The race for the IPL 2026 Purple Cap has entered its final stretch with just two matches left in the tournament, including the final on May 31. While Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already secured a place in the title clash after beating Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2 between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals on Friday will decide the second finalist.
RCB pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar currently leads the Purple Cap standings with 26 wickets from 15 matches. Gujarat Titans fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is level on wickets, making the playoff games crucial in deciding the top wicket-taker of the season.
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This IPL season has largely belonged to the bowlers despite several high-scoring matches. Experienced pacers have dominated in crunch moments, while teams have also relied heavily on wrist spinners and death-over specialists to control scoring in pressure situations. Bowlers like Bhuvneshwar, Rabada and Jofra Archer have consistently delivered breakthroughs in the powerplay and at the death, keeping the Purple Cap race alive deep into the playoffs.
RCB’s bowling attack has played a major role in the team reaching the final. Bhuvneshwar’s control with the new ball and support from Josh Hazelwood, Jacob Duffy and Rasikh Salam helped RCB dismantle Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 and book a direct place in the final.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals’ hopes in Qualifier 2 will once again rest on Archer, while Gujarat Titans will depend on Rabada and Rashid Khan to keep their title hopes alive.
Here are the leading wicket-takers in IPL 2026 ahead of Qualifier 2:
| Rank | Player | Team | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 26 |
| 2 | Kagiso Rabada | Gujarat Titans | 26 |
| 3 | Jofra Archer | Rajasthan Royals | 21 |
| 4 | Anshul Kamboj | Chennai Super Kings | 21 |
| 5 | Rashid Khan | Gujarat Titans | 19 |
| 6 | Eshan Malinga | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 19 |
| 7 | Kartik Tyagi | Kolkata Knight Riders | 18 |
| 8 | Mohammed Siraj | Gujarat Titans | 17 |
| 9 | Prince Yadav | Lucknow Super Giants | 16 |
| 10 | Rasikh Salam | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16 |
With Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals still in contention for a place in the final, the Purple Cap race could see another shift before the IPL 2026 season concludes on May 31.
