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The IPL 2026 Purple Cap race has witnessed another major change after Match 42 between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With bowlers continuing to dominate crucial moments, the leaderboard has been reshuffled once again.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Reclaims Purple Cap
Royal Challengers Bengaluru senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to the top of the wicket-taking charts. He now leads the standings with 17 wickets, reclaiming the Purple Cap from Eshan Malinga.
Bhuvneshwar’s consistency, control with the new ball, and death-over experience have made him one of the standout bowlers of IPL 2026.
Eshan Malinga Slips to 2nd
Sunrisers Hyderabad fast bowler Eshan Malinga has moved to second place with 15 wickets. He remains firmly in the race and only trails Bhuvneshwar by two wickets.
Three-Way Battle for 3rd Spot
The competition gets even tighter below the top two, with three bowlers tied on 14 wickets:
- Rajasthan Royals pacer Jofra Archer
- Chennai Super Kings bowler Anshul Kamboj
- Gujarat Titans speedster Kagiso Rabada
A single good spell in the next round could completely change the standings.
GT Bowlers Stay in Contention
Despite mixed team results, Gujarat Titans still have multiple bowlers in the top 10:
- Kagiso Rabada - 14 wickets
- Prasidh Krishna - 12 wickets
- Rashid Khan - 10 wickets (joint 9th)
This highlights GT’s strong bowling unit in IPL 2026.
IPL 2026 Purple Cap Standings (Top 10 After GT vs RCB)
| Player | Team | Wickets | Average | Economy Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 17 | 15.52 | 7.54 |
| Eshan Malinga | SRH | 15 | 18.93 | 9.16 |
| Jofra Archer | RR | 14 | 19.50 | 8.27 |
| Anshul Kamboj | CSK | 14 | 16.92 | 8.56 |
| Kagiso Rabada | GT | 14 | 24.14 | 9.65 |
| Prince Yadav | LSG | 13 | 18.61 | 8.06 |
| Prasidh Krishna | GT | 12 | 22.41 | 10.34 |
| Ravi Bishnoi | RR | 11 | 20.81 | 9.54 |
| Allah Ghazanfar | MI | 10 | 19.60 | 9.40 |
| Rashid Khan | GT | 10 | 27.40 | 8.30 |
Purple Cap Race Heating Up
With the top six bowlers separated by only a few wickets, the Purple Cap race remains one of the most exciting battles of the season. Every match can bring a new leader.
Last season, Prasidh Krishna finished with 25 wickets, but IPL 2026 looks set to go down to the wire.
Final Takeaway
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to the top has added more drama to the Purple Cap race. However, with Malinga, Archer, Rabada, and Kamboj close behind, the competition remains wide open.
As Indian Premier League 2026 moves into a crucial stage, expect more twists in the battle for the most wickets.
Also Read: Check Latest IPL 2026 Orange Cap Standing After GT vs RCB Match
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