LPL Purple Cap Winners List (2020–2026): Most Wickets Every Season

If you want a clear, accurate record of every LPL leading wicket-taker — plus the stats, context, and records behind them — this guide has it all in one place.

LPL Purple Cap Winners List (2020–2026)

Here is the complete list of leading wicket-takers in every Lanka Premier League season so far. The LPL began in 2020 and has been held five times through 2024. There was no 2025 edition, and the 2026 season is the sixth.

The table makes one thing clear: the LPL’s bowling award has rewarded both spinners and fast bowlers, and no single team has dominated it. That balance is part of what makes the league so competitive.

Season-by-Season Breakdown

LPL 2020: Wanindu Hasaranga (17 wickets)

The inaugural season belonged to a young leg-spinner who would soon become a global T20 star. Playing for the Jaffna Stallions, Wanindu Hasaranga finished as the highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets and was named Player of the Series. He topped the chart by four wickets over the next-best, Qais Ahmad, and bowled at an outstanding economy of around 5.3 — remarkable in a format built for big hitting. Nearly half of his deliveries were dot balls, showing how much control he had.

LPL 2021: Samit Patel & Maheesh Theekshana (16 each)

The second season ended in a tie at the top. England all-rounder Samit Patel and Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana both finished with 16 wickets to share the leading wicket-taker honour. Imran Tahir and Jayden Seales were close behind with 15 each. This season showed how spin bowling thrives on Sri Lankan pitches, with slow bowlers dominating the wicket charts.

LPL 2022: Carlos Brathwaite (18 wickets)

Few would have predicted the 2022 leader. West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, playing for Kandy Falcons, topped the charts with 18 wickets at an average of 9.88 and an economy of 6.84 — finishing a clear four wickets ahead of the field. He relied on accuracy rather than express pace, daring batters to take him on. That season, Jaffna Kings won the title by beating Colombo Stars in the final.

LPL 2023: Wanindu Hasaranga (19 wickets — record)

Hasaranga returned to the top in 2023, this time captaining B-Love Kandy. He claimed 19 wickets in 10 games at an average of 10.73, including stunning best figures of 6 for 9. That 19-wicket haul is the most wickets ever taken in a single LPL season. He even produced a five-wicket spell in the Eliminator, conceding just nine runs. Hasaranga led both the runs and wickets charts that year, a rare all-round feat, and guided B-Love Kandy to the title.

LPL 2024: Shadab Khan (17 wickets)

The most recent completed season saw Pakistan’s leg-spinner Shadab Khan finish on top. Representing Colombo Strikers, he led the wicket-takers with 17 wickets in nine innings. His performances reinforced a clear pattern in the LPL: wrist-spinners who can take wickets through the middle overs are the most valuable bowlers in the competition. That year, Jaffna Kings lifted their fourth title, beating Galle Marvels in the final.

Who Is the Most Successful Bowler in LPL History?

Wanindu Hasaranga stands above everyone else. He is the only bowler to finish as the leading wicket-taker twice — first in 2020, then again in 2023 — and he holds the single-season record of 19 wickets. Across all his LPL appearances, he has taken more wickets than any other bowler in the league’s history.

His success is no accident. Hasaranga combines a sharp leg-break with a well-disguised googly, allowing him to take wickets in the powerplay, middle overs, and at the death. The same skills made him a T20 World Cup star and one of the most sought-after spinners in leagues worldwide, including the IPL.

Pace vs Spin: What the List Tells Us

One of the most interesting things about the LPL leading wicket-takers is the mix of bowling styles. Unlike some leagues where one type dominates, the LPL has rewarded variety:

• Leg-spin: Wanindu Hasaranga (2020, 2023) and Shadab Khan (2024) prove wrist-spin is the league’s most successful weapon.
• Off-spin / finger-spin: Maheesh Theekshana and Samit Patel (2021) show finger-spinners can compete at the top.
• Medium pace: Carlos Brathwaite (2022) showed that smart, accurate seam bowling can outperform raw speed.

This balance reflects Sri Lankan pitches, which often offer grip and turn, while still rewarding bowlers who hit good lengths consistently. For fans and analysts, it means the Purple Cap race is rarely predictable.

How Is the LPL Leading Wicket-Taker Decided?

The leading wicket-taker is simply the bowler who finishes the season with the most wickets. If two or more bowlers end level, they share the honour — as happened in 2021. When wickets are tied, supporting stats like bowling average and economy rate are often used to rank bowlers, but the headline award goes to whoever has the highest wicket count.

Here are the key bowling stats that matter when comparing leaders:

• Wickets: The primary measure — total dismissals across the season.
• Average: Runs conceded per wicket (lower is better).
• Economy rate: Runs conceded per over (lower is better).
• Strike rate: Balls bowled per wicket (lower is better).

Why the Purple Cap Race Matters

Bowling often decides T20 matches, and the leading wicket-taker race is one of the best ways to follow a season’s standout performers. Here’s why it matters:

1. It highlights match-winners. The bowlers at the top of the chart are usually the ones winning games for their teams.
2. It spotlights emerging talent. Hasaranga’s 2020 breakout is a perfect example of the LPL launching a future international star.
3. It shapes auctions. Strong LPL bowling seasons raise a player’s value in franchise leagues around the world.
4. It tells the season’s story. Following the wicket charts is a simple, exciting way to track the whole tournament.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The LPL Purple Cap winners list — more accurately, the league’s leading wicket-takers — tells the story of some of the finest bowling in Sri Lankan franchise cricket. From Wanindu Hasaranga’s record-breaking spells to Carlos Brathwaite’s surprise charge and Shadab Khan’s 2024 dominance, the race for most wickets has produced unforgettable moments season after season.

As the 2026 season approaches, a new contender will look to join this elite list — and perhaps even challenge Hasaranga’s 19-wicket record. Bowling will once again be at the heart of who lifts the trophy.