Get to know the top 3 contenders for the purple cap from Gujarat Titans who are likely to be the leading wicket-takers of IPL 2023. The trio consists of experienced Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, talented West Indian fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, and the ever-dangerous Rashid Khan, widely regarded as one of the best leg-spinners in T20 cricket. Read on to find out more about their past performances and what makes them strong contenders for the Purple Cap.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest cricketing extravaganza in the world. Every year, the tournament brings together some of the best cricketing talent from across the globe. The IPL 2023 is just around the corner and the excitement is already building up. The Gujarat Titans, one of the newest franchises in the IPL, is all set to make their presence felt in the tournament. In this article, we take a look at the top 3 contenders for the purple cap from Gujarat Titans.
As we gear up for IPL 2023, there is a lot of buzz about which players will dominate the tournament. While every team is putting together a strong squad, Gujarat Titans have some real contenders for the coveted Purple Cap. Here are the top 3 contenders from the team.
1) Mohammed Shami
The experienced right-arm pacer Mohammed Shami is one of the top contenders for the Purple Cap this season. With his experience and skills, he will lead the pace attack for Gujarat Titans. In the last season, Shami picked 20 wickets in 16 games at an economy of 8.0. Over the course of his IPL career, Shami has taken 99 wickets in 93 matches, with an average of 29.19 and an economy rate of 8.52. His best individual figures are 3/15.
Shami was bought by Gujarat Titans for INR 6.25 crore at the IPL 2022 Mega Auction. He has revived his limited-overs career with stellar performances for India in recent months. Shami has the skills to be effective both at the start of the innings and in the death overs. His fine run in 2019 saw him finish as KXIP’s highest wicket-taker with 19 wickets from 14 games. In the 2020 season, he defended six runs in a super-over and consistently struck early with the new ball for PBKS throughout the tournament. This season, his experience with the new ball will be vital for Gujarat Titans.
2) Alzarri Joseph
Alzarri Joseph, the tall and lanky fast bowler from West Indies, can also be a game-changer for Gujarat Titans. Last season, he played 9 games for the team and picked 7 wickets at an average of 37.71 and economy of 8.80. In his IPL career, Joseph has taken 13 wickets in 12 matches, with an average of 27.00 and an economy rate of 9.08. If he gets more opportunities this season, he can do wonders for the team.
Joseph was bought by Gujarat Titans for INR 2.40 crore at the IPL 2022 Mega Auction. He made his IPL debut in 2019 for Mumbai Indians, where he got figures of 6/12, and the best bowling figures for a debutant. He also became only the second player to take a five-wicket haul on an IPL debut, after Andrew Tye. With his height and pace, Joseph can be a real threat for the opposition in IPL 2023.
3) Rashid Khan
The Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan is arguably the best leg-spinner in white ball cricket. He can be a powerful option for Gujarat Titans as a spinner and a tailender batter. In the last season, he grabbed 19 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of just 6.59. He also scored a few match-winning cameos with the bat. Over the course of his IPL career, Rashid has taken 112 wickets in 92 matches, with an average of 20.83 and an economy rate of 6.38. His best individual figures are 4/24.
Rashid was drafted into the Gujarat Titans squad for INR 15 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auction. He grew up in a war-torn Afghanistan and rose through the ranks with his impressive advancements in tennis ball cricket. Since his debut IPL season in 2017, Rashid has garnered all the right eyeballs owing to his mastery with the ball. He turned in a few memorable match-winning efforts in SRH’s journey to the finals in the 2018 edition. Over the years, his ability to bowl at the death and restrict the opposition’s scoring rate makes him a valuable asset for any team. Rashid’s experience and skill with the ball, along with his powerful batting at the tail-end, will make him a top contender for the purple cap in the upcoming season.
Also Read: Top 3 Contenders for the Orange Cap from Gujarat Titans
In conclusion, the Gujarat Titans have a strong bowling attack with the likes of Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph, and Rashid Khan leading the charge. If they can work together as a unit, the team will be a force to be reckoned with in IPL 2023.