The Indian Premier League (IPL) has delivered some of the most thrilling moments in cricket history. Among its many prestigious awards, the IPL Orange Cap stands out as a symbol of batting excellence. Awarded to the highest run-scorer in a single IPL season, the Orange Cap has been worn by some of the greatest cricketers in the world.
Introduced in 2008 during the inaugural season, the Orange Cap keeps fans engaged throughout the tournament as the leading run-scorer changes from match to match. In this article, we provide the complete list of IPL Orange Cap winners from 2008 to 2026, along with key records and interesting insights.
What is the IPL Orange Cap?
The Orange Cap is awarded to the player who scores the most runs in a particular IPL season. The player with the highest runs during the tournament wears the cap while fielding. Once another batter surpasses his total, the cap changes hands. At the end of the season, the highest run-getter officially wins the Orange Cap award.
IPL Orange Cap Winners List (2008–2026)
- 2008: Shaun Marsh – 616 runs
- 2009: Matthew Hayden – 572 runs
- 2010: Sachin Tendulkar – 618 runs
- 2011: Chris Gayle – 608 runs
- 2012: Chris Gayle – 733 runs
- 2013: Michael Hussey – 733 runs
- 2014: Robin Uthappa – 660 runs
- 2015: David Warner – 562 runs
- 2016: Virat Kohli – 973 runs
- 2017: David Warner – 641 runs
- 2018: Kane Williamson – 735 runs
- 2019: David Warner – 692 runs
- 2020: KL Rahul – 670 runs
- 2021: Ruturaj Gaikwad – 635 runs
- 2022: Jos Buttler – 863 runs
- 2023: Shubman Gill – 890 runs
- 2024: Virat Kohli – 741 runs
- 2025: To Be Announced
- 2026: To Be Announced
Top IPL Orange Cap Records
Most Runs in a Single Season
Virat Kohli holds the record for the most runs in a single IPL season. In 2016, he scored a staggering 973 runs, including four centuries — a record that still stands as one of the greatest batting performances in T20 history.
Most Orange Caps Won
David Warner has won the Orange Cap three times (2015, 2017, 2019), making him the most successful batter in terms of Orange Cap victories.
Highest Team Contributions
Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad have frequently featured Orange Cap winners, highlighting their batting strength over multiple seasons.
Why the Orange Cap Matters in IPL History
The Orange Cap is more than just an individual award. It reflects consistency, match-winning ability, and dominance across a highly competitive tournament. Many Orange Cap winners have played crucial roles in leading their teams to playoffs and finals.
From explosive openers to technically sound anchors, the list of winners showcases the evolution of T20 batting. The IPL continues to raise the bar every season, and fans eagerly watch the race for the Orange Cap unfold each year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who has scored the most runs in IPL history?
Virat Kohli leads the all-time run charts in IPL history and also holds the record for most runs in a single season.
Who won the first Orange Cap in IPL?
Shaun Marsh won the first Orange Cap in 2008 while playing for Kings XI Punjab.
How is the Orange Cap winner decided?
The player with the highest total runs at the end of the season wins the Orange Cap. In case of a tie, batting average and strike rate may be considered.
Stay tuned to our cricket blog for the latest IPL records, stats updates, and in-depth cricket analysis.
