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.
Let us look at five bowlers who could win the Purple Cap in IPL 2026:
5) Mitchell Starc – Delhi Capitals
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.
4) Arshdeep Singh – Punjab Kings
Arshdeep Singh has emerged as Punjab Kings’ strike-bowler, with 21 wickets in their ascent to the finals. The left-arm quick has also emerged as a mainstay for the Indian team in T20Is and picked up nine wickets in the recently completed T20 World Cup. In the IPL, Arshdeep formed a successful partnership with fellow left-arm seamer Marco Jansen, in a strong Punjab outfit.
Punjab would rue their missed opportunity in the finals of the 2025 IPL, but they go once again with newer reinforcements. Arshdeep is the de-facto leader of the attack, and it is on him to pick up the wickets to ensure Punjab Kings are able to that one step further this year.
3) Kuldeep Yadav – Delhi Capitals
Every year in the IPL has seen Kuldeep Yadav go from strength to strength. The left-arm wrist-spinner now finds himself as one of the frontline spinners for India in all formats, and at Delhi Capitals has formed a dangerous partnership with captain Axar Patel. Kuldeep has found himself in-and-out of the T20 team but has been ever-reliable whenever he has been asked to don the blue.
With 15 wickets at a splendid economy of 7.08 in the 2026 T20 World Cup, Kuldeep was a threat to batters, who oftentimes struggled to pick up his variations. With Delhi Capitals starting strong, but failing to qualify for the playoffs, Kuldeep’s ability as a solid wicket-taker would help them maintain consistency to right their wrongs this season.
2) Varun Chakravarthy – Kolkata Knight Riders
The 2026 T20 World Cup was not too kind for Varun Chakravarthy. Despite finishing with 14 wickets, he was taken down often, with batters playing him with more ruthlessness. This does not change the fact that he is still a consistent wicket-taker and can still be vital with consistent breakthroughs.
At KKR, he has formed a highly successful partnership with Sunil Narine, holding teams down in the middle overs and denting their progress by controlling runs and picking up wickets. KKR will need him at his best after a concerning showing in the T20 World Cup.
1) Jasprit Bumrah – Mumbai Indians
The ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah. With 14 wickets in the T20 World Cup, joint highest in the tournament, Bumrah showed the value that he adds to the teams that he plays. His economy of 6.21 showed that not only does he get batters out but also makes it difficult for them to score.
Brought onto the scene by the Mumbai Indians in 2013, Bumrah is now the leader of the Indian team’s attack in all formats. Mumbai will need him at his best if they are to finally edge past arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings and become the team with the most IPL titles. Is this finally going to be the season where he wins the Purple Cap, a very visible miss in the CV of this fast-bowling great?
