Gujarat Titans fast bowler Kagiso Rabada added another milestone to his impressive Indian Premier League career by winning the Purple Cap in IPL 2026, despite his team's defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final. The South African pacer finished the season as the tournament's leading wicket-taker, becoming only the fourth bowler in IPL history to claim the Purple Cap on more than one occasion.

Rabada's achievement places him in an elite group alongside Dwayne Bravo, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel, all of whom have won the award multiple times. Having previously secured the Purple Cap in 2020 while representing Delhi Capitals, Rabada repeated the feat in 2026 with another outstanding campaign that showcased his consistency and ability to deliver in high-pressure situations.

The 31-year-old concluded the season with 29 wickets from 17 matches, narrowly edging out several competitors in the race for the tournament's top bowling honour. His performances played a crucial role in Gujarat Titans' journey to the final and helped establish him as one of the most effective fast bowlers in the competition. Rabada's wicket tally was just one short of the 30 wickets he claimed during his Purple Cap-winning season in 2020.

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished close behind with 28 wickets in 16 matches and was instrumental in RCB's successful title defence. He also recorded the best economy rate among the top wicket-takers, conceding fewer than eight runs per over. Rajasthan Royals speedster Jofra Archer completed the top three on the wickets chart with 25 scalps, continuing his strong form throughout the season.

Although Rabada's individual campaign was a major success, Gujarat Titans were unable to secure the championship in the final. After being asked to bat first, GT struggled to build momentum and managed 155 for eight in their allotted 20 overs. Washington Sundar's unbeaten half-century provided resistance, but regular wickets from Rasikh Dar Salam, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood prevented the Titans from posting a more challenging total.

RCB successfully chased down the target with two overs to spare, thanks largely to an unbeaten 75 from Virat Kohli. The victory secured Bengaluru's second consecutive IPL title and further strengthened their status among the league's elite franchises. While the championship eluded Gujarat, Rabada's Purple Cap-winning season remains one of the standout individual performances of IPL 2026 and reinforces his reputation as one of the premier fast bowlers in world cricket.

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