Top 5 players who can win the Purple Cap in IPL 2026

Published - 11 Mar 2026, 20:15 IST | Updated - 11 Mar 2026, 20:15 IST

With the end of the T20 World Cup, the focus shifts to the 19th edition of the IPL, the ultimate spectacle of T20 cricket. The format is often referred to as a “batter’s game” but the bowlers can't be discounted, as they hold the power to keep batting teams in check with regular wickets, and the measure of that is the Purple Cap - the award given to the bowler with the most wickets at the end of the season.

Mitchell Starc came to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 as the then highest paid player in the history of the IPL, but was a shadow of himself until the playoffs, where he stepped up with player of the match performances in the first qualifier and final as KKR lifted the trophy for the third time.

Now playing for the Delhi Capitals, Starc comes off a highly successful Ashes series in the Australian summer, where he blew England away with 31 wickets in the series. His early breakthroughs will be vital for a Delhi team looking to improve on last season’s performances.