The Indian Premier League has produced some of the most exciting moments in cricket history, especially when bowlers rise above batting friendly conditions to dominate an entire season. While fans often talk about big sixes and centuries, wickets remain the real turning point of any match. A bowler who consistently removes top batters can change the course of a tournament for their team. Over the years, a few players have delivered historic performances by taking the highest number of wickets in a single IPL season. This article explores the most wickets in IPL in one season, year wise leaders, how pitch conditions play a role, how these records affect IPL betting trends, and what it all means for fans and bettors.
Most Wickets in IPL in One Season: Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel currently holds the record for taking the most wickets in a single IPL season. He achieved this milestone in the 2021 season while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Harshal picked up 32 wickets in 15 matches, equalling the long standing record of Dwayne Bravo and setting a new benchmark in the modern IPL era. What made his season special was his control in pressure overs. He regularly bowled during the powerplay and death overs where wickets are hardest to take.
His slower balls, wide yorkers, and ability to read batters helped him outsmart even the most aggressive hitters. Several matches were turned around by his late over breakthroughs, making him one of the biggest match winners of that season.
This performance not only earned him the Purple Cap but also placed his name permanently in IPL history.
Most Wickets in IPL in One Season by Year (Top Performers):
Before looking at each year in detail, here is a clear view of the top wicket takers by season.
| Year | Player | Team | Wickets |
| 2011 | Lasith Malinga | Mumbai Indians | 28 |
| 2012 | Morne Morkel | Delhi Daredevils | 25 |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bravo | Chennai Super Kings | 32 |
| 2014 | Mohit Sharma | Chennai Super Kings | 23 |
| 2015 | Dwayne Bravo | Chennai Super Kings | 26 |
| 2016 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 23 |
| 2017 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 26 |
| 2018 | Andrew Tye | Kings XI Punjab | 24 |
| 2019 | Imran Tahir | Chennai Super Kings | 26 |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada | Delhi Capitals | 30 |
| 2021 | Harshal Patel | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 32 |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal | Rajasthan Royals | 27 |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami | Gujarat Titans | 28 |
1. Lasith Malinga (28 wickets) – IPL 2011
Lasith Malinga delivered one of the most feared bowling seasons in IPL history during 2011 while playing for Mumbai Indians. With his slingy action and deadly yorkers, he made run scoring extremely difficult for batters. Malinga picked up 28 wickets in just 16 matches and maintained an outstanding economy rate.
What made his season special was his control in the death overs. Whenever Mumbai needed a breakthrough, Malinga stepped up. His ability to hit perfect yorkers under pressure helped Mumbai defend small totals and stay competitive throughout the tournament.
2. Morne Morkel (25 wickets) – IPL 2012
Morne Morkel topped the wicket charts in IPL 2012 while playing for Delhi Daredevils. Using his height and bounce, he troubled batters with steep lift and pace. Morkel finished the season with 25 wickets in 16 matches.
His short balls and hard length were difficult to handle on Indian pitches. Many batters struggled to time him, especially early in the innings. Morkel played a major role in Delhi’s strong league stage performance that year.
3. Dwayne Bravo (32 wickets) – IPL 2013
Dwayne Bravo produced a legendary season in IPL 2013 for Chennai Super Kings. He equaled the highest wicket tally in a single season by taking 32 wickets across 18 matches.
Bravo was exceptional in the death overs, using slower balls, cutters, and clever variations to deceive batters. He constantly picked up wickets when teams tried to accelerate. His performances were crucial in CSK’s journey to the final and earned him massive respect as a T20 specialist.
4. Mohit Sharma (23 wickets) – IPL 2014
In IPL 2014, Mohit Sharma emerged as the leading wicket taker for Chennai Super Kings with 23 wickets in 16 matches. Known for his swing and disciplined line, Mohit delivered consistent spells throughout the season.
He bowled smart lengths in powerplay overs and relied on movement rather than pace. His calm approach helped CSK control early momentum in many matches and set the tone for their bowling attack.
5. Dwayne Bravo (26 wickets) – IPL 2015
Dwayne Bravo once again topped the charts in IPL 2015, proving his dominance in T20 cricket. Playing for Chennai Super Kings, he picked up 26 wickets in 17 matches.
He continued to master slower deliveries and wide yorkers, forcing batters into risky shots. Bravo’s wickets often came at crucial moments when opponents looked set for big totals. His consistency made him one of the most valuable players of that season.
6. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (23 wickets) – IPL 2016
Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a brilliant IPL 2016 campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad, finishing with 23 wickets in 17 matches. His swing bowling in the early overs and accurate death bowling made him extremely effective.
Bhuvneshwar’s ability to move the ball both ways troubled top order batters regularly. He was also calm under pressure and rarely leaked runs. His performance played a big role in Sunrisers Hyderabad winning their first IPL title.
7. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (26 wickets) – IPL 2017
Bhuvneshwar continued his excellent form in IPL 2017 by becoming the highest wicket taker again, this time with 26 wickets in 14 matches.
This season showed his growth as a complete T20 bowler. He picked up early wickets consistently and bowled tough overs at the end of innings. His accuracy and swing made him one of the most reliable bowlers in IPL during this period.
8. Andrew Tye (24 wickets) – IPL 2018
Andrew Tye had a breakthrough season in IPL 2018 for Kings XI Punjab. The Australian fast bowler finished with 24 wickets in 14 matches.
Tye used slower balls, knuckle balls, and clever changes of pace to outsmart batters. His variations were especially effective on slower pitches. Many batters struggled to pick his deliveries, leading to mistimed shots and easy wickets.
9. Imran Tahir (26 wickets) – IPL 2019
Veteran spinner Imran Tahir topped the wicket charts in IPL 2019 while playing for Chennai Super Kings. He took 26 wickets in 17 matches and became one of the oldest players to win the Purple Cap.
Tahir’s aggressive leg spin, quick googlies, and attacking mindset brought constant breakthroughs in middle overs. He celebrated every wicket with energy and kept pressure on batters. His performance proved that spinners could dominate even in high scoring seasons.
10. Kagiso Rabada (30 wickets) – IPL 2020
Kagiso Rabada was unstoppable in IPL 2020 for Delhi Capitals. The South African pacer took 30 wickets in 17 matches and played a major role in Delhi reaching the final.
Rabada combined raw pace with sharp bouncers and accurate yorkers. He struck early in matches and finished innings strongly. His consistency made him one of the most feared fast bowlers in the tournament.
11. Harshal Patel (32 wickets) – IPL 2021
Harshal Patel delivered a record breaking season in IPL 2021 for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He took 32 wickets in 15 matches, equalling the highest wickets in a single season.
His slower balls were almost impossible to hit cleanly. Batters often misjudged his pace and lost wickets trying to attack. Harshal’s ability to bowl under pressure transformed RCB’s bowling unit and made him the standout performer of the season.
12. Yuzvendra Chahal (27 wickets) – IPL 2022
In IPL 2022, Yuzvendra Chahal dominated as a leg spinner for Rajasthan Royals, finishing with 27 wickets in 17 matches.
Chahal’s flight, sharp turn, and smart changes of pace kept batters guessing. He frequently broke partnerships and controlled the middle overs. His wicket taking ability helped Rajasthan Royals reach the final and showcased the importance of quality spin bowling.
13. Mohammed Shami (28 wickets) – IPL 2023
Mohammed Shami topped the charts in IPL 2023 while playing for Gujarat Titans. He took 28 wickets in 17 matches and was exceptional in the powerplay overs.
Shami’s seam movement and accuracy troubled batters from the very start. He regularly picked early wickets, putting teams under pressure. His strong start with the ball gave Gujarat Titans a big advantage in many matches throughout the season.
Role of Pitch and Conditions in Wicket Taking:
Pitch conditions play a huge role in how many wickets bowlers take during an IPL season. Some grounds offer bounce that helps fast bowlers, while others become slower and assist spinners as the tournament progresses. Early season pitches often support swing, allowing bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shami to dominate.
As matches continue, surfaces dry out and start gripping the ball, which benefits spinners such as Chahal and Imran Tahir. Dew in night matches can make bowling tougher, forcing bowlers to rely on yorkers and slower balls. Bowlers who adapt quickly to these changing conditions usually finish with the highest wicket counts.
How These Records Influence IPL Betting Trends?
High wicket taking bowlers strongly influence IPL betting patterns each season. Bettors often focus on players who are consistently picking wickets when choosing markets like top wicket taker of the match or season. A bowler in good form usually sees lower odds because more users back them.
Pitch reports also affect betting decisions, as wicket friendly surfaces increase interest in bowling focused bets. Teams with strong bowling attacks often attract bets on match results and total wickets. Over time, players with record breaking seasons build trust among bettors and become popular picks throughout the tournament.
Conclusion:
The record for most wickets in IPL in one season proves that bowlers remain just as important as big hitting batters in the tournament. Harshal Patel’s 32 wicket season stands at the top, while legends like Dwayne Bravo, Malinga, Rabada, and Chahal have all delivered unforgettable performances.
Each season brings new challenges with changing pitches and stronger batting lineups, making these achievements even more impressive. For fans and betting users, tracking wicket taking bowlers offers valuable insight into match outcomes and season trends.
As IPL continues to grow, new stars will aim to break these records, but the current leaders have already created history that will be remembered for years.
FAQs:
Harshal Patel holds the record with 32 wickets in the 2021 IPL season.
Yes, Dwayne Bravo also took 32 wickets in the 2013 season.
Lasith Malinga, Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel, and Mohammed Shami are among the top fast bowlers with huge wicket tallies.
Yes, Imran Tahir and Yuzvendra Chahal have both led the wicket charts in different seasons.
They influence match outcomes, reduce opposition scores, and are key markets in performance based betting.
Kiran is a cricket analyst and writer with strong expertise in the Indian Premier League and modern cricket. He closely follows match situations, player performances, team strategies, and season trends to deliver clear and accurate insights. Passionate about the game, Kiran enjoys exploring emerging talents, tracking auction movements, and sharing timely updates related to IPL and competitive cricket.
