IPL Orange cap list: The concept of the Orange cap in the IPL was introduced a week after the first season of the mega event got underway in 2008. Every year, the player who ends up with the maximum number of runs in that IPL season is awarded the orange cap to recognize his achievements. Check out the IPL orange cap list from 2008 to 2023 in this article.
In the middle of an IPL season, the current orange cap holder is allowed to don the cap while fielding. The winner of the orange cap is declared on the final day of an IPL season and the winner gets a trophy-like cap and cash reward.
In this blog, we would like to list out the IPL orange cap list from 2008 to 2023.
Also Read: TATA IPL Points Table 2023
Shaun Marsh – Kings XI Punjab (2008)
Shaun Marsh was the orange cap winner in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. Marsh compiled an aggregate of 616 runs in IPL 2008 at an average of 68.44 and a strike rate of 139.68. While compiling these runs, Marsh hit 5 half-centuries and a century. The century came against their final league game against Rajasthan Royals.
Matthew Hayden – Chennai Super Kings (2009)
The big-hitting southpaw from Australia – Matthew Hayden, won the orange cap in the second edition of the Indian Premier League in 2009. Hayden scored a total of 572 runs with an astonishing average of 52 and a strike rate of 144.81. He scored 5 fifties with the highest score of 89 to accumulate these runs.
Sachin Tendulkar – Mumbai Indians (2010)
Another feather in the cap of the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar. The legendary player aggregated 618 runs – the highest so far (surpassing Marsh’s 616 in IPL 2008) with a healthy average of 47.53. He amassed these runs with 5 half-centuries and with the highest score of 89. The “God of Cricket” carried his team to the finale of the 3rd season of IPL. Eventually, his team came second as they failed to cope against Dhoni’s guile.
Chris Gayle – Royal Challengers Bangalore (2011)
The “Universe Boss” Chris Gayle became the 4th player to stamp his name on the prestigious IPL orange cap in 2011. He became the first player from the Caribbean to win the orange cap. Gayle had a stellar season with the RCB (after being transferred from KKR) with 608 runs at a mesmerizing strike rate of 183.13 and an average of 67.55. Gayle hit 3 half-centuries and 2 centuries en route winning his first orange cap.
Chris Gayle – Royal Challengers Bangalore (2012)
This was the first instance of a player winning the IPL orange cap in back-to-back seasons. Chris Gayle holds the accolade of winning the orange cap in 2 successive seasons. Gayle missed the initial part of the tournament due to an injury. However, that did not stop him from amassing 733 runs (the highest so far) from the remaining games at a healthy average of 61.08 and strike rate of 160.74. Enroute scoring the maximum runs in IPL 5, the universe boss scored 7 half-centuries and 1 century.
Michael Hussey – Chennai Super Kings (2013)
In 2013, Michael Hussey became the 2nd CSK batsman and the 3rd Australian batter to don the orange cap. Hussey equaled Chris Gayle’s record of most runs, i.e 733, in the 6th edition of IPL. His runs came from 16 games where he aggregated these runs with a healthy average of 52.35 and a strike rate of 129.5. He hit 6 half-centuries that season with the highest score of 95.
Robin Uthappa – Kolkata Knight Riders (2014)
Robin Uthappa won the orange cap in IPL 2014. Uthappa did not start the IPL 7 on a great note but in the second half, he became unstoppable. In 2014, the IPL was conducted in 2 phases – Phase 1 in UAE and Phase 2 in India. The KKR management decided to put him in the opening slot with skipper Gautam Gambhir. This move clicked and a certain change in approach saw Uthappa scoring at will and eventually winning the orange cap in 2014. This was also the first instance of an orange cap winner being a part of the IPL winning team. Uthappa scored 660 runs with an average and strike rate of 44 and 137.78 respectively. He had 5 fifties, crossed 40 on 8 consecutive occasions (then an IPL record) with the highest score of 83.
David Warner – Sunrisers Hyderabad (2015)
David Warner became the 4th Aussie batter to etch his name on the IPL orange cap in 2015. While captaining SRH, Warner amassed 562 runs that season. He scored these runs at a healthy average and strike rate of 43.23 and 156.54 respectively. His highest score that season was 91. He scored these runs with the help of 7 half-centuries.
Virat Kohli – Royal Challengers Bangalore (2016)
The modern white-ball great Virat Kohli had a terrific IPL season in 2016 and we are sure not a single cricketing fan would ever forget what he did that season. Kohli scored 973 runs (still a record for most runs in a single IPL season) with an almost Bradmanesque average of 81.08. His strike rate was not low either – 152.03. Kohli managed to score 4 centuries and 7 half-centuries in that season. He hit such form in IPL 2016 that he even managed to score a century in a 15-over game against Kings XI Punjab.
David Warner – Sunrisers Hyderabad (2017)
David Warner became the second person in the history of IPL cricket to win the orange cap twice after Chris Gayle (2011 and 2012). His 641 runs were crucial to propel his team to the IPL playoffs. He scored garnered these runs in 14 innings at an average of 58.27 and strike rate of 141.81. He also made 4 half-centuries and a century in IPL 2017.
Kane Williamson – Sunrisers Hyderabad (2018)
Kane Williamson became the first player from New Zealand to win the IPL orange cap. He played in 17 games (including the playoffs) and garnered 735 runs. His average and strike rate were no mug either – 52.5 and 142.44 respectively. His 735 runs included 8 half-centuries with the highest score of 84.
David Warner – Sunrisers Hyderabad (2019)
David Warner is the only player to date who has won the orange cap thrice. Warner played 12 innings in the IPL 2019 and he scored 692 runs with a mesmerizing average of 69.2. Throughout those 12 innings, Warner’s strike rate was also amazing – 143.87. He scored these runs with the help of 8 half-centuries and a century. Such was Warner’s dominance in IPL 2019 that even though he left early to attend Australia’s World Cup preparatory camp, no one could topple him to become the orange cap winner.
KL Rahul – Kings XI Punjab (2020)
KL Rahul became the 4th overall and 1st Indian orange cap winner since Virat Kohli in 2016. Rahul opened for Kings XI Punjab in 2020 and amassed 670 runs in 14 matches. Although his team failed to make it to the playoffs, he played some crucial knocks to keep his team in the hunt for the majority of the tournament. Rahul scored these runs with the help of 5 half-centuries and a century at an average of 55.83. His strike rate, however, was 129.34, which is considered average in today’s T20 cricket.
Ruturaj Gaikwad – Chennai Super Kings (2021)
Ruturaj Gaikwad grabbed many eyeballs through his performance in IPL 2021. He became the 2nd player after Robin Uthappa to win the orange cap and be a part of an IPL winning team. Gaikwad aggregated 635 runs during IPL 2021 with the help of 4 fifties and a century. He scored these runs at an average of 45.35 and a strike rate of 136.26. His efforts were crucial to helping CSK lift their 4th IPL title. Ruturaj was also adjudged the “Emerging Player of the Tournament” for his stellar show.
Jos Buttler – Rajasthan Royals (2022)
Jos Buttler became the first batsman from Rajasthan Royals to etch his name on the glorious orange cap in IPL 2022. Buttler was in some ominous touch in 2022 where he scored 863 runs (the second most runs scored by a batter in IPL history) in 18 matches. He aggregated these runs with the help of 4 fifties and 4 centuries. Buttler scored these runs at an average of 57.53 and a strike rate of 149.05. He was so prolific that some started thinking that he might surpass Kohli’s 973-run season but that was not the case.
Shubman Gill – Gujarat Titans (2023)
