Cricket is basically a game of runs. The team that scores the most runs, wins the game. Hence, it is important to have quality batters in your squad who would help you get the runs on the board against the best of bowlers.
Over the years, we have seen many top-quality batsmen play in the Indian Premier League. These batters have not only helped their team in winning a one-off game, but in a few cases, they have been consistent throughout the tournament.
The Indian Premier League has created the “Orange Cap” to recognize these batsmen! The Orange Cap award is given to the batsman who has scored the most runs in that season.
Over the 14 seasons of the Indian Premier League, 11 different players have won the IPLs Orange Cap. In this, Australian opener David Warner has won this prestigious award three times.
IPL Orange Cap Winners List Between 2008 and 2021
| IPL Season | IPL Orange Cap Winner | IPL Team | Runs Scored | Nationality |
| 2008 | Shaun Marsh | KXIP | 616 | Australian |
| 2009 | Matthew Hayden | CSK | 572 | Australian |
| 2010 | Sachin Tendulkar | MI | 618 | Indian |
| 2011 | Chris Gayle | RCB | 608 | Jamaican |
| 2012 | Chris Gayle | RCB | 733 | Jamaican |
| 2013 | Michael Hussey | CSK | 733 | Australian |
| 2014 | Robin Uthappa | KKR | 660 | Indian |
| 2015 | David Warner | SRH | 562 | Australian |
| 2016 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 973 | Indian |
| 2017 | David Warner | SRH | 641 | Australian |
| 2018 | Kane Williamson | SRH | 735 | New Zealander |
| 2019 | David Warner | SRH | 692 | Australian |
| 2020 | KL Rahul | KXIP | 670 | India |
| 2021 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | CSK | 635 | India |
Now that you have seen this list, let’s have a look at each individual and their performance in their respective seasons.
Orange Cap in IPL 2008: Shaun Marsh (616 Runs)
The TheKings XI Punjab batsman was in a league of his own in 2008. The Australian scored a whopping 616 runs in just 11 matches with an average of 68.44 and a strike rate of 139.6.
En route to 616 runs, Shaun Marsh’s highest score was 116. The Punjab batsman smashed 5 fifties and 1 hundred to achieve it. Sadly Marsh could only lead his team to the semi-finals, where they lost out to the Chennai Super Kings.
Orange Cap in IPL 2009: Matthew Hayden (572 Runs)
The 2009 season was played in South Africa and the Chennai Super Kings batter was the Orange Cap winner after a wonderful season. Matthew Hayden scored 572 runs in just 12 IPL games to become the highest scorer of the tournament.
Hayden scored these runs with an average of 52 and a strike rate of 144. 81. Hayden smashed 5 fifties, with his highest score being 89 in the tournament. The Australian could not help CSK win the title as they crashed out in the semi-finals to Bangalore.
Orange Cap in IPL 2010: Sachin Tendulkar (618 Runs)
The Master Blaster was the leading runs scorer in the 2010 edition. Sachin Tendulkar scored 618 runs in 15 IPL games for the Mumbai Indians as his side fell short in the finals against CSK!
En route to his Orange Cap, Tendulkar hit 5 fifties and had the highest score of 89* in the tournament. His average and strike rate were 47 and 132.61 respectively in IPL 2010.
Orange Cap in IPL 2011: Chris Gayle (608 Runs)
After initially being unsold, Chris Gayle was picked up as an injury replacement for Dirk Nannes. The West Indian made the most of his opportunity as he guided the Royal Challengers Bangalore to the IPL finals, losing out to CSK in the last hurdle!
Gayle hit 3 fifties and 2 hundredths as the Jamaican hit 608 runs in just 12 IPL games. His highest score in the season was 107. Gayle had a strike rate and an average of 183.13 and 67.55 in IPL 2011.
Orange Cap in IPL 2012: Chris Gayle (733 Runs)
The West Indian would defend his Orange Cap by scoring 733 runs in 15 IPL games. Chris Gayle would hit 7 fifties and 1 hundred, with his highest score being 128* as he led his Royal Challengers Bangalore side to the playoffs.
The 2012 Orange Cap holder scored his runs at an average of 61 and a strike rate of 61.08.
Orange Cap in IPL 2013: Michael Hussey (733 Runs)
“Mr. Cricket” would win the 2013 IPL Orange Cap owing to his consistent performances throughout the tournament. With a top score of 95, Michael Hussey would hit 733 runs in 17 IPL games as he led his side to the finals of the tournament, losing out to the Mumbai Indians.
Michael Hussey scored his runs at an average of 52.35 and with a strike rate of 129.50. The Australian scored 6 fifties in the IPL 2013 tournament.
Orange Cap in IPL 2014: Robin Uthappa (660 Runs)
The Indian wicket-keeper batsman created history by becoming the first orange cap winner to lift the IPL trophy in the same year. Robin Uthappa scored 660 runs in 16 games as his Kolkata Knight Riders won their second IPL title.
The Orange cap winner scored 5 fifties and had the highest score of 83* in the tournament. Uthappa had an average of 44 and scored with a strike rate of 137.78 as he helped his side become the Champions!
Orange Cap in IPL 2015: David Warner (562 Runs)
David Warner won the Orange Cap at the 2015 edition of the IPL by scoring 562 runs in 14 games. The Australian scored 7 fifties and had the highest score of 91 for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2015 season.
Sadly, the Orange Cap winner could not take his side beyond the playoffs. Warner averaged 43.32 and had a strike rate of 156.54 in the tournament.
Orange Cap in IPL 2016: Virat Kohli (973 Runs)
The RCB captain destroyed his competition as the Indian international scored a whopping 973 runs in 16 IPL games. Virat Kohli had the highest score of 113 as he hit 4 hundred and 7 fifties in the IPL 2016 tournament.
The Orange Cap winner averaged 81.08 and had a strike rate of 152.03. His record of 973 runs in an IPL season is yet to be beaten by anyone. Sadly, even after this effort, Virat Kohli ended up on the losing side in the finals as his Royal Challengers Bangalore lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground in Bangalore!
Orange Cap in IPL 2017: David Warner (641 Runs)
The Australian opener became the second player to win the Orange Cap twice after scoring 641 runs in 14 games. The SRH opener would score 4 fifties and 1 hundred en route to his milestone in IPL 2017.
The 2017 Orange Cap holder averaged 58.27 and had a strike rate of 141 with his highest score being 128*. David Warner could sadly not help the Hyderabad franchise retain their IPL title.
Orange Cap in IPL 2018: Kane Williamson (735 Runs)
Probably the nicest cricketer on Earth, Kane Williamson topped the charts at IPL 2018 with 735 runs in 17 games for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The New Zealander smashed 8 fifties and had the highest score of 84* en route to his 2018 Orange Cap award.
Kane Williamson averaged 52.50 and had a strike rate of 142.44 in the entire tournament. Sadly, the captain could only guide the Sunrisers Hyderabad to the finals, where they lost out to the Chennai Super Kings at their home ground in Hyderabad!
Orange Cap in IPL 2019: David Warner (692 Runs)
In IPL 2019, David Warner became the first player to win the coveted Orange Cap award thrice. The Australian scored 692 runs in just 12 matches as he achieved this magnificent feat with the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The Australian scored 8 fifties and 1 hundred with his highest score being 100*. With an average of 69.20 and a strike rate of 143.86, the Orange Cap winner proved to the world exactly how consistent and valuable he is in the T20 format.
Orange Cap in IPL 2020: KL Rahul (670 Runs)
With the Covid pandemic full-fledged, the IPL 2020 tournament had shifted to the UAE. Kings XI Punjab’s KL Rahul made the most of the UAE pitches, scoring 670 runs with the highest score of 132*. Rahul smashed 5 fifties and 1 hundred in 14 games en route to the Orange Cap Award.
With an average of 55.84 and a strike rate of 129.34, it is safe to say that Punjab’s captain had a good tournament with the bat. Nevertheless, he could not his side into the playoffs of the tournament.
Orange Cap in IPL 2021: Ruturaj Gaikwad (635 Runs)
In 2021, Ruturaj Gaikwad became only the second IPL Orange Cap winner to win the IPL trophy in the same year. The Chennai Super Kings opener scored 635 runs in 16 IPL games with the highest score of 101*.
Gaikwad provided a solid start for the Men in Yellow, Averaging 45.35 and having a strike rate of 136.26. Owing to 4 fifties and 1 hundred, Ruturaj Gaikwad achieved both a personal milestone and also helped his team to be crowned the Champions of the 2021 IPL edition.
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