IPL 2009: Leading Wicket Takers

The following table shows the top five leading wicket takers in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2009 held in South Africa. I will update this list of best bowlers regularly as the IPL 2009 tournament progresses. As you all know, the leading wicket taker will be presented with a Purple cap, to signify that he is the best bowler of the IPL tournament. The purple cap will be passed on when the leader of the table changes. The current leading wicket-taker always wears the purple cap.

Bowler	Matches	Total Wickets	Average	Economy
R P Singh Deccan Chargers	16	23	18.13	6.98
Anil Kumble Royal Challengers Bangalore	16	21	16.52	5.86
Ashish Nehra Delhi Daredevils	13	19	18.21	6.78
Lasith Malinga Mumbai Indians	13	18	17.33	6.30
Pragyan Ojha Deccan Chargers	15	18	19.33	6.50

History of Purple Cap in IPL 2009:
Anil Kumble> RP Singh> Lasith Malinga> Yusuf Abulla> RP Singh> Lasith Malinga> RP Singh

Movements in the Top Five Bowlers

FINAL UPDATE: RP Singh won the purple cap with 23 wickets and like IPL 2008, the purple cap holder comes from the champion team. If it was Sohail Tanvir for Rajasthan Royals last year, it was RP Singh for Deccan Chargers this time.

Results are updated after Match #52: RP Singh is the purple cap holder, followed by Delhi's impressive Ashish Nehra. It looks like Lasith Malinga will not be able to finish with the purple cap, as Mumbai Indians has just one more game to play before they go home. Anil Kumble is also among wickets and has an impressive economy rate of 5.89 runs per over.

Results are updated after Match #45: Lasith Malinga is back at the top of the wicket-takers list and gets the purple cap from RP Singh. While RP Singh and Lasith Malinga are tied with 16 wickets each, the Sri Lankan has a better average and economy rate. Shane Warne, the master spinner, has also entered the best bowlers list with a three wicket haul against Mumbai Indians that fetched him his first man of the match in IPL 2009.

Results are updated after Match #43: RP Singh is still having the purple cap, but is closely followed by Lasith Malinga and Ashish Nehra. There is only one change in the list, Pragyan Ojha replacing L Balaji at the bottom of the table.

Results are updated after Match #40: RP Singh extended his lead at the top with another wicket in yesterday's match against Rajasthan Royals. No other change in the list.

Results are updated after Match #39: RP Singh remains at the top followed by Lasith Malinga, who is probably the most destructive bowler of IPL 2009. Ashish Nehra, Yusuf Abdulla and L Balaji are at third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.

Results are updated after Match #32: RP Singh turned in a good bowling performance against Mumbai Indians, which puts him on top of the bowlers list. He took the purple cap from Yusuf Abdulla and that makes it a wonderful week for RP Singh, as he was also included in the Indian squad for the T20 World cup to be held in England next month.

Results are updated after Match #29: Not much changes except that Balaji and Ojha swapped places since Balaji has a better average.

Results are updated after Match #28: Lasith Malinga went wicketless for the second consecutive match, which is clearly affecting the performance of Mumbai Indians. Yusuf Abdulla remains at the top and there are no changes to the top five bowlers list.

Results are updated after Match #26: RP Singh takes back the second spot while Yusuf Abdulla still holds on to the purple cap.

Results are updated after Match #24: Yusuf Abulla took the purple cap from Lasith Malinga, following his four wicket haul against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Lasith Malinga, for the first time in IPL 2009, went wicketless in a match. Balaji took the thir spot after his four-wicket haul against defending champions Rajasthan Royals.

Results are updated after Match #20: Lasith Malinga continues at the top, bowling almost unplayable spells. His bowling analysis in the tournament so far reads 14.2-1-57-11. Amazing right? He picks almost one wicket every over. His every wicket costs just 5.18 runs and his economy of 3.97 would have been respectable even in the ODI format. At the bottom of the table, Anil Kumble makes a comeback to the top five bowlers list.

Results are updated after Match #18: No changes to the top four bowlers in the above list. Munaf Patel enters into the top five replacing Chennai Super Kings' L. Balaji

Results are updated after Match #17: RP Singh finally lost the purple cap to Lasith Malinga. They are tied on 9 wickets each, but Malinga has a far better average and economy rate.

Results are updated after Match #15: RP Singh still remains at the top, with Yusuf Abdulla, Lasith Malinga, Pragyan Ojha and Daniel Vettori completing the top five bowlers list.

Results are updated after Match #10: RP Singh remains at the top, while Balaji and Vettori takes the second and third spot. Balaji was the only Chennai Super Kings bowler who came with his heads high in the match against Delhi Daredevils. Praveen Kumar and Murali are out of the top five.

Results are updated after Match #8: RP Singh moved up to the top and took the purple cap from Anil Kumble. RP's teammate Scott Styris also moved into the top five, thanks to his three wicket haul against Bangalore Royal Challengers. Lasith Malinga, having played only one match so far, drops out of the top five bowlers list.