1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – 24 wickets
Bhuvneshwar holds the Purple Cap on countback, having taken 24 wickets from 14 matches at an average of 18.50. It is one of the finest individual bowling seasons of his career and a remarkable resurgence at RCB.
2. Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans) – 24 wickets
South Africa’s Rabada is tied at the top with 24 wickets but trails on average at 20.54. His 2026 campaign is his best since his record-breaking 30-wicket season for Delhi Capitals in 2020. Rabada and Bhuvneshwar meet in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday — whoever takes more wickets in that match could swing the entire race.
ALSO: The race for the Orange Cap – Who leads the charge?
3. Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals) – 21 wickets
Archer rose to third on the final day of the league stage with a match-winning 3-17 against Mumbai Indians that sealed Rajasthan’s playoff berth. He arrives in the playoffs in the form of his life.
4. Anshul Kamboj (Chennai Super Kings) – 21 wickets
Kamboj is joint third with 21 wickets but CSK have been eliminated, meaning his tally is now frozen.
5. Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans) – 19 wickets
The Afghan leg-spinner rounds out the top five with 19 wickets for GT. Playing alongside Rabada in the same team gives GT a rare combination of pace and spin at the top of the wicket-taking charts.
With Bhuvneshwar, Rabada, Archer and Rashid all active in the playoffs, the Purple Cap race could change hands multiple times before the final.
Photo: REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis
