New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL)—often hailed as the “Mahakumbh” (grand festival) of cricket—is about to commence, and all eyes are fixed upon it. The IPL has served as a springboard for numerous players who have gone on to carve out a distinct identity for themselves on the international stage. Now, the first match of the 19th season of the IPL is set to be played on March 28.
Consequently, everyone is keen to learn about the various records associated with the IPL. Did you know that this league has seen a host of exceptional players try their luck? From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle, batsmen of the highest calibre have amassed mountains of runs. But who leads the pack when it comes to claiming the coveted Orange Cap? There is one player who has won the Orange Cap more times than Rohit, Gayle, or Kohli. You can find out who it is below.
Shaun Marsh Worked Wonders in the Inaugural Season
In the very first season of the Indian Premier League, Shaun Marsh delivered a stellar performance while playing for Kings XI Punjab. Marsh scored 616 runs across 11 matches, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 139. He became the first-ever batsman to win the Orange Cap. Subsequently, in 2009, Matthew Hayden claimed the Orange Cap while playing for the Chennai Super Kings. Displaying magnificent batting prowess that season, Hayden scored 572 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 144.
In 2010, Sachin Tendulkar delivered a magnificent performance with the bat while donning the Mumbai Indians jersey. Sachin scored 618 runs across 15 matches—averaging 47 runs per innings with a strike rate of 132—and successfully claimed the Orange Cap. Meanwhile, in 2011, Chris Gayle delivered an outstanding performance while playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Chris Gayle scored 608 runs across 12 matches, playing at a blistering strike rate of 183. Powered by Gayle’s formidable performance, RCB successfully made it all the way to the final that season. Subsequently, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gayle scored 733 runs across 15 matches in 2012, maintaining a strike rate of 160. Gayle became the first batsman to win the Orange Cap in two consecutive seasons.
Who won the Orange Cap in 2013?
In the 2013 Indian Premier League, Michael Hussey won the Orange Cap following a magnificent performance for the Chennai Super Kings. Hussey amassed 733 runs in 17 matches, playing at a strike rate of 129. Thanks to Hussey’s stellar performance, the Chennai Super Kings secured a spot in the final; however, the team suffered a defeat in the title clash.
In 2014, playing for KKR, Robin Uthappa scored 660 runs. Uthappa successfully claimed the Orange Cap on the strength of his powerful performance. Then, in the 2015 IPL, David Warner delivered a spectacular performance while wearing the Sunrisers Hyderabad jersey.
Displaying exceptional batting prowess, Warner scored 562 runs across 14 matches that season, playing at a strike rate of 156. In the 2016 IPL, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Virat Kohli went on a run-scoring spree. Virat Kohli scored a staggering 973 runs that season, a tally that included four centuries. Virat’s record for scoring the most runs in a single season in the history of the IPL remains unbroken to this day.
Meanwhile, delivering a brilliant performance for Sunrisers Hyderabad, David Warner claimed the Orange Cap in the 2017 IPL. Batting magnificently that year, Warner scored 641 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 141. In the 2018 IPL, Kane Williamson secured the Orange Cap. Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kane Williamson scored 735 runs across 17 matches at a strike rate of 142.
Meanwhile, in the 2019 Indian Premier League, David Warner succeeded in winning the Orange Cap for the third time. Warner scored 692 runs in 12 matches, playing at a strike rate of 143. With this achievement, Warner became the player with the most Orange Cap wins—three in total. To date, no one has been able to equal his record.
