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Harbhajan Singh Hails Indian Bowlers Dominating IPL 2026 Purple Cap Race

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh praised Indian bowlers for dominating the Purple Cap race in IPL 2026, with four of the top five contenders being Indians. He specifically hailed Chennai Super Kings pacer Anshul Kamboj for his innovative bowling in death overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Harbhajan emphasized that Indian bowlers must evolve to avoid being punished by modern T20 batting. Kamboj leads the race with 13 wickets, followed by Eshan Malinga, Prasidh Krishna, Shivang Kumar, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Key Points: Indian Bowlers Dominate IPL 2026 Purple Cap Race

  • Anshul Kamboj leads Purple Cap with 13 wickets
  • Harbhajan urges Indian bowlers to evolve or get punished
  • Four of top five Purple Cap contenders are Indians
  • Kamboj's death-over spell against SRH hailed as innovative
2 min read

Harbhajan Singh hails Indian bowling domination in Purple Cap race during IPL 2026

Harbhajan Singh praises Anshul Kamboj and Indian bowlers for leading the Purple Cap race in IPL 2026, highlighting their evolution in T20 cricket.

"Young bowlers like Kamboj are showing a new way to bowl in modern T20 cricket. - Harbhajan Singh"

Mumbai, April 22

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed happiness at the fact that most out of five bowlers in the race for the Purple Cap during the ongoing Indian Premier League season are Indians and hailed Chennai Super Kings pacer Anshul Kamboj for "showing a new way to bowl in modern T20s".

Harbhajan was speaking on JioHotstar's show 'Champions Waali Commentary'. The Purple Cap holder for most wickets this season has been Kamboj, with 13 wickets in six matches at an average of 16.23, with best figures of 3/22 and an economy rate of 9.73.

Speaking during the programme, Harbhajan said that Indian bowlers have to "evolve" or else "get punished" if they do not raise their level. He pointed to Kamboj's spell against SRH, in which he took three wickets for just 22 runs in three overs.

During the dangerous death overs phase against a big-hitting Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone and some power-packed Indian domestic names, he gave away just nine runs in two overs and removed Klaasen, Livingstone and all-rounder Shivang Kumar.

"The Indian bowlers have no choice but to evolve. If they do not level up, they will get punished. T20 cricket spares no one. Batters keep adding new shots, and if Indian bowlers do not want to be taken apart, they must improve. It is good to see that the top five bowlers in the Purple Cap race are all Indians (4/5 are Indians). Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings leads with 13 wickets. His bowling against Sunrisers Hyderabad was excellent. He used the round-the-wicket angle in the death overs to bowl to Heinrich Klaasen and did not let him free his arms. Young bowlers like Kamboj are showing a new way to bowl in modern T20 cricket," he said.

Four out of five names in the race for the Purple Cap are Indians, with Sri Lanka pacer Eshan Malinga (12 wickets in seven matches at an average of 18.08, with a four-fer being the only non-Indian player. At the third spot is Prasidh Krishna, the Gujarat Titans (GT) quick with 12 wickets at an average of 19.83, with a four-fer. He is followed by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Shivang Kumar (11 wickets in six matches at an average of 17.18 and best score of 3/32) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (10 in six matches at an average of 20.00, with best figures of 3/26).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who watches IPL from the US, it's refreshing to see Indian bowlers dominate the wickets column. The depth in fast bowling is incredible. Prasidh and Bhuvi are proven performers. This bodes well for Indian cricket.
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Ananya R
Honestly, while it's good news, I wish Harbhajan ji also acknowledged the batters who are making bowlers evolve. It's a two-way street. But yes, Kamboj's round-the-wicket angle is smart bowling. 🇮🇳
M
Michael C
Impressive stats from the Indian contingent. But let's not forget, IPL is still a league where overseas players often dominate. This year, the homegrown talent is shining, and that's what makes the tournament special for Indian fans. 💪
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Kavya N
Loving this! Indian bowlers are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Kamboj has been a revelation for CSK. Harbhajan's words are spot on – if you don't adapt, you get left behind in this format. Well said, Bhajji paaji!
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James A
It's great to see Indian pace bowlers dominating the Purple Cap race. The variety – from Kamboj's accuracy to Prasidh's bounce and Bhuvi's swing – shows the depth. However, we should also credit the team managements for backing them. Good analysis by Harbhajan.

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