The race for the IPL 2026 Purple Cap is getting more competitive as bowlers continue to make a major impact this season. With every match playing a key role in the standings, the battle for the highest wicket-taker award remains wide open.
The Purple Cap is awarded to the leading wicket-taker of the IPL season and is one of the most prestigious individual honours for bowlers in the tournament.
As of April 22, Chennai Super Kings pacer Anshul Kamboj leads the wicket charts after an impressive start. He is closely followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Eshan Malinga and Gujarat Titans fast bowler Prasidh Krishna.
Anshul Kamboj Leads IPL 2026 Purple Cap Race
Chennai Super Kings bowler Anshul Kamboj currently tops the wicket charts with 13 wickets in six matches. His ability to strike regularly has helped him become the current Purple Cap holder.
Eshan Malinga and Prasidh Krishna Close Behind
Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Eshan Malinga has taken 12 wickets in seven matches, while Gujarat Titans speedster Prasidh Krishna also has 12 wickets from six games. Both remain strong contenders for the top spot.
Experienced Bowlers Stay in the Hunt
Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has collected 10 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while Ravi Bishnoi and Kagiso Rabada have also reached double figures.
These experienced bowlers could rise quickly in the rankings with strong performances in upcoming matches.
Prince Yadav Emerges as Breakthrough Star
Lucknow Super Giants bowler Prince Yadav has impressed with 11 wickets in six matches. His economy rate of 8.59 has made him one of the standout bowlers of the season so far.
IPL 2026 Purple Cap Standings (Updated)
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anshul Kamboj | CSK | 6 | 21.4 | 211 | 13 | 16.23 | 9.74 | 3/22 |
| 2 | Eshan Malinga | SRH | 7 | 23 | 217 | 12 | 18.08 | 9.43 | 4/32 |
| 3 | Prasidh Krishna | GT | 6 | 24 | 238 | 12 | 19.83 | 9.92 | 4/28 |
| 4 | Prince Yadav | LSG | 6 | 22 | 189 | 11 | 17.18 | 8.59 | 3/32 |
| 5 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 6 | 24 | 200 | 10 | 20.00 | 8.33 | 3/26 |
| 6 | Ravi Bishnoi | RR | 6 | 20 | 190 | 10 | 19.00 | 9.50 | 4/41 |
| 7 | Kagiso Rabada | GT | 6 | 23 | 224 | 10 | 22.40 | 9.74 | 3/29 |
| 8 | Harsh Dubey | SRH | 6 | 17 | 142 | 8 | 17.75 | 8.35 | 3/12 |
| 9 | Jofra Archer | RR | 6 | 21 | 179 | 8 | 22.38 | 8.52 | 2/19 |
| 10 | Krunal Pandya | RCB | 6 | 21 | 180 | 8 | 22.50 | 8.57 | 2/30 |
Purple Cap Race Set for More Changes
With several teams still having many league matches remaining, the Purple Cap standings are expected to shift regularly in the coming weeks.
A single three-wicket or four-wicket spell could change the leaderboard instantly, making the race wide open between Kamboj, Prasidh, Bhuvneshwar, Bishnoi, and Prince Yadav.
What is the IPL Purple Cap?
The Purple Cap is awarded to the highest wicket-taker in an IPL season. During the tournament, the current leading wicket-taker wears the Purple Cap on the field, while the final winner receives the award after the season concludes.
IPL Purple Cap Winners List (2008 to 2025)
| Season | Winner | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sohail Tanvir | 22 |
| 2009 | RP Singh | 23 |
| 2010 | Pragyan Ojha | 21 |
| 2011 | Lasith Malinga | 28 |
| 2012 | Morne Morkel | 25 |
| 2013 | Dwayne Bravo | 32 |
| 2014 | Mohit Sharma | 23 |
| 2015 | Dwayne Bravo | 26 |
| 2016 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 23 |
| 2017 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 26 |
| 2018 | Andrew Tye | 24 |
| 2019 | Imran Tahir | 26 |
| 2020 | Kagiso Rabada | 30 |
| 2021 | Harshal Patel | 32 |
| 2022 | Yuzvendra Chahal | 27 |
| 2023 | Mohammed Shami | 28 |
| 2024 | Harshal Patel | 24 |
| 2025 | Prasidh Krishna | 25 |
Purple Cap Records in IPL History
Most Wickets in a Single Season
Dwayne Bravo (2013) – 32 wickets
Harshal Patel (2021) – 32 wickets
Multiple Purple Cap Winners
Dwayne Bravo – 2 times
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 2 times
Harshal Patel – 2 times
Consecutive Purple Cap Wins
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 2016 and 2017
IPL 2026 Purple Cap Race Prediction
The IPL 2026 Purple Cap race is shaping up to be one of the closest battles of the season. With multiple bowlers separated by only a few wickets, the race for the highest wicket-taker award remains wide open as the tournament heads into its crucial middle phase.
Currently, Chennai Super Kings pacer Anshul Kamboj leads the standings with 13 wickets, but several challengers are close behind and capable of overtaking him in the coming matches.
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