IPL Orange and Purple Cap race: watch out for Sooryavanshi, Rabada and Archer
Not much changed after the Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders game, but a lot could look different on the IPL 2026 Orange and Purple Cap tables after Saturday night
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat Delhi Capitals (DC) with lots to spare in Delhi on Friday night. Here's how things look on the Orange and Purple Cap tables at IPL 2026 and how things might look after Rajasthan Royals (RR) play Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday.
Purple Cap leaderboard
Nothing changed in the top ten, or even the top 20, on the run-getters' table, but KL Rahul, already at No. 3, consolidated his position with an innings of 23. That took him to 468 runs. A bit closer to Abhishek Sharma, who has 475 runs, though Heinrich Klaasen has the top spot with 494 runs.
Now, when RR play GT, keep your eyes on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as always, and also B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, the GT openers. Sooryavanshi is currently on 404 runs and has the fifth spot, while Sai Sudharsan and Gill are slightly lower: at No. 7 with 385 runs and at No. 10 with 378 runs respectively.
Orange Cap leaderboard
Kartik Tyagi has been picking up wickets consistently this season for KKR; he has eight wickets in the last four games, including the two he got on Friday. That's taken his tally to 13. Still quite a way behind the table-toppers, but he is moving up.
The top five are the same as it was: Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Anshul Kamboj at one and two with 17 wickets each (separated by economy rate), and with 16 wickets, Prince Yadav, Kagiso Rabada and Eshan Malinga.
What happens on Saturday, though? Rabada will be in action. He has 12 wickets in his last six games, and if he can keep that consistency going - forget picking up a bagful - he could well be wearing the Purple Cap on Saturday night.
Unless Jofra Archer, who has 15 wickets and is only behind the top five, decides to make it his day. Just two wickets off the top and in with a great shot. So watch out for Rabada and Archer tonight, even Rabada vs Archer; how they go in the powerplay could have a big say on the outcome.
Other key numbers
Tournament MVP
Best batting strike-rates
Most catches
Most 50+ scores