The race for Orange and Purple Cap is interesting (Photo: PTI)
Orange Cap and Purple Cap Holder List in IPL 2026: Sai Sudarshan has scored a ‘hat-trick’ on the IPL pitch, the script of which he wrote with his bat. He has achieved the feat of scoring more than 500 runs in the third consecutive season of IPL. He is also the first batsman to cross the threshold of 500 runs in IPL 2026. However, despite all these successes, he has not got the Orange Cap. Heinrich Klaasen continues to hold that hat. On the other hand, the situation is the same in the Purple Cap race. Kagiso Rabada has equalized by jumping but the purple cap is still occupied by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Sai Sudarshan’s ‘hat-trick’, orange cap not captured
The 56th match of IPL 2026 was played between Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad. After this match played on 12th May, Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudarshan has taken a huge leap. Playing an inning of 61 runs in 44 balls in difficult times, Sai Sadarshan became the first batsman to cross the threshold of 500 runs in IPL 2026. He now has 501 runs in 12 innings of 12 matches played so far in IPL 2026. This is the third consecutive time that Sai Sudarshan has crossed the threshold of 500 runs in the IPL season. Earlier, he had scored 759 runs in IPL 2025 and 527 runs in IPL 2024.
Heinrich Klaasen retains his hold on the Orange Cap
However, even after this hat-trick, Sai Sudarshan could not wear the orange cap of IPL 2026 because Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Heinrich Klaasen went ahead of him even after scoring just 14 runs. Heinrich Klaasen had 494 runs before the GT vs SRH match. But after scoring 14 runs, he has now scored 508 runs in 12 matches. For this reason, his hold on the Orange Cap also remains intact as before.
Rabada’s jump but purple cap goes to Bhuvneshwar
Gujarat Titans bowler Kagiso Rabada has equaled Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the race for Purple Cap. But, despite this, even Rabada could not take the purple cap from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Rabada took 3 wickets for 28 runs in 4 overs against Sunrisers. After this performance, he now has 21 wickets in 12 matches of IPL 2026. Bhuvneshwar Kumar also has 21 wickets, but he has played one match less than Rabada. This is the reason why Bhuvi has possession of the purple cap.
