As the 19th season of the Indian Premier League unfolds, the race for the IPL 2026 Purple Cap is gaining intensity. Awarded to the highest wicket-taker in a season, the Purple Cap remains one of the most prestigious individual honours in the tournament, highlighting the impact of bowlers in the shortest format of the game.
With every match influencing the leaderboard, several bowlers have already emerged as strong contenders, delivering match-winning performances and shaping the early phase of the competition.
Who is Leading the IPL 2026 Purple Cap Standings?
Lucknow Super Giants’ Prince Yadav currently tops the wicket charts with 13 wickets from seven matches. His consistent performances have placed him at the forefront of the Purple Cap race.
Close behind is Chennai Super Kings’ Anshul Kamboj, who has also picked up 13 wickets but in fewer matches, making the competition for the top spot even tighter.
Other bowlers such as Eshan Malinga and Prasidh Krishna are also making a strong impact, ensuring that the race remains highly competitive.
Best Bowling Figures in IPL 2026 So Far
One of the standout individual performances this season has come from Chennai Super Kings’ Jamie Overton. He registered the best bowling figures of IPL 2026 so far with an impressive 4/18 against Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Such impactful spells continue to play a crucial role in shaping match outcomes and boosting players in the Purple Cap standings.
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 13 wickets in seven 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 | Wickets | Team | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince Yadav | 13 | LSG | 7 |
| 2 | Anshul Kamboj | 13 | CSK | 6 |
| 3 | Eshan Malinga | 12 | SRH | 7 |
| 4 | Prasidh Krishna | 12 | GT | 6 |
| 5 | Jofra Archer | 11 | RR | 7 |
| 6 | Ravi Bishnoi | 11 | RR | 7 |
| 7 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 10 | RCB | 6 |
| 8 | Kagiso Rabada | 10 | GT | 6 |
| 9 | Harsh Dubey | 8 | SRH | 6 |
| 10 | Nandre Burger | 8 | RR | 7 |
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.
IPL Points Table 2026: Updated Team Standings, Net Run Rate, Playoff Race and Latest Rankings