IPL 2026 Purple Cap Race: Kagiso Rabada stays ahead, Rashid Khan climbs after GT beat RR
Kagiso Rabada retained the IPL 2026 Purple Cap with 18 wickets after Gujarat Titans’ 77-run win over Rajasthan Royals. Rashid Khan starred with 4/33, climbing to sixth with 15 wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Anshul Kamboj follow with 17 wickets each.
Shubman Gill’s 84 and Sai Sudharsan’s 55 powered GT to 229/4 before Rajasthan were bowled out for 152.
NEW DELHI: Pacer Kagiso Rabada continued to hold on to the Purple Cap despite Gujarat Titans’ commanding 77-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Saturday, but teammate Rashid Khan made a significant jump in the wicket-taking charts with a match-winning spell in Jaipur. Rabada, who picked up two wickets in the contest, remains at the top of the standings with 18 scalps from 11 matches. The South African speedster has been Gujarat’s strike bowler throughout the season and once again delivered crucial breakthroughs as Rajasthan folded for 152 in 16.
3 overs while chasing a daunting 230-run target. Rashid, however, was the biggest gainer after returning excellent figures of 4 for 33. The Afghanistan leg-spinner dismantled the Royals middle-order with his variations and control, helping Gujarat tighten their grip on the game after a flying start with the bat.
Rashid now has 15 wickets from 11 matches and has climbed to sixth position in the Purple Cap race, level with Rajasthan pacer Jofra Archer. Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Royal Challengers Bengaluru occupies the second spot with 17 wickets from 10 matches, while Chennai Super Kings pacer Anshul Kamboj also has 17 scalps and sits third because of an inferior economy rate. Lucknow Super Giants quick Prince Yadav follows closely with 16 wickets from 10 games.