Written By: Shreya Patil
Published: January 19, 2026

The Women’s Premier League, or WPL, is India’s big-ticket women’s T20 cricket league, run by the BCCI. It only started in 2023, but it’s already grabbed the spotlight as the richest and most high-profile women’s cricket league out there. Players from all over, both international stars and homegrown talent, jump at the chance to play here.

One of the biggest individual prizes in the WPL is the Purple Cap. It goes to the bowler who takes the most wickets in a season. If you’re leading the pack in wickets, you actually wear the Purple Cap on the field, a bold sign you’re the bowler to beat. Hayley Matthews, Shreyanka Patil, and Amelia Kerr took 16,13 and 18 Wickets Respectively.

Here’s something cool: every single Purple Cap winner so far has played for the team that ended up winning the title. That says a lot about how much a top bowler can swing a season.

So, let’s dive in and check out the complete list of WPL Purple Cap winners from 2023 to 2025.

WPL Purple Cap Winners List (2023-2025)

Here is the List of Purple Cap Winners:

SeasonPlayerTeamMatchesWickets
2023Hayley MatthewsMumbai Indians1016
2024Shreyanka PatilRoyal Challengers Bengaluru813
2025Amelia KerrMumbai Indians1018

Purple Cap Winners: Season-by-Season Breakdown

Here is the Information about Purple Cap Holders of WPL:

Hayley Matthews (WPL 2023)

Hayley Matthews made her mark in the very first season of the WPL, grabbing the Purple Cap as the league’s top wicket-taker. Playing for the Mumbai Indians, she picked up 16 wickets across 10 games, keeping things tight with an economy rate of just 5.94 and an average of 12.62. 

Hayley Matthews (WPL 2023)
Source – The Indian Express

She had a real knack for breaking partnerships just when Mumbai needed it, and her efforts helped the team lift the trophy in that debut season. Matthews edged out England’s Sophie Ecclestone for the honor; both finished with 16 wickets, but Matthews was harder to score off. Her best spell was 4 for 17 in a key match, a perfect example of how she could turn a game on its head.

Shreyanka Patil (WPL 2024)

Shreyanka Patil made history in 2024 as the first Indian to grab the WPL Purple Cap. Bowling for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, she took 13 wickets in just 8 games, and her average, 12.07, speaks for itself. The real turning point came against Delhi Capitals, when she took 4 wickets for 26 runs.

Shreyanka Patil (WPL 2024)
Source – espncricinfo

She knocked out some big names too: Meg Lanning, Jemimah Rodrigues, Alice Capsey, and Jess Jonassen. RCB really leaned on her, and her knack for picking up wickets played a huge part in their first WPL title win under Smriti Mandhana’s leadership. To top it all off, Shreyanka was named Emerging Player of the Season. Not a bad way to announce yourself.

Amelia Kerr (WPL 2025)

Amelia Kerr really lit up WPL 2025. Playing for Mumbai Indians, she grabbed 18 wickets in just 10 games, breaking the league’s single-season record and walking away with the Purple Cap. 

Amelia Kerr (WPL 2025)
Source – The Indian Express

Funny thing, her teammate Hayley Matthews also took 18 wickets, but Kerr edged her out thanks to a tighter economy rate, 7.75 versus 8.22. Kerr just kept stepping up when her team needed her most, picking up big wickets at the right moments and pushing Mumbai Indians to their second WPL title. With performances like these, Kerr cemented her spot among the very best bowlers in women’s cricket.

WPL 2026 Purple Cap Race (Current Standings)

The WPL 2026 season is currently underway, and here are the leading wicket-takers in the race for the Purple Cap:

RankPlayerTeamWickets
1Amelia KerrDelhi Capitals10
2Nandni SharmaDelhi Capitals9
3Lauren BellRoyal Challengers Bengaluru8

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Conclusion: The Purple Cap Highlights the Best Bowlers in WPL!

The WPL Purple Cap really stands out now, it’s become one of the top honors in women’s cricket. Just look at the last three seasons. Bowlers from the West Indies, India, and New Zealand have all claimed it, which says a lot about how deep and competitive this league has gotten. Hayley Matthews set the bar in 2023. Then in 2024, Shreyanka Patil made history as the first Indian winner. Amelia Kerr took things up a notch in 2025, grabbing 18 wickets and shattering records.

One thing keeps jumping out: every Purple Cap winner so far played for the team that won the title. That shows how significant bowling is when you want to win it all. Right now, with WPL 2026 underway, Nandni Sharma from Delhi Capitals is on top with 8 wickets. Shreyanka Patil, a past winner, isn’t far behind, and Sophie Devine is right in the mix too.

This race for the Purple Cap keeps putting the very best bowlers in the spotlight.

About the Author

Shreya Patil is a Mumbai-based documentary photographer turned cricket storyteller. Having covered local leagues through her lens, she now writes feature pieces at WPLeague, capturing the human side of women’s cricket beyond the boundary ropes.

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