Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked the Orange and Purple Cap contenders for IPL 2026. Chopra believes Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill could finish among the top two run-getters in IPL 2026.
While Jaiswal scored 559 runs in the previous season, Gill scored 650 runs in 15 matches at an average of 50. The renowned commentator picked Virat Kohli as his third pick for the Orange Cap. Kohli scored 657 runs in IPL 2025 and played a key role in taking RCB to glory.
Chopra picked KL Rahul as the fourth contender to finish as the highest run-scorer. Rahul scored 539 runs in 13 matches at an average of 53.90 in IPL 2025.
Meanwhile, Sai Sudharsan bagged the Orange Cap in the previous season after scoring 759 runs whereas Prasidh Krishna won the Purple Cap after taking 25 wickets in 15 games.
‘The Orange Cap is generally on an opener’s head, to be very honest. I am thinking that this might be a bumper season for Yashasvi Jaiswal, the bumper season you are waiting for. So I am extremely inclined to go towards him. The second guy could be Shubman Gill because he might be the hungriest,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“The third is, of course, Virat Kohli, because he doesn’t play cricket for long periods these days. So Virat Kohli could be that Orange Cap winner. One of these three is what I am thinking and hoping for. If Delhi progresses, it could be on KL Rahul’s head as well,” he added.
Chopra backed Jasprit Bumrah to finish as the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2026. The former KKR batter said Varun Chakravarthy is also one of the contenders.
“As for the Purple Cap, two names come to my mind. One is Jasprit Bumrah and the second is Varun Chakaravarthy. Maybe I will just go with Jasprit Bumrah this time. If he remains fit and available and plays the entire season, he could end up as the highest wicket-taker in this season of the IPL,” he said.
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League 2026 will kick off with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Saturday.
