Kamboj is the Purple Cap frontrunner not because he has the most wickets right now, but because his bowling method is built to last through the business end of this tournament. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has 22 wickets, and Kagiso Rabada has 21. Kamboj trails both on 19. But he has three matches remaining to their two, and he’s the only top-five bowler whose primary threat comes from a technical adjustment opponents haven’t fully solved. The wickets will come. The question is whether CSK gives him the matches to collect them. 

Anshul Kamboj’s IPL 2026 Bowling Method

Kamboj arrived at CSK as a conventional domestic swing bowler. He’s leaving it as something harder to plan for. The single biggest shift has been his consistent use of the around-the-wicket angle against right-handed batters, a line he’d rarely committed to in T20 cricket before this year. From that angle, his natural trajectory cuts across the right-hander’s body, targeting the corridor between 6 and 8 metres from the stumps and cramping any batter trying to free their arms.

The Stat That Explains His Rise 

The good-length corridor has been the most punishing zone for batters in IPL 2026, and Kamboj has hit it more consistently than anyone else in the CSK attack.

Batting average against powerplay good-length deliveries sits at 31.93 this season, down from 43.69 last year. Economy against that same length has dropped to 7.91 runs per over from 8.29. Kamboj’s 3/22 against the Mumbai Indians earlier in the season came from exactly this template, no variation gimmicks, no pace spikes, just relentless accuracy into that awkward zone.

The outlier against LSG, 63 runs in 2.4 overs, becoming only the second bowler in IPL history to concede 8 sixes in a single match, doesn’t invalidate the method. It confirms the method works until a lineup decides to swing regardless of consequence. On most nights, that costs the batting team wickets. Against LSG, it didn’t. One game doesn’t rewrite 11. 

The Purple Cap Race Right Now 

Three bowlers have separated from the field, but the margins are tight enough that two strong performances reshuffle the entire order.

Bhuvneshwar’s economy of 7.55 is the standout number; he’s taking wickets cheaply while the other contenders bleed at over nine per over. But RCB and GT have two matches left. Kamboj has three. A haul of 5 or 6 wickets across those games puts him level with or ahead of Kumar, and he’s the only contender with the runway to make that happen.

CSK’s Route to More Kamboj Overs

None of this matters without the knockouts, because playoff cricket is where Purple Cap races get settled. Chennai can’t afford defeat at a margin that damages their net run rate; the mid-table is tight enough that it matters. Winning their final league games is the minimum requirement to cross the 16-point safety threshold separating playoff sides from early exits.

For Kamboj, the immediate task is resetting his lengths after the LSG game. That kind of outlier breeds hesitation, the temptation to drop shorter, change angles, second-guess a plan that’s been working all season. His value to CSK comes from not doing any of that. If the coaching staff backs the method, the bowling resets. The bigger question is whether CSK’s batting wins enough matches to keep him on the field.

The Ultimate Sports Live Hub Streaming on SLH

As the race intensifies, the Sports Live Hub (SLH) provides the most comprehensive gateway for global cricket fans to follow the lPL Matches.

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FAQs 

Who leads the Purple Cap in IPL 2026?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Royal Challengers Bengaluru leads with 22 wickets, at an economy of 7.55 and an average of 16.14. Kagiso Rabada sits second on 21 wickets, with Anshul Kamboj third on 19.

How many wickets has Anshul Kamboj taken this IPL season?

Kamboj has taken 19 wickets across 11 innings for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, averaging 19.21 with an economy of 9.20. He has approximately three matches remaining, more than either bowler ahead of him on the leaderboard. 

Who is Anshul Kamboj?

Anshul Kamboj is a 25-year-old right-arm medium pacer from Haryana who made his IPL debut for the Mumbai Indians in 2024 before CSK bought him for INR 3.40 Crore. He claimed a historic 10-wicket haul in a single Ranji Trophy innings and made his Test debut for India after the 2025 domestic and IPL cycle. 

Who will win the Purple Cap in IPL 2026?

The race sits between Bhuvneshwar Kumar on 22, Kagiso Rabada on 21, and Anshul Kamboj on 19, with Kamboj holding the advantage of one extra match remaining. If CSK reach the knockouts and he finds form, he’s the most likely bowler to overtake Kumar before the final.

Where can I watch live sports for free online for IPL?

The match is available for live streaming on Sports Live Hub (SLH).