of the shortest format of the game, especially Bravo with both bat and ball.
Many of these bowlers have received the purple cap from time to time. While looking at the seaming possibilities and form of players, here is a list of players who can emerge as the highest wicket-takers for the upcoming season of the IPL.
Top 5 picks as the highest probable wicket-taker in the IPL for 2025:
5. Harshal Patel
The emerging medium pacer from North India has been stunning over the years for Royal Challengers Bangalore since 2022, while he delivered a purple cap-winning show featuring the Punjab Kings in the last season as well.
While Harshal is ready to feature in the SRH playing 11 in 2025, he would be ready to feature alongside greats of the game like Mohammed Shami and the great skipper Pat Cummins.
4. Mohammed Shami
Shami is returning from his long-ailing injury, which he suffered during India’s campaign in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, where Shami finished as the highest wicket-taker. Shami will be part of the SRH camp, and their bowling looks strengthened as ever.
Shami went on to pick 127 wickets in the IPL so far, while before injury ruled him out of the 2024 IPL, he was the highest wicket-taker in the IPL 2023 with the Gujarat Titans. He played a pivotal role in the Titans’ success, as he picked 50 wickets for the Titans in just 2 seasons.
3. Yuzvendra Chahal
Legendary leg-spinner and the highest wicket-taker in the history of the IPL, Yuzu Chahal has picked over 200 IPL wickets, the first to have done so.
Often featuring in that list of names with the most wickets in the IPL, Chahal is a perfect fit on our list and with the immense trust his new franchise the Punjab Kings has shown over him with a huge INR 18 Crores bid, Chahal is expected to deliver a purple cap worthy performance in IPL 2025.
2. Matheesha Pathirana
MS Dhoni’s self-trained rising superstar, Pathirana, has been getting better day after day with his awstrucking pace bowling featured in every franchise-level cricket in the world.
Pathirana was also seen in great form for CSK in the last season of the IPL, where he emerged as their key death-over bowler and not only picked several wickets but also deduced the scoring rate, thus evolving as a match-winner.
1. Kagiso Rabada
The Proteas legend knows what is to be done to pick wickets with the ball, be it whichever format of the game. Rabada was recently seen emerging as a top-choice test bowler and went on to claim 300 wickets.
Kagiso Rabada has previously won the IPL purple cap while he has readily been picking 20+ wickets in every season he has played in, though Rabada again has a new role now with the Gujarat Titans after having featured for Delhi and Punjab in his IPL career.
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