IPL 2021 Top wicket taker purple cap predictions

Having previewed the candidates for leading run scorer we now offer predictions on the bowlers who have a chance of being the top wicker in IPL 2021. Once again the battle for the purple cap will involve many of the world’s top T20 bowlers and so picking one or several from this crowded field that offer good value takes time and careful analysis.

Again, our predictions for top wicket taker in IPL 2021 will factor in the neutral venues that the tournament will be played at this year as this is likely to have a significant impact on the success of certain bowlers who favour the conditions they’ve been drawn to play in.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Odds to be top wicket taker in IPL 2021 @12.0

Buvi is back and at odds this generous he is our number 1 tip to be the top wicket taker in IPL 2021. The last couple of years have seen SRH’s lead seamer beset by injuries but following his return to fitness he has demonstrated his worth as a T20 bowler with some stunning displays for India over the last few weeks.

Of course it wouldn’t be the first time that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has won the purple cap in the IPL as he achieved the feat in both 2016 and 2017. Buvi’s brilliance is built off the back of his ability to pick up wickets both in the powerplay where he can nip the new ball off the seam and move it through the air and at the death where his accuracy and subtle variations make him a dangerous operator.

He will be the spearhead of what looks likely to be a very complete bowling line-up for SRH this year and as stated in my predictions for the outright winner, I believe that the Sunrisers are dark horses to win the IPL in 2021. As such, odds of 12.0 for Buvi to be the league’s top wicket taker are far too good to turn down

Kagiso Rabada

Odds to be top wicket taker in IPL 2021 @6.0

The South African fast bowler has been at the heart of Delhi Capitals revival over the past couple of seasons finishing as the leading wicket taker in last year’s IPL and coming second only to Imran Tahir the year before that. To date, Rabada has been most effective at the death with nearly two thirds of his wickets coming in the final 5 overs of IPL matches.

His potency as a wicket taker is enhanced by the strong supporting cast that he has at DC that includes a South African connection with Anrich Nortje as well as Delhi’s twin spin attack in the form of Test match heroes Ravi Ashwin and Axar Patel.

This season Rabada’s chances of defending his purple cap will be increased by the fact that he will play the majority of his games on helpful wickets for seamers including the Wankhede Stadium, Eden Gardens and the stadium at Ahmedabad which we’ve already seen from the T20i matches recently completed there can assist bowlers with genuine pace. At odds of 6.0 he is the favourite to be leading wicket taker once again but given his recent record in the IPL that price is fully justified and he warrants having money riding on him.

Jasprit Bumrah

Odds to be top wicket taker in IPL 2021 @6.0

Much like with Rabada this is not a bold prediction for top wicket taker during IPL 2021 but it’s difficult to ignore Bumrah and his consistency. He has developed into arguably the best multi-format fast bowler in world cricket but it was in T20 that he first made his name with his slingy action being difficult for batsmen to pick up and his uncanny ability to hit his yorkers.

Bumrah has never claimed the purple cap in the IPL, however, he has been in the mix for it in each of the last 5 years finishing at the very least as one of the top 10 wicket takers in that given season. Last year he delivered a personal best of 27 wickets in an IPL season only to see Rabada trump him by claiming 30 scalps. I would expect the pair to once again push each other to new heights this time around as they both chase personal and team honours.

When predicting the top wicket taker in an IPL season it is also worth taking into consideration which players are likely to make it through to the playoffs with their respective teams and it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the last 2 winners of the purple cap have come from sides who have played those extra 2 or 3 games at the end of the season. As such odds of @6.0 for Bumrah to be the top wicket taker is a sound tip

Rahul Chahar

Odds to be top wicket taker in IPL 2021 @25.0

The young wrist spinner has established himself as first choice at Mumbai Indians over the last couple of years and is now pushing to do the same with the Indian national side. He’s been an effective wicket taking option during his sides back to back title wins and the way the fixtures have fallen this year may see him take on even greater importance with ball in hand.

Interestingly Chahar has only ever taken 1 wicket in the IPL while playing at the Mumbai Indian’s home ground of the Wankhede Stadium but with all his matches this year being played at neutral venues, the young leggie will the get the opportunity to bowl on some slower turning pitches that could well see him pick up additional wickets.

Let’s not forget that the last time the IPL took place on Indian soil back in 2019, the top wicket taker and purple cap went to Imran Tahir, a wrist spinner who played the bulk of his games in Chennai which by happy coincidence is where Mumbai start their campaign with 5 back to back matches. Chahar has already shown during his previous visits to MA Chidambaram stadium that he is a tricky customer in these conditions and his odds of 20.0 to be the leading wicket taker in IPL 2021 could fall very sharply if he comes away from that venue with a clutch of wickets.

Lungi Ngidi

Odds to be top wicket taker in IPL 2021 @20.0

Ngidi’s chances of being the top wicket taker in IPL 2021 are done no end of good by the fact that CSK won’t be playing at home this season. Incredibly, Ngidi has never played a game for CSK at the MA Chidambaram ground despite being at the franchise for 3 years. Where CSK have deployed the young South African is on their travels, at grounds where they believe his hit the deck style will be more effective.

With CSK now forced to play there games on pitches that will favour Ngidi then his chances of simply playing will shoot up dramatically and with it you’d expect his odds to be leading wicket taker to tumble as well. He is certainly a long shot for the purple cap this year but as with Chahar it could well be a case that those odds shorten after the first few rounds of the IPL allowing those who backed him early to take some profit.

Despite having had limited opportunity in the IPL his strike rate in the competition when he does play is incredible taking a wicket once every 12.6 deliveries. This wicket taking ability isn’t just restricted to the IPL, Ngidi has an even better strike rate in international T20 cricket, claiming a victim every 11.4 balls he bowls for South Africa. At long odds of @20.0 backing a player who has a happy knack of picking up wickets seems like a very good bet.