IPL 2026: Sanju Samson Slams Second Century as Anshul Kamboj Reclaims Purple Cap
Quick Look
- CSK pacer Anshul Kamboj has reclaimed the Purple Cap with 14 wickets from seven games after CSK's 103-run victory over Mumbai Indians in the IPL 'El Clasico'.
- Sanju Samson scored an unbeaten 101 off 54 balls — his second century of IPL 2026 — to power CSK to 207/6.
- Samson now sits third in the Orange Cap race with 293 runs, behind Abhishek Sharma (323) and Heinrich Klaasen (320) of SRH.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
IPL 2026 is at the halfway point of its league stage with 33 of 70 matches completed. The tournament features eight teams competing for the playoffs. The 'El Clasico' refers to the high-profile rivalry between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, both five-time champions.
We are almost halfway through the league stage of IPL 2026, with 33 out of a total of 70 matches done and dusted. Slowly but surely, players in form are beginning to emerge from the horde of cricketers competing in this highly competitive tournament. The race for the top run-scorer and leading wicket-taker of the season — the Orange Cap and the Purple Cap — is throwing up exciting and interesting contests.
After the IPL 'El Clasico' between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings — two five-time champions — on Thursday, CSK pacer Anshul Kamboj has reclaimed the Purple Cap with 14 scalps from seven games. The young pacer, who returned figures of 1/10, is now one wicket ahead of second-placed Prince Yadav, the Lucknow Super Giants pacer, who has 13 wickets from seven matches.
CSK won the 'El Clasico' by a massive 103 runs, thanks to a formidable total of 207/6, powered by a superb unbeaten century from Player of the Match Sanju Samson (101* off 54 balls). It was the new CSK recruit's second hundred of IPL 2026, after his unbeaten 115 against Delhi Capitals at home in Chennai.
With two centuries, Samson has jumped straight into the Orange Cap race and is now placed third with 293 runs from seven games. The list is currently led by two Sunrisers Hyderabad batters — Abhishek Sharma (323 runs from seven games) and Heinrich Klaasen (320 runs in seven games).
Shubman Gill (fourth with 265 runs), skipper of Gujarat Titans, and Virat Kohli (sixth with 247 runs) of Royal Challengers Bengaluru will have the opportunity to move up in the Orange Cap standings as the two teams meet on Friday in Bengaluru.
Among the bowlers featuring in today's RCB vs GT clash, Gujarat Titans pacer Prasidh Krishna (fourth with 12 wickets), RCB's Bhuvneshwar Kumar (seventh with 10 wickets) and GT's Kagiso Rabada (eighth with 10 wickets) will also have the chance to climb up the Purple Cap standings.
