The 2026 Indian Premier League concluded on 31 May, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully defending their championship after defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finished as the leading run-scorer with 776 runs, while Kagiso Rabada claimed the Purple Cap with 29 wickets.
These IPL stats 2026 cover the completed 74-match season, including batting records, bowling performances, team standings and tournament highlights.
Instant Topic Verdict
- IPL 2026 Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
- Orange Cap: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – 776 runs in 16 matches.
- Purple Cap: Kagiso Rabada – 29 wickets in 17 matches.
- Final Result: RCB defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets, reaching 161/5 while chasing 156.
IPL 2026 Season Overview
The tournament featured 10 franchises and 74 T20 matches between 28 March and 31 May 2026. The competition produced outstanding individual batting performances, aggressive powerplay scoring and several influential bowling displays.
Some important tournament-wide numbers include:
| Tournament statistic | IPL 2026 record |
|---|---|
| Total matches | 74 |
| Participating teams | 10 |
| Total fours | 2,332 |
| Total sixes | 1,426 |
| Orange Cap winner | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
| Purple Cap winner | Kagiso Rabada |
| Championship winner | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Fair Play Award | Punjab Kings |
These figures demonstrate how boundary hitting and attacking batting remained important features throughout the competition.
IPL 2026 Orange Cap: Top 10 Run-Scorers
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dominated the batting charts and finished comfortably ahead of the competition. His 776 runs came at an extraordinary strike rate of 237.31 and an average of 48.50.
The Rajasthan Royals batter also hit 72 sixes, the highest individual six tally of the season.
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike rate | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR | 16 | 776 | 48.50 | 237.31 | 72 |
| 2 | Shubman Gill | GT | 16 | 732 | 45.75 | 163.02 | 33 |
| 3 | Sai Sudharsan | GT | 17 | 722 | 45.13 | 157.98 | 30 |
| 4 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 16 | 675 | 56.25 | 165.84 | 25 |
| 5 | Heinrich Klaasen | SRH | 15 | 624 | 48.00 | 160.00 | 31 |
| 6 | Ishan Kishan | SRH | 15 | 602 | 40.13 | 182.42 | 32 |
| 7 | KL Rahul | DC | 14 | 593 | 45.62 | 174.41 | 31 |
| 8 | Abhishek Sharma | SRH | 15 | 563 | 40.21 | 204.72 | 43 |
| 9 | Mitchell Marsh | LSG | 13 | 563 | 43.31 | 163.18 | 36 |
| 10 | Jos Buttler | GT | 17 | 526 | 37.57 | 152.46 | 26 |
What made Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s batting performance special?
Sooryavanshi’s biggest achievement was his ability to combine consistency with exceptional scoring speed. A strike rate of 237.31 means he scored approximately 237 runs for every 100 balls faced.
His boundary numbers make the achievement even more impressive:
- 72 sixes, worth 432 runs.
- 63 fours, worth 252 runs.
- 776 total runs.
- One century and five half-centuries.
His boundary scoring accounted for approximately 88% of his total runs. This highlights his aggressive approach and ability to put pressure on opposition bowlers.
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan also delivered outstanding seasons for Gujarat Titans. Gill scored 732 runs, while Sudharsan contributed 722, giving Gujarat two players among the top three run-scorers.
Virat Kohli’s 675 runs were equally important. His average of 56.25 was higher than every other player in the top five, showing his consistency across the campaign.
Other important IPL 2026 batting records
| Record | Player | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Highest individual score | KL Rahul | 152* |
| Most sixes | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 72 |
| Most fours | Sai Sudharsan | 75 |
| Highest qualifying strike rate | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 237.31 |
| Second-highest strike rate | Finn Allen | 214.11 |
| Highest batting average | Ravindra Jadeja | 66.50 |
KL Rahul’s unbeaten 152 against Punjab Kings was the highest individual innings of the season. Abhishek Sharma also made a major impact, scoring 563 runs at a strike rate above 200.
IPL 2026 Purple Cap: Top 10 Wicket-Takers
Gujarat Titans fast bowler Kagiso Rabada finished at the top of the bowling rankings with 29 wickets. His performance secured the Purple Cap and made him one of the most influential bowlers of the tournament.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar followed closely with 28 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while Rajasthan Royals’ Jofra Archer completed the top three with 25 wickets.
| Rank | Bowler | Team | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kagiso Rabada | GT | 17 | 29 | 21.59 | 9.68 |
| 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 16 | 28 | 17.89 | 7.95 |
| 3 | Jofra Archer | RR | 16 | 25 | 22.36 | 9.32 |
| 4 | Rashid Khan | GT | 17 | 21 | 24.57 | 9.08 |
| 5 | Anshul Kamboj | CSK | 14 | 21 | 25.24 | 10.53 |
| 6 | Eshan Malinga | SRH | 15 | 20 | 25.35 | 9.33 |
| 7 | Mohammed Siraj | GT | 17 | 19 | 29.58 | 9.06 |
| 8 | Rasikh Salam | RCB | 12 | 19 | 21.32 | 9.46 |
| 9 | Kartik Tyagi | KKR | 13 | 18 | 27.67 | 9.76 |
| 10 | Jason Holder | GT | 11 | 17 | 17.06 | 7.57 |
Rabada versus Bhuvneshwar: Who was more effective?
Rabada won the Purple Cap because he collected the most wickets, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s numbers demonstrate another side of bowling effectiveness.
Bhuvneshwar finished with a better bowling average and economy rate:
- Rabada: 29 wickets, 21.59 average and 9.68 economy.
- Bhuvneshwar: 28 wickets, 17.89 average and 7.95 economy.
In simple terms, Rabada took one more wicket, while Bhuvneshwar conceded fewer runs per over and required fewer runs per wicket.
Both played important roles in their teams’ campaigns, although their approaches and bowling conditions were different.
Best bowling economy in IPL 2026
Sunil Narine of Kolkata Knight Riders recorded the best economy rate among bowlers who delivered at least 24 balls.
| Rank | Player | Team | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunil Narine | KKR | 6.64 |
| 2 | Harpreet Brar | PBKS | 7.50 |
| 3 | Jason Holder | GT | 7.56 |
| 4 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 7.95 |
| 5 | Akeal Hosein | CSK | 8.02 |
These numbers demonstrate the importance of controlling scoring opportunities, particularly during the middle overs when batters attempt to accelerate.
IPL 2026 Points Table: Final Team Standings
Royal Challengers Bengaluru finished at the top of the league standings, ahead of Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad. All three franchises collected 18 points from 14 matches, with net run rate determining their positions.
| Position | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | NR | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | Rajasthan Royals | 14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
| 5 | Punjab Kings | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 15 |
| 6 | Delhi Capitals | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| 7 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 13 |
| 8 | Chennai Super Kings | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 12 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
NR = No Result.
Which teams qualified for the IPL 2026 playoffs?
The top four franchises advanced to the playoff stage:
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Gujarat Titans
- Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Rajasthan Royals
RCB secured direct qualification for the final by defeating Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. Gujarat subsequently defeated Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 to earn another opportunity to compete for the championship.
IPL 2026 Final: RCB Defeat Gujarat Titans
31 MAY 2026 · NARENDRA MODI STADIUM, AHMEDABAD
Gujarat Titans
155/8
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
161/5
RCB won by 5 wickets
RCB completed the chase with 12 balls remaining.
The final provided a fitting conclusion to the tournament. Gujarat Titans batted first and managed 155/8, with Washington Sundar scoring an unbeaten 50 from 37 deliveries.
RCB responded with an aggressive start. Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer helped the team reach 50 runs in just 3.3 overs, the fastest team fifty in an IPL final.
Iyer contributed 32 runs from 16 balls before Kohli took control of the chase. Kohli remained unbeaten on 75 from 42 deliveries, guiding RCB to 161/5 and another championship.
The tactical difference behind RCB’s victory
One of the most important aspects of the final was RCB’s bowling strategy.
The seamers repeatedly used short-length deliveries against Gujarat’s batting lineup. Six of Gujarat’s eight dismissals came from short-length deliveries, according to the official match report.
This approach disrupted Gujarat’s ability to build partnerships and prevented the team from reaching a more competitive total.
Kohli’s innings then provided the stability required during the chase. His combination of calculated aggression and controlled batting ensured that Gujarat could not regain control after the early powerplay.
The result also made RCB only the third franchise after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to successfully defend an IPL championship.
Biggest Statistical Trends from IPL 2026
Several important trends emerged from the season’s final numbers.
1. Aggressive batting became a major advantage.
Sooryavanshi’s strike rate of 237.31 demonstrated how quickly a batter could change the direction of a T20 match. Abhishek Sharma and Finn Allen also crossed the 200 strike-rate mark.
2. Consistency remained important.
Kohli’s average of 56.25 and Shreyas Iyer’s 55.33 showed that high scoring was not limited to explosive innings. Both players combined substantial run totals with strong averages.
For more details about his IPL journey, player value and season performance, read our complete guide to Shreyas Iyer’s IPL 2026 price and performance.
3. Wicket-taking and economy were different measures of bowling success.
Rabada finished first in total wickets, while Bhuvneshwar delivered a better economy rate and bowling average. Sunil Narine’s 6.64 economy rate also demonstrated the value of controlling runs.
4. RCB delivered when the pressure increased.
Their 254/5 against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 was the highest team total in IPL playoff history. They followed that performance with a disciplined bowling display in the final.
Taken together, these figures show that successful T20 teams need more than individual star performances. They also require effective bowling plans, reliable partnerships and the ability to perform under pressure.
FAQs
Q1. Who won the IPL 2026 trophy?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2026 championship. They defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final on 31 May 2026, successfully defending their previous title.
Q2. Who won the Orange Cap in IPL 2026?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals won the Orange Cap after scoring 776 runs in 16 matches. He finished with a batting average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 237.31.
Q3. Who won the Purple Cap in IPL 2026?
Kagiso Rabada of Gujarat Titans won the Purple Cap after taking 29 wickets in 17 matches. Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished second with 28 wickets.
Conclusion
The IPL 2026 season delivered an impressive combination of individual excellence and competitive team performances. Royal Challengers Bengaluru emerged as champions, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Kagiso Rabada finished as the leading performers in batting and bowling respectively.
Sooryavanshi’s 776 runs, Rabada’s 29 wickets and Kohli’s match-winning 75 in the final were among the defining performances of the competition.
The final statistics also highlight the importance of aggressive batting, disciplined bowling and tactical flexibility in modern T20 cricket. Attention now turns to the next IPL season and whether these outstanding performers can maintain their momentum.
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