Chennai Super Kings have established themselves as a powerhouse in IPL. They have been the most consistent team in the history of the tournament. A huge credit of it goes to the Purple Cap Winners for Chennai Super Kings.
From Dwayne Bravo’s death-overs bowling to Imran Tahir’s celebration, CSK has been able to get hold of the Purple Cap for four times. So, let’s recall these match-winning performances and how they affected CSK’s fortunes.
Dwayne Bravo – 2013 & 2015
In the area of death bowling, one can safely say that Dwayne “Champion” Bravo is almost unbeatable. The West Indian all-rounder was a vital cog in the MS Dhoni wheel, especially in the crunch moments of the game. Bravo first got the Purple Cap in the year 2013, where he took 32 wickets in 18 matches, which was the highest wickets taken by a bowler in a single IPL match then.
He played a significant role in CSK reaching the final that year with his slower balls and accurate yorkers. Unfortunately, CSK could not taste the victory in the final. Even though Bravo had a great season on Bravo’s side, the Mumbai Indians emerged victorious. However, his performance was the sole bright spot for the Chennai Super Kings in the 2013 edition of IPL.
However, Bravo again took the Purple Cap in 2015, and with 26 wickets in 17 matches. Once again, his variation bowling, especially in the death overs, came in handy in guiding CSK to another final. However, as was the case in 2013, CSK’s season came to a halt in the final, where they were beaten by Mumbai Indians again. It was, however, impossible to ignore Bravo’s impact with the ball, which made him one of the most valuable bowlers in IPL history.
Mohit Sharma – 2014
Mohit Sharma, the medium pacer who is as simple and humble as he is good with the ball, was the find of the IPL 2014. Mohit had a reputation for having a deceptive pace and being able to deliver crucial wickets; he won the Purple Cap with 23 wickets in 16 matches. His best was seen during the powerplay, where he used to halt the big overs and thus put CSK in the driver’s seat in the match.
During Dhoni’s tenure, Mohit was always a reliable bowler, especially in the power play to control the flow of the game. Even though he was not the most economical, he knew how to take wickets at the right time, which made him a valuable asset. In that year, CSK stood third in the points table, but they were eliminated in the playoffs by Kings XI Punjab. Even though the team could not win the championship, Mohit’s growth as a bowler in the IPL was one of the bright spots of the team’s season.
Imran Tahir – 2019
With his energetic celebrations, Imran Tahir added plenty of spice to the CSK bowling attack in 2019 while churning out wickets. The South African leg spinner was the star of the tournament and bowled wonderfully well to bag 26 wickets in 17 matches and clinch the Purple Cap. Tahir was never easy to face, especially on slow wickets, thanks to his flight and turn with the googly and sharp spin.
Tahir was CSK’s most successful bowler in this IPL once again and helped the team reach yet another IPL final by preventing the opposition batters from establishing partnerships. His best came in the playoffs when he was able to take crucial wickets that allowed CSK to proceed to the finals.
But everything was not going well for CSK as they were comprehensively beaten in the final by the Mumbai Indians, which ended what had been a sensational season for them. Despite the mismatches, Tahir was one of the best players of the IPL 2019 season, and his zeal and enthusiasm on the field were inspiring.
The CSK’s IPL record is not just about their batters; their bowlers have also come up with some match-winning spells. From Bravo’s sensational last-over bowling, Mohit Sharma’s powerplay spell, or Tahir’s spin bowling, these Purple Cap winners have been vital to CSK’s success.
Purple Cap Winners for Chennai Super Kings
Season | Player | Matches | Wickets |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Dwayne Bravo | 18 | 32 |
2014 | Mohit Sharma | 16 | 23 |
2015 | Dwayne Bravo | 16 | 26 |
2019 | Imran Tahir | 17 | 26 |