Gujarat Titans fast bowler Kagiso Rabada clinched the Purple Cap in IPL 2026, finishing as the tournament's highest wicket-taker with 29 wickets from 17 matches. The South African pacer secured the award during the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, edging past RCB seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who ended the season with 28 wickets.
In the final, Bhuvneshwar boosted his tally by dismissing Sai Sudharsan and Jason Holder during Gujarat's innings. Rabada responded in RCB's chase by removing Devdutt Padikkal for just one run. That breakthrough took his season tally to 29 wickets and sealed the Purple Cap.
This is Rabada's second Purple Cap in the Indian Premier League, underlining another outstanding campaign from one of the world's premier fast bowlers. His consistency and wicket-taking ability played a key role in Gujarat Titans' run to the final.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar enjoyed an excellent season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, finishing second in the standings with 28 wickets from 16 matches at an economy rate of 7.95. Rajasthan Royals speedster Jofra Archer claimed third place with 25 wickets in 16 games.
The Purple Cap is awarded annually to the leading wicket-taker in the IPL and has been won by some of the tournament's greatest bowlers over the years. Rajasthan Royals' Sohail Tanvir was the inaugural winner in 2008 with 22 wickets. He was followed by Deccan Chargers bowlers RP Singh in 2009 and Pragyan Ojha in 2010. Mumbai Indians legend Lasith Malinga topped the charts in 2011 with 28 wickets, while Delhi Daredevils' Morne Morkel won the award in 2012.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has won the the Orange Cap in the IPL 2026. The 15-year-old sensation amassed 776 runs in 16 matches at a staggering strike rate of 237.3 and an average of 48.5, becoming the youngest player ever to win the award.
