IPL 2026: Orange and Purple Cap Battles Begin to Take Shape

The early weeks of IPL 2026 are already shaping the race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap. After two matches for most sides, and three for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings, Sameer Rizvi sits on top of the run-scoring chart, while Ravi Bishnoi currently wears the Purple Cap.

The leading list has thrown up some familiar names and one standout surprise. Rizvi has surged ahead with 160 runs from two innings. Heinrich Klaasen is close behind with 145 runs in three outings for Sunrisers Hyderabad, while Rohit Sharma has started strongly for Mumbai Indians.

IPL 2026 Orange Cap and Purple Cap race overview

Rizvi’s rise has been sharp when viewed against previous IPL seasons. The Delhi Capitals No. 4 scored 51 runs in IPL 2024 and 121 in IPL 2025. In IPL 2026, Rizvi has already gone past both tallies, underlining how much the batter has grown in confidence and consistency.

Both of Rizvi’s knocks have come while chasing, and both finished as match-winning efforts. Against Lucknow Super Giants, Rizvi hit 70 not out from 47 balls. Against Mumbai Indians, Rizvi smashed 90 from 51 balls. Each innings earned the Player-of-the-Match award, putting Rizvi on a select honour roll.

IPL 2026 Orange Cap and Purple Cap leading players

Klaasen has been central to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting across three innings so far. The wicketkeeper-batter has scored 31, 52 and 62, at a combined strike rate of 147.95. Rohit Sharma has 113 runs from two innings, including a 38-ball 78 against Kolkata Knight Riders, and continues to anchor Mumbai Indians’ top order.

Three other batters have already crossed 100 runs in this IPL 2026 campaign. Devdutt Padikkal has scored 111 runs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Punjab Kings’ Cooper Connolly has totalled 108 runs. Kolkata Knight Riders’ Angkrish Raghuvanshi has reached 103 runs, showing early promise in the middle order.

The Purple Cap standings are tighter, with four bowlers locked on five wickets each. Legspinner Ravi Bishnoi has nudged ahead thanks to a strong performance for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans, where Bishnoi took 4 for 41. Those figures are one of only two four-wicket hauls recorded in IPL 2026 so far.

The other four-for also reads 4 for 41, returned by Kolkata Knight Riders’ Blessing Muzarabani against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Alongside Bishnoi on five wickets sit Punjab Kings’ Vijaykumar Vyshak, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Jacob Duffy and Chennai Super Kings’ Anshul Kamboj, all operating as fast bowlers for their teams.

Beyond the Orange Cap and Purple Cap tables, several other markers are already tracked in IPL 2026. Lists for highest batting strike rates, most sixes, best economy rates and best bowling strike rates are taking shape. These numbers will keep changing as teams complete more matches across the tournament schedule.