[CRK]
The top of the Orange and Purple Cap tables at IPL 2026 are largely unchanged, but there are players moving up and starting to threaten the current leaders. Here’s how things stand after Match No. 24, where Punjab Kings (PBKS) made light of five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI).
Orange Cap leaderboard: Prabhsimran and Iyer close the gap
The Punjab Kings’ explosive batting display against Mumbai Indians has sent ripples through the IPL 2026 Orange Cap race. Prabhsimran Singh and captain Shreyas Iyer delivered match-defining performances, with Prabhsimran slamming an unbeaten 80 off just 39 balls and Iyer chipping in with a rapid 66 off 35. These blistering knocks have catapulted both batters into serious contention at the top of the run-scoring charts.
Prabhsimran now sits at No. 5 on the Orange Cap leaderboard with 211 runs from four innings, including an unbeaten half-century and that match-winning 80*. His strike rate of 172.95 is among the highest in the tournament, underlining his destructive impact at the top of the order. As an opener, he has consistently provided PBKS with fiery starts, with scores of 37, 43, 51, and now 80 not out.
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer is just behind at No. 6, but his form has been equally vital. The PBKS skipper has amassed 203 runs so far, with knocks of 18, 50, 69 not out, and his latest 66. His ability to anchor and accelerate has been crucial in PBKS’s resurgence this season.
The man still holding the Orange Cap is Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who continues to set the pace at the summit. Between Kohli and the PBKS duo are Heinrich Klaasen (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Rajat Patidar (RCB), and Ishan Kishan (SRH) — all in solid form.
Meanwhile, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals, who briefly topped the charts earlier in the season, has dropped to seventh after a dismissal for a duck against SRH, highlighting how quickly the rankings can shift in this high-octane tournament.
Purple Cap leaderboard: Prasidh and Kamboj hold firm
On the bowling front, the Purple Cap standings remain remarkably stable. Prasidh Krishna of Gujarat Titans and Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings continue to lead the pack with 10 wickets each. Both have been consistent with the new ball, delivering crucial early breakthroughs for their sides.
Hot on their heels are Prince Yadav (Lucknow Super Giants) and Ravi Bishnoi (Rajasthan Royals), each with nine wickets. The next tier features four bowlers with seven scalps apiece: Jofra Archer (RR), and RCB’s trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, and Jacob Duffy.
Shardul Thakur of Mumbai Indians has just entered the top 10, claiming the wicket of Iyer in Thursday’s match. That dismissal took him to six wickets, tying him with Duffy and KKR’s Vaibhav Arora. His all-round performance, though in a losing cause, keeps him in the conversation.
Other key numbers: Who’s dominating the stats?
Beyond the main leaderboards, several standout metrics paint a picture of individual brilliance across teams:
Highest batting strike rates: Prabhsimran Singh (172.95) is among the most explosive, while other hard-hitters like Klaasen and Patidar also feature in the elite bracket.
Most sixes: Power-hitters from SRH and RCB are leading here, with Klaasen and Kohli among the top contributors.
Best economy rates: Spinners like Ravi Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya are excelling in the middle overs, maintaining pressure under duress.
Best bowling strike rates: Prasidh Krishna and Jofra Archer continue to take wickets at critical junctures, averaging less than 15 balls per dismissal.
As IPL 2026 heads into its business end, the battle for both caps is intensifying. Can Kohli hold off the charging PBKS duo? And will Prasidh or Kamboj break away in the bowling charts? The next fortnight promises fireworks.
