Tanvir was the first 'purple cap' winner in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League and his best figures were 6 for 14 playing for the Rajasthan Royals.

Sohail Tanvir will be representing the Multan Sultans[8] when the PSL resumes for the finals of the series in November 2020 after the team ended the league stage on top of the table.

[11] In a 2020 interview, Tanvir described his 2007 Test debut wicket of Rahul Dravid in Delhi as the 'ball of his life'[12] when the ball pitched outside leg stump and shattered 'the wall's off-stump in an unplayable manner.

Though considered an allrounder, Tanvir did not get a chance to bat in the tournament until the final, where he made his first international runs, with a six off his first ball, aiding Pakistan back into the game.

On debut at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, he took three wickets which included his first international Test cricket causality Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.

In that match, Pakistan's top order struggled to get grips with Hong Kong bowlers before Sohail Tanvir set up a 100 run stand along with Fawad Alam for the 8th wicket.

[16] At the last minute of the team departing for the New Zealand tour, Tanvir was replaced because the selectors thought he was not fully fit.

[19] Tanvir was ruled out of World Cup 2011 due to failing to complete a full rehabilitation from surgery for a knee problem that had dogged him for two years.

On 11 March 2008, Tanvir was signed up in the second round of the Indian Premier League's players' auction by the Jaipur franchise, Rajasthan Royals, for $100,000.

[22] Playing in his third match of tournament, on 4 May, Tanvir took a match-winning six wickets against the Chennai Super Kings at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

[23][24] In the final of tournament, on 1 June at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai, with Rajasthan chasing 164 to win, Tanvir added 21 runs along with captain Shane Warne.

A statistical analysis conducted by ESPNcricinfo after the conclusion of the league stage of the tournament rated Tanvir as the most successful player.

[29] On 3 June 2018, he was selected to play for the Edmonton Royals in the players' draft for the inaugural edition of the Global T20 Canada tournament.