The Indian Premier League (IPL) is back for the 2026 season, starting on March 28 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru playing Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the tournament is scheduled to go on until May.
RCB are the defending champions of the tournament after lifting their first IPL title in 2026 by defeating Punjab Kings.
The competition for the Purple Cap, which is awarded to the highest wicket-taker of the season, is underway. Prasidh Krishna is the current Purple Cap holder after claiming 25 wickets in the 2025 season, edging out Noor Ahmad, Josh Hazlewood, and Trent Boult.
The competition for the Purple Cap in the 2026 season could feature the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakravarthy, Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh, among others.
Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source
Purple Cap Race: Top 5 bowlers with the most wickets in IPL 2026
MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinion
All-Time IPL Purple Cap Winners (2008–2025)
The Purple Cap has been one of the most prestigious individual honours in the IPL since its inception in 2008, recognising the most consistent wicket-taking bowler of the season.
Related links:
• Top run-scorers in IPL 2026
• Live cricket matches today
• All the latest cricket news
• All the IPL-related news
