The Royal Challengers Bengaluru scripted history last Sunday by becoming only the third team in the IPL’s 19-season history to win back-to-back titles.
This feat had previously been attained by the great sides of Chennai Super Kings (2010 and 2011) and Mumbai Indians (2019 and 2020). RCB, a franchise in drought of an IPL trophy for 18 seasons, has now won two trophies in a row.
The IPL 2026 was a proper run-fest, as has been the case since 2024, when the Impact Player rule was introduced. At times, it has felt that the bowlers have been effectively reduced to bowling machines.
Yet, the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Bhuvneshwar Kumar stood out with the ball this year, with the South African ending up with the Purple Cap, his second such honor in the IPL.
Rabada joined a list of very few bowlers who have won the Purple Cap twice in IPL history. Let’s check them out.
List Of Bowlers Who Won Purple Cap Twice In IPL History
Dwayne Bravo (2013, 2015)
Chennai Super Kings legend Dwayne Bravo is hailed as one of the best death overs bowlers in T20 cricket history. Bravo was the first bowler to win the Purple Cap two times, in 2013 and 2015.
In IPL 2013, Bravo bagged 32 wickets, a record still not broken but only equaled, and in IPL 2015, he finished with 26 wickets. However, CSK lost the IPL final in both those seasons to MI.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2016, 2017)
While many young RCB fans are getting to witness Bhuvneshwar Kumar at his best since last year, he has been doing this for over a decade.
Bhuvneshwar was a key element in SRH’s IPL 2016 title victory with his 23 wickets and took 26 wickets in IPL 2017, collecting the Purple Cap in two consecutive seasons.
Harshal Patel (2021, 2024)
Harshal has made a name for himself as a death-over pacer, putting his cutter and slower-ball variations to great effect in the second half of the innings.
Harshal stunned everyone with a record-equalling season in IPL 2021 for RCB when he snared 32 wickets, matching Bravo’s feat. Then, in IPL 2024, playing for Punjab Kings, Harshal finished as the season’s highest wicket-taker with 24 scalps.
However, he couldn’t win the trophy on either occasion.
Kagiso Rabada (2020, 2026)
Kagiso Rabada would have bittersweet memories of winning the Purple Cap both times because his side came runners-up twice.
In IPL 2020, he was the leading wicket-taker with 30 wickets, but his team, Delhi Capitals, lost the final to MI. In IPL 2026, he bowled for the Gujarat Titans and picked up 28 wickets. Though Rabada returned home with the Purple Cap, GT lost in the final to RCB.
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