South African speedster Kagiso Rabada capped off a remarkable Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign by winning the Purple Cap for the second time in his career, even though Gujarat Titans fell short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the tournament final.
Rabada finished the season as the leading wicket-taker with 29 wickets from 17 matches, underlining his importance to Gujarat Titans’ run to the final. His performances throughout the season combined pace, accuracy and wicket-taking consistency, helping him stay ahead of the competition in the race for the Purple Cap.nnn
With the achievement, Rabada became only the fourth bowler in IPL history to win the Purple Cap more than once. He joined an elite group featuring Dwayne Bravo, who won the award in 2013 and 2015, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who claimed back-to-back Purple Caps in 2016 and 2017, and Harshal Patel, who achieved the feat in 2021 and 2024.
The 2026 Purple Cap triumph adds to Rabada’s earlier success in 2020, when he topped the wicket charts with 30 scalps while representing Delhi Capitals.
RCB pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished a close second with 28 wickets in 16 matches and played a pivotal role in the franchise’s successful title defence. He also recorded the best economy rate among the top five wicket-takers, conceding runs at just 7.95 per over, with best figures of 4/23.
Meanwhile, Jofra Archer of Rajasthan Royals secured third place on the wicket-taking charts with 25 wickets in 16 matches, continuing his impressive form throughout the season.
Despite Gujarat Titans’ defeat in the final, Rabada’s outstanding campaign ensured he ended IPL 2026 with one of the tournament’s most prestigious individual honours, further cementing his reputation as one of the league’s premier fast bowlers.
