South Africa speedster Kagiso Rabada wrapped up the IPL 2026 season with the Purple Cap for a second time, finishing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker even though his Gujarat Titans side were edged in the final by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Key takeaways
- Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap again in IPL 2026, becoming the fourth bowler to collect the award multiple times.
- Rabada ended the league campaign with 29 wickets from 17 matches at an economy rate of 9.68.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar was Rabada’s nearest challenger, taking 28 wickets in 16 games for RCB at 7.95 runs per over.
- Jofra Archer completed the top three wicket-takers with 25 wickets in 16 appearances and an economy of 9.31.
- In the final, RCB chased down 156 after GT managed 155/8, with Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75 steering the chase.
Purple Cap race: Rabada leads as a repeat winner
With his dominant haul across the season, Kagiso Rabada secured the IPL 2026 Purple Cap for the second time in his career. The feat placed him among the select group of bowlers who have won the award more than once, joining Dwayne Bravo (2013, 2015), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2016, 2017), and Harshal Patel (2021, 2024).
Rabada’s numbers underlined his all-season impact: he took 29 wickets in 17 matches while maintaining an economy rate of 9.68. His wicket-taking rhythm helped him finish at the summit again, echoing his earlier Purple Cap success in 2020 when he represented Delhi Capitals and collected 30 wickets.
Who challenged Rabada: Bhuvneshwar and Archer in the top three
RCB’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar emerged as Rabada’s closest competitor in the wicket tally. The right-arm seamer finished with 28 wickets from 16 matches and played a significant part in Bengaluru’s successful title defence.
Beyond the wickets, Bhuvneshwar also stood out for control at the other end: he recorded the best economy among the top five wicket-takers, conceding at 7.95 runs per over. His most telling spells included a 4 for 23, a performance that delivered key breakthroughs both in the early phase and during the late overs.
Rajasthan Royals’ Jofra Archer rounded out the top three wicket-takers. He claimed 25 wickets in 16 games at an economy of 9.31, with best figures of 3 for 17, reflecting steady wicket-taking throughout the campaign.
IPL 2026 final: RCB beat GT after a sharp chase
Heading into the IPL 2026 final, Gujarat Titans were set a target after Royal Challengers Bengaluru opted to bat first. In their 20 overs, GT posted 155/8. The innings was largely contained, with only Washington Sundar and Nishant Sindhu crossing the 20-run mark—Sundar struck 50* off 37 balls, including five fours, while Sindhu made 20 off 18 with three fours.
For RCB, the wicket-taking was shared across the bowling unit. Rasikh Dar Salam returned 3/27, Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 2/29, and Josh Hazlewood finished with 2/37, keeping pressure on GT throughout the innings.
Bengaluru’s chase began steadily, powered by a 62-run partnership between Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli. Iyer contributed 32 off 16 balls, striking four boundaries and clearing the ropes twice, before the momentum was carried forward by Kohli.
GT managed to respond and tightened the contest, at one stage pulling RCB back to 132/5. Still, Kohli took charge from there, remaining unbeaten on 75 off 42 deliveries with nine fours and three sixes. His innings guided RCB over the line with two overs to spare, securing the win in the final.
Bengaluru’s trophy haul grows
With the title, Royal Challengers Bengaluru captured their second IPL championship and their fourth major trophy as an Indian franchise, a count that also includes two Women’s Premier League (WPL) titles.
