PremiumHappy Birthday IPL - Virat Kohli's 973 yet to be broken; Orange Cap winners over the years
Interestingly, only Virat Kohli has scored 973 runs and the Run Machine also holds the Orange Cap for the 2024 season.
Last Updated: 09.08 PM, Apr 18, 2024
The 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has started with a bang, with team scores reaching 287 - the highest total posted by any team in the history of the tournament. While massive totals are being posted, some players have already raised the bar with impressive individual performances as well.
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On the occasion of the birthday of the cash-rich tournament (April 18, 2008), let's take a look at the Orange Cap winners from 2008 to 2023. Interestingly, only Virat Kohli has managed to score 973 runs, with no one else even reaching the 900-run mark. The Run Machine also holds the Orange Cap in the 2024 season.
Season-wise list of Orange Cap winners in IPL history:
Shaun Marsh
Playing for Punjab Kings (then known as Kings XI Punjab), Shaun Marsh won the Orange Cap in the inaugural season of 2008, scoring 616 runs in 11 matches. With 115 as his highest score, he smashed 5 half-centuries and one century.
Matthew Hayden
As part of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Matthew Hayden won the Orange Cap in 2009, accumulating 572 runs across 12 innings. His prowess at the top order saw him achieve 89 as his highest score, along with scoring 5 half-centuries.
Sachin Tendulkar
The legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar also claimed the Orange Cap while playing for Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2010, amassing 618 runs in 14 games. This achievement saw him surpass Shaun Marsh's record, which included five half-centuries and 89 as his highest score.
Chris Gayle
West Indies' Chris Gayle made a formidable impact in his first season for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as he amassed 608 runs in 12 innings. Gayle's dominance was evident as he hit the most sixes that season - 52. He also smashed three half-centuries and two centuries with 107 runs being his highest score.
Chris Gayle
The Windies star became the first player to win consecutive Orange Caps in 2011 and 2012. Despite missing the start of the IPL season due to an injury, he bounced back and accumulated 733 runs with 7 fifties and a hundred with 128 being his highest score this season. He managed 59 sixes which is still the record for the most sixes in a single IPL season.
Michael Hussey
Equaling Chris Gayle's record, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Michael Hussey amassed 733 runs from 16 innings. He notched up 6 half-centuries, with 95 being his highest score.
Robin Uthappa
The batter from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) became the first player in the IPL Orange Cap list to also be a part of the IPL-winning team in the same season. The first half of the IPL was held in the UAE due to general elections in India that year, and Robin did not have a good start. However, when he returned to India, he was promoted to open the innings and he created a T20 record, scoring 40+ runs in 8 consecutive games. He scored a total of 660 runs, including 5 half-centuries, with 83 being his highest score.
David Warner
As the then-skipper of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), David Warner secured his first Orange Cap in 2015. He scored 562 runs and notched up 7 half-centuries during the season, with his highest score being 91 runs.
Virat Kohli
In 2016, it was Virat Kohli's year as he went on to score a remarkable 973 runs, which remains the record for the most runs scored in a single IPL season. He smashed 7 half-centuries and an incredible 4 centuries, including one in a curtailed 15-over game against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
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David Warner
Once again in 2017, David Warner claimed the Orange Cap. He amassed a proficient total of 641 runs in 14 innings, including 4 half-centuries and 1 century, with his highest score being 126.
Kane Williamson
Another batter from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Kane Williamson, showcased his batting prowess by scoring 735 runs in 17 innings. He notched up an impressive 8 half-centuries, with 84 being his highest score.
David Warner
Becoming the only player to secure the Orange Cap thrice, David Warner scored 692 runs in just 12 innings, which included eight half-centuries and a brilliant century. Interestingly, he didn't stay until the end of the tournament, departing early to attend Australia's World Cup preparatory camp, yet still managed to win the Orange Cap.
KL Rahul
The turning point in KL Rahul's career surely came after he smashed 670 runs for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2020. His highest score of 132 not out saw him register 5 half-centuries as well. Following this remarkable performance, the wicketkeeper-batter began to feature more regularly in India's T20 setup.
Ruturaj Gaikwad
In 2021, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was then an uncapped India player, scored 635 runs in 16 innings, which included his debut IPL century as well. He played a pivotal role in ensuring that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinched their fourth IPL title, with 101 not out being his highest score and 4 half-centuries to his name.
Jos Buttler
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) opening batter was in fine form in 2022, scoring 863 runs to win the Orange Cap. He recorded an impressive tally of 4 centuries and 4 half-centuries, with 116 being his highest individual score. Despite leading his side to the final, they faced defeat against the Gujarat Titans (GT).
Shubman Gill
Last year, the current skipper of the Gujarat Titans (GT) had an impressive run, scoring 890 runs. He smashed 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries, with 129 being his highest individual score. Despite his outstanding performance, his team reached the final yet again, only to lose to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) this time.