IPL Standings, Orange Cap, Purple Cap And Pandya Return- April 5 Cricket Highlights

RCB and Hardik Pandya [Source: AP, AFP]

Defending champions RCB rose to the top of the IPL 2026 points table. Sameer Rizvi and Ravi Bishnoi retained their respective Orange and Purple caps at the end of the opening week of the tournament. Hardik Pandya is set to make his return for the Mumbai Indians after missing their previous match.

Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Sunday, April 5.

Sameer Rizvi, Ravi Bishnoi remain on top; RCB take over Royals

Delhi Capitals’ Sameer Rizvi and Rajasthan Royals’ Ravi Bishnoi continue to top the run-scoring and wicket-taking charts respectively in the IPL 2026 season. While Rizvi is currently holding the ‘Orange Cap’ for scoring 160 runs in just two innings, Bishnoi is the ‘Purple Cap’ holder for bagging five wickets in two matches.

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On the 10-team IPL points table, defending champions RCB blazed past the Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals to occupy the number one spot. Rajat Patidar and co. flayed CSK by 43 runs in match number 11 of IPL 2026 to register their second win of the season. Their current NRR reads a formidable 2.501.

Ruturaj Gaikwad says MS Dhoni eager to return

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has issued an official statement regarding the injury and recovery update of teammate MS Dhoni. Prior to the match against RCB in Bengaluru, Gaikwad said that Dhoni is on course to attaining full recovery, and the legendary wicketkeeper-batter is keen to make his return to the CSK playing XI for the ongoing IPL 2026 season.

Mohammed Shami wrecks SRH, warrants India return

LSG pace spearhead Mohammed Shami wrecked SRH’s top-order in match number 10 of the IPL 2026 season in Hyderabad. The legendary Indian fast bowler took the important wickets of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, and conceded just nine runs from his four overs to restrict the SRH to 156-9 in 20 overs.

Shami also bagged the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his match-winning spell, thus warranting his return to the national squad.

Tim David, Rajat Patidar shatter records for RCB

RCB batted first and mounted 250-3 in 20 overs against CSK in match 11 of the IPL 2026 season. Captain Rajat Patidar and Tim David shared 99 unbeaten runs for the fourth wicket, as the hosts accumulated nearly 100 runs from the final six overs of the innings itself in Bengaluru. Through the course of their partnership, the RCB franchise shattered numerous IPL batting records.

Hardik Pandya set for Mumbai Indians return in IPL 2026

Hardik Pandya is set to make his return to the Mumbai Indians playing XI for their upcoming IPL 2026 match against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on April 7 this week. As reported by the Times of India, the legendary Indian all-rounder and Mumbai Indians skipper was only rested against the Delhi Capitals as a precautionary measure as his injury was not as serious.

In the absence of Pandya, the Mumbai Indians team was led by Suryakumar Yadav in Delhi last week.

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