wpl 2026 Intense Battle: Sciver and De Klerk Dominate Orange & Purple Cap Race
The Women’s Premier League WPL 2026 witnessed major shifts on both the Orange Cap and Purple Cap leaderboards following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) crucial win over UP Warriorz (UPW) on Thursday. With the tournament entering its decisive phase, individual performances are beginning to shape the race for top honors among batters and bowlers.
Smriti Mandhana Moves into Second Place
Nat Sciver-Brunt tops the WPL 2026 batting charts with 319 runs in 6 matches, averaging 79.75 and scoring 1 century and 3 fifties. Smriti Mandhana follows with 290 runs from 8 matches, while Harmanpreet Kaur has amassed 260 runs at an average of 52.00. Meg Lanning (248 runs) and Phoebe Litchfield (243 runs) complete the top five, both striking above 125 and contributing crucial half-centuries for their teams.
| Pos | Player | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nat Sciver-Brunt | 6 | 319 | 100* | 79.75 | 154.85 |
| 2 | Smriti Mandhana | 8 | 290 | 96 | 48.33 | 141.46 |
| 3 | Harmanpreet Kaur | 7 | 260 | 74* | 52.00 | 145.25 |
Nadine de Klerk Takes Control of the Purple Cap Race
Nadine de Klerk and Sophie Devine lead the WPL 2026 bowling standings with 15 wickets each in 8 and 7 matches respectively. Nandni Sharma sits close behind with 14 wickets, including a 5/33 spell. Lauren Bell and Amelia Kerr round out the top five with 12 wickets apiece, maintaining economies under 8.00.
| Pos | Player | Matches | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nadine de Klerk | 8 | 28 | 203 | 15 | 4/22 |
| 2 | Sophie Devine | 7 | 25.5 | 214 | 15 | 4/37 |
| 3 | Nandni Sharma | 7 | 26 | 210 | 14 | 5/33 |
Harmanpreet and Lanning Stay in the Hunt
Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who previously held second place, has now slipped to third with 260 runs from seven innings. Despite the drop, Harmanpreet remains well within reach of the top spots, with fewer innings played than Mandhana.
Leaderboards Set the Stage for a Thrilling Finish
With both the Orange Cap and Purple Cap races finely balanced, the final phase of WPL 2026 promises intense competition. A single standout performance could be enough to swing the standings, making every remaining match crucial not only for teams but also for individual accolades.
Written By The Cricket Show:
For more deep-dive features, wpl 2026 player analysis and ODI breakdowns like this, keep following The Cricket Show – your home for smart, modern cricket coverage.
