IPL 2026: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Leads Purple Cap Race with Sixth Three-Wicket Haul

In Raipur, the IPL 2026 season continued with a thrilling encounter between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI).

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar continued his good form with the ball and picked four wickets for his side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), in the IPL 2026 match against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Raipur on Sunday.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the seasoned seamer for RCB, once again demonstrated his bowling prowess, claiming four wickets and solidifying his lead in the race for the Purple Cap with a total of 21 wickets for the season. This marks his fourth season achieving over 20 wickets, a testament to his consistent performance in the league. His ability to strike in the powerplay, with 12 wickets and an economy rate of 6.91, proved crucial for his team.

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The 36-year-old seamer is leading the wicket charts with 21 wickets and is the current holder of the Purple Cap.

However, the match was not solely defined by Kumar's bowling. MI's Naman Dhir and Tilak Varma fought back, guiding their team to a respectable total of 166/7. Tilak Varma's half-century was a highlight, though Kumar managed to dismiss him late in the innings. The game remained in the balance as RCB began their chase, needing 167 runs to secure a victory and bolster their playoff hopes after two consecutive defeats.

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This is the sixth occasion on which he has picked a three-wicket haul this season.