Every IPL season, two individual prizes capture the imagination of fans almost as much as the title itself — the Orange Cap (for the top run-scorer) and the Purple Cap (for the leading wicket-taker).
This season, with some of cricket’s biggest stars in red-hot form, the race for both caps is going to be absolutely thrilling. Here’s your complete guide.
What Is the Orange Cap in IPL?
The Orange Cap is awarded to the batter who scores the most runs across the entire IPL season. It changes hands throughout the tournament, and whoever holds it at the end of the final wins the award permanently for that year.
Why Chasing the Orange Cap Matters for Your Fantasy Team
If you play IPL fantasy cricket, tracking the Orange Cap leaderboard is essential. The top run-scorers are consistently the highest-value players to own in your lineup.
Key Contenders for the IPL 2026 Orange Cap
Virat Kohli (RCB)
Kohli is always in contention for the Orange Cap. His consistency is unmatched, and playing for RCB at the Chinnaswamy — one of the best batting venues in the country — only increases his chances.
Abhishek Sharma (SRH)
The young southpaw looked sensational in pre-season, smashing 94 off 42 balls in practice. If he carries that form into the tournament, he will be a serious Orange Cap challenger.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR)
His stunning century in the intra-squad game was a statement of intent. At just 20 years old, Raghuvanshi could be the breakout star of IPL 2026.
What Is the Purple Cap in IPL?
The Purple Cap goes to the bowler who takes the most wickets during the season. It is one of the most competitive individual awards in cricket, given the sheer quality of bowling talent across all ten franchises.
Key Contenders for the IPL 2026 Purple Cap
Jasprit Bumrah (MI)
When fit, Bumrah is simply the best death bowler in T20 cricket. His yorkers and pace variations make him the perennial Purple Cap favourite.
Harshal Patel (SRH)
Harshal was effective in the intra-squad games and his slow bouncers and change-ups will be lethal on Hyderabad’s pitches.
Karthik Tyagi (KKR)
Tyagi took three wickets in one over in a practice game, dismissing Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, and Sarthak Ranjan in quick succession. He could be KKR’s bowling surprise package.
How to Track the Updated Orange Cap & Purple Cap Table
The official IPL website and the JioCinema app update both cap standings live after every match. Bookmark the IPL website or check back on this blog — we’ll be updating our standings tracker throughout the season!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who has won the most Orange Caps in IPL history? Virat Kohli is one of the most decorated Orange Cap holders in IPL history, having won it multiple times across his illustrious career.
Q2. Does the Orange Cap holder always come from the winning team? Not necessarily. The Orange Cap is an individual award based purely on total runs, regardless of which team wins the tournament.
Q3. Can a bowler win the Purple Cap even if his team doesn’t make the playoffs? Yes, absolutely. The Purple Cap is awarded purely based on wickets taken across all matches, not team performance.
Q4. How often is the Orange/Purple Cap leaderboard updated? The leaderboard updates after every completed match, often within hours of the game ending.