New Delhi: IPL 2026 is set to begin on March 28 with the opening match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The 19th edition of the tournament has been hit by injuries, with several bowlers ruled out of the season, including Harshit Rana and Akash Deep.

Mitchell Starc, Matheesha Pathirana, Lockie Ferguson, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will miss the initial few games of the IPL 2026. Over the years, the bowlers have delivered many match-winning performances in the league. From Dale Steyn to Lasith Malinga, top bowlers have showcased their strength in the league. Here are the five bowlers who could win the Purple Cap in the IPL 2026.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is the biggest contender to win the IPL 2026 Purple Cap. He has won many matches for India over the years and has the ability to dismantle batting lineups at any stage of the match. Considering the overall records, Bumrah is undoubtedly one of the most feared pacers in the league. His performance will be crucial in the Mumbai Indians’ pursuit of the sixth IPL title. He was the leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026, taking 14 wickets in 8 matches at an economy of 6.21. Over the years in the IPL, Bumrah has picked up 183 wickets in 145 matches at an economy of 7.25.

Varun Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravarthy will remain an important bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the upcoming IPL season. His mystery off-spin bowling has troubled the batters in the league. Chakravarthy has the ability to take wickets at different phases of the match, making him a dangerous bowler in the league. He will be the backbone of KKR’s spin attack in the IPL along with Sunil Narine. Chakravarthy has conceded a lot of runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup, but ended the tournament as the highest wicket-taker along with Bumrah. In 2025, he took 17 wickets in 13 matches at an economy of 7.66.

Varun Chakaravarthy picked up 17 wickets in IPL 2025. (Photo credit – Getty Images)

Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh is a quality left-arm bowler who has won several matches for the Punjab Kings in the IPL over the years. He played an important role in the Punjab Kings’ run to the IPL 2025 final, taking 21 wickets in the last season. He picked up 9 wickets in the 2026 T20 World Cup and was in good form in the tournament. The Punjab-based franchise will expect Arshdeep to deliver a strong performance in the upcoming season.

Arshdeep Singh took 21 wickets in IPL 2025 for PBKS. (Photo credit – Getty Images)

Yuzvendra Chahal

Out-of-favour India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will look to win his second Purple Cap in IPL history, and help Punjab Kings (PBKS) to win their maiden IPL title. Chahal has been left out of the Indian team after the 2024 T20 World Cup and his last outing was in a domestic match for Haryana in November 2025. After that, he suffered from dengue and chikungunya. He is one of the most successful bowlers in IPL history, taking 221 wickets in 172 matches.

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is one of the most experienced spin bowlers in the bowling in the IPL. The Afghanistan spinner will play a crucial role in the Gujarat Titans’ (GT) campaign for the IPL 2026. His record in the IPL has been outstanding, taking 158 wickets in 136 matches at an economy rate of 7.09. The spinner has been in great form recently, and he would be looking to win the Purple Cap this season. Besides bowling, Rashid will also play an important role with the bat for the Gujarat-based franchise.