There’s been a noticeable shuffle on both the Orange and Purple Cap tables after Royal Challengers Bengaluru held their nerve against UP Warriorz on Thursday night. Nadine de Klerk now sits on top of the wicket-takers’ list, and Smriti Mandhana has slipped into second spot among the run-scorers.
Purple Cap – de Klerk pips Devine, at least for now
De Klerk’s four for 22 – highlighted by Meg Lanning’s edge to slip with her very first delivery – dragged her level with Sophie Devine on 15 wickets. Crucially, the South African’s economy rate is 7.25; Devine’s is 8.28, so the tie-breaker favours Bengaluru’s all-rounder for the moment.
“It’s pretty simple,” de Klerk told the host broadcaster. “Hit the seam, keep it fullish, and let the pitch do the rest.”
Former India quick Jhulan Goswami, watching from the studio, felt the method was spot on. “She just looked at Lanning’s footwork, went a touch fuller, and the ball did the talking,” Goswami said.
Delhi’s left-arm spinner Nandani Sharma (14 wickets) remains in touch, while Lauren Bell, Amelia Kerr and N Shree Charani all sit on a dozen. With two league games each still to come, that pack is hardly out of the hunt.
Orange Cap – Sciver-Brunt clear, Mandhana the chaser
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 109 last week keeps her out in front on 319 runs from six knocks, yet the marginal gap has narrowed. Mandhana’s unbeaten 54 against UPW nudged her to 290 from eight innings, leap-frogging Harmanpreet Kaur (260).
Mandhana admitted she has one eye on the numbers, even if she won’t say so loudly. “Look, you bat better when you’re not counting runs in your head, but the Orange Cap’s always flashing on the big screen – you can’t totally ignore it,” she said with a grin.
UPW skipper Lanning (248) is fourth, and Phoebe Litchfield, forced home by a side strain after scoring 243 in six outings, rounds out the top five.
Why the economy numbers matter
Purple Cap discussions often drift to raw wickets, yet the tournament’s analysts have stressed economy rate. Bowling consultant Darren Lehmann made the point on commentary: “Pick up poles, yes, but six smashed an over pushes your side backwards. De Klerk’s 7.25 versus Devine’s 8-plus is a 10-run swing across four overs – it’s massive in a 20-over contest.”
Looking ahead
RCB’s direct route to the final slightly complicates the Cap races. De Klerk, for instance, will only bowl again if Bengaluru reach the showpiece – Devine, Sharma and the rest could get two extra games in an eliminator scenario.
On the batting side, Sciver-Brunt has skipped one fixture through England duty, but MI’s final two league matches and a probable knock-out leave her with ample overs to add to the tally. Mandhana needs something in the region of 45 runs in one innings or 25 a match across two to draw level, assuming Sciver-Brunt posts nothing further – unlikely, but not impossible.
Quick hits
• Most sixes: Devine (14) still leads, with Mandhana (11) closing.
• Best economy: Bell’s 6.60 is the current benchmark after eight overs delivered in the powerplay.
• MVP index (WPL’s in-house formula): Sciver-Brunt stretches her lead, thanks largely to batting strike rate over 160.
In short, the Cap races remain alive, just a touch more nuanced than the headline tables suggest. Two good matches – or one disastrous evening – could swing things all over again, which is precisely why most players claim, at least publicly, that they’ve stopped counting altogether.
