The 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League is currently underway in Maharashtra. It is the 15th season of the tournament that started in 2008. Out of the 15 seasons that have happened so far, only one of them has featured the Pakistani players. It was the first season which happened in 2008. Sohail Tanvir won the Purple Cap award in that season.
Almost all franchises signed multiple Pakistani players for the inaugural IPL season. While Sohail Tanvir represented the Rajasthan Royals, his compatriot Shoaib Akhtar played for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Both bowlers were successful in troubling the opposition batters with their pace bowling in IPL 2008.
Tanvir is best remembered for his spell of 6/14 in a match against the Chennai Super Kings, whereas the Kolkata Knight Riders fans will never forget Shoaib Akhtar’s four-wicket haul against the Delhi Daredevils on his IPL debut.
During a recent appearance on Sportskeeda’s show Direct Hit, Shoaib Akhtar spoke about the inaugural IPL season. When asked who was the first bowler to win the Purple Cap award, he instantly replied it was Sohail Tanvir.
Shoaib Akhtar narrated an incident from the airport which helped him remember that Sohail Tanvir won the Purple Cap in 2008
Explaining why he remembers Tanvir winning the 2008 Purple Cap, Shoaib Akhtar said:
“I remember this because he had worn the purple cap even at the airport when we are going back. I asked him why he was wearing that cap. That is when he told me that the highest wicket-taker of the season is awarded the Purple Cap.”
To date, Tanvir is the only Pakistani player to have won the IPL Purple Cap award. It will be interesting to see which player wins the Purple Cap in IPL 2022. Many big names like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Rashid Khan, Lockie Ferguson and others are in the race to win the award.
