The IPL 2026 Purple Cap race has become even more exciting after Eliminator, with several bowlers still fighting for the top spot.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar currently leads the standings with 26 wickets in 15 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while Kagiso Rabada is level on wickets and close behind in the race.
The competition remains very tight, as bowlers like Jofra Archer, Anshul Kamboj, and Rashid Khan are still in contention. With only a few matches left in the tournament, the Purple Cap leaderboard can change quickly with just one big bowling performance.
IPL 2026 Purple Cap Standings After Qualifier 2
Here are the top 10 highest wicket-takers in IPL 2026 after Qualifier 2 match:
| Pos | Player | Team | Wkts | Mat | Inns | Avg | SR | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kagiso Rabada | GT | 28 | 16 | 16 | 20.79 | 13.21 | 9.44 |
| 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 26 | 15 | 15 | 18.15 | 13.62 | 8.00 |
| 3 | Jofra Archer | RR | 25 | 16 | 16 | 22.36 | 14.40 | 9.32 |
| 4 | Anshul Kamboj | CSK | 21 | 14 | 14 | 25.24 | 14.38 | 10.53 |
| 5 | Eshan Malinga | SRH | 20 | 15 | 15 | 25.35 | 16.30 | 9.33 |
| 6 | Rashid Khan | GT | 19 | 16 | 16 | 25.84 | 16.68 | 9.29 |
| 7 | Kartik Tyagi | KKR | 18 | 14 | 13 | 27.67 | 17.00 | 9.76 |
| 8 | Mohammed Siraj | GT | 18 | 16 | 16 | 29.22 | 19.33 | 9.07 |
| 9 | Jason Holder | GT | 17 | 10 | 10 | 16.12 | 12.82 | 7.54 |
| 10 | Rasikh Salam | RCB | 16 | 11 | 11 | 23.63 | 14.56 | 9.73 |
Ravi Bishnoi (RR) Is Leading The Purple Cap Race On More Than Just Wickets
At first glance, the top of the Purple Cap table looks crowded. Four bowlers are tied on 7 wickets, but Ravi Bishnoi (RR) is ahead because his numbers are better across the board.
He has:
- Best average among the top four – 11.40
- Best strike rate among the top four – 8.40
- Only four-wicket haul among the top 10 – 4/41
That gives Bishnoi a proper edge, not just a technical one.
V Vyshak (PBKS) has also been very effective with 5 wickets at an economy of 9.00, while Jacob Duffy (RCB) stays in the mix with a strong best spell of 3/22.
Anshul Kamboj (CSK) has reached the same wicket tally, too, though he has needed one extra match and has been more expensive than the others.
T Natarajan (DC) And Prince Yadav (LSG) Are The Most Efficient Chasers
If you look beyond the wicket count alone, T Natarajan (DC) and Prince Yadav (LSG) have built serious pressure on the leaders.
Natarajan has picked up 4 wickets in 2 matches and currently owns the best economy rate in the top 10 at 7.57. Prince is just behind with 4 wickets and an economy of 7.71, which makes him one of the cleanest performers in the tournament so far.
That matters because Purple Cap races do not stay static for long. One more 2-wicket or 3-wicket spell from either of them can push them right into the top bracket.
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DC And RCB Have The Best Early Bowling Presence In The Top 10
Two teams have placed multiple bowlers inside the top 10 so far:
- DC – T Natarajan, Lungi Ngidi
- RCB – Jacob Duffy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
That suggests both sides have started the season with more than one wicket-taking option, which could become important over a longer run of matches.
SRH’s Harsh Dubey has also quietly entered the top group with 4 wickets in 3 matches, while GT’s Prasidh Krishna has stayed in touch with a solid early return of 4 wickets in 2 games.
