The race for the WPL 2026 Purple Cap is heating up as bowlers continue to make an impact in a competition often ruled by batters. Delhi Capitals’ young pacer Nandni Sharma has strengthened her position at the top with eight wickets. She added another scalp against UP Warriorz on Wednesday, once again unsettling opposition batters and delivering timely breakthroughs. Her consistent performances have not only boosted her team’s campaign but have also drawn attention from fans and selectors alike. With the wicket of Beth Mooney on Tuesday, Amelia Kerr has moved to the second spot with six wickets in her kitty. She has been the real deal with the ball in the middle overs for MI so far.
Nadine de Klerk of Royal Challengers Bengaluru has also taken six wickets so far, but is placed at the third spot with an inferior economy to Kerr. Her disciplined spells, clever variations, and ability to bowl under pressure have made her a key weapon for RCB.
The top five is completed by Nicola Carey and Sophie Devine, with six and five wickets respectively. Carey claimed a couple of wickets while Devine added one to her tally on Tuesday in the WPL clash between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Giants. Both have contributed important breakthroughs, building pressure and turning matches in their teams’ favour. With the Purple Cap race wide open, these bowlers have underlined the importance of consistency and timely wickets, making it one of the most exciting contests of WPL 2026.
In the inaugural 2023 edition of WPL, Hayley Matthews of the Mumbai Indians led the charts with 16 wickets, sharing the tally with Sophie Ecclestone but claiming the honour thanks to her superior strike rate and impact in key moments.
In 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s spinner Shreyanka Patil topped the list with 13 wickets, playing a crucial role in RCB’s campaign with her ability to break partnerships and maintain pressure in the middle overs.
The 2025 Purple Cap went to Amelia Kerr of Mumbai Indians, who finished with 18 wickets, narrowly edging teammate Hayley Matthews. Kerr’s exceptional economy and strike rate made her the most effective bowler of the season, helping her team at crucial junctures and also clinched the title.
What is the Purple Cap in the Women's Premier League (WPL)?
The Purple Cap is awarded to the highest wicket-taker of the WPL season. The bowler with the most wickets at any given time during the tournament wears the cap while fielding. At the end of the season, the player with the most wickets wins the Purple Cap.
Who had won the Purple Cap in 2025?
Amelia Kerr of Mumbai Indians Women was the winner of the Purple Cap in the 2025 WPL season, whe she had claimed 18 wickets.
Who was the highest wicket-taker in the inaugural WPL season?
In the inaugural WPL season in 2023, Hayley Matthews of Mumbai Indians Women dominated with the ball, claiming the Purple Cap with 16 wickets in 10 innings.
What happens if two bowlers have the same number of wickets?
If two or more bowlers finish with the same number of wickets, the better economy rate is used as the tiebreaker. If the economy rates are also identical, the bowler with the higher strike rate (wickets per balls bowled) is awarded the Purple Cap."
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