IPL Orange Cap Winners List
The Orange Cap has been one of the IPL's most recognisable individual awards since the tournament began in 2008.
Every season, the batter who finishes with the most runs is awarded the Orange Cap. Over the years, the list has featured some of the biggest names in T20 cricket, from Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle and David Warner to Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill.
Some seasons have produced genuinely extraordinary numbers while others have seen surprising winners upset the odds at the best IPL betting apps.
Virat Kohli's 973 runs in IPL 2016 remain the highest total by an Orange Cap winner, while David Warner is the only batter to have won the award three times.
The latest player to join the list is also one of its youngest and most explosive. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, becoming the youngest Orange Cap winner in IPL history.
Orange Cap Winners from 2008 to 2026
| Year | Orange Cap Winner | Team | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Shaun Marsh | Kings XI Punjab | 616 |
| 2009 | Matthew Hayden | Chennai Super Kings | 572 |
| 2010 | Sachin Tendulkar | Mumbai Indians | 618 |
| 2011 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 608 |
| 2012 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 733 |
| 2013 | Michael Hussey | Chennai Super Kings | 733 |
| 2014 | Robin Uthappa | Kolkata Knight Riders | 660 |
| 2015 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 562 |
| 2016 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 973 |
| 2017 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 641 |
| 2018 | Kane Williamson | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 735 |
| 2019 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 692 |
| 2020 | KL Rahul | Kings XI Punjab | 670 |
| 2021 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Chennai Super Kings | 635 |
| 2022 | Jos Buttler | Rajasthan Royals | 863 |
| 2023 | Shubman Gill | Gujarat Titans | 890 |
| 2024 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 741 |
| 2025 | Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | 759 |
| 2026 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Rajasthan Royals | 776 |
Note: Historical franchise names are shown as they were known in the relevant season. Kings XI Punjab became Punjab Kings in 2021, while Royal Challengers Bangalore officially became Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024.
2026 Orange Cap Winner – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Team: Rajasthan Royals
Runs: 776
Matches: 16
Highest score: 103
Strike rate: 237.30
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced one of the most remarkable batting seasons in IPL history to win the 2026 Orange Cap.
The Rajasthan Royals opener finished the campaign with 776 runs in 16 matches, ending the season at the top of the run-scoring charts.
The volume of runs was impressive enough on its own. The way Sooryavanshi scored them was even more remarkable.
He struck at 237.30, a staggering rate for a player who faced a full IPL season of elite bowling. His campaign included a century, five fifties and 72 sixes.
The 72 sixes were also a new single-season IPL record.
At just 15 years and 65 days old, Sooryavanshi became the youngest player ever to win the Orange Cap. He also became only the second Rajasthan Royals player to claim the award, following Jos Buttler in 2022.
The 2026 season therefore added a remarkable new chapter to Orange Cap history.
2025 Orange Cap Winner – Sai Sudharsan
Team: Gujarat Titans
Runs: 759
Matches: 15
Average: 54.21
Strike rate: 156.17
Sai Sudharsan won the Orange Cap in 2025 after an outstanding season for Gujarat Titans.
He scored 759 runs in 15 matches, averaging 54.21 while striking at 156.17.
Sudharsan's campaign was built on consistency. He repeatedly gave Gujarat Titans strong starts and remained among the leading run-scorers throughout the tournament.
His success also continued Gujarat's strong connection with the Orange Cap. Shubman Gill had won the award for GT just two years earlier in 2023.
Sudharsan became the first Gujarat Titans batter to win the Orange Cap after Gill.
2024 Orange Cap Winner – Virat Kohli
Team: Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Runs: 741
Matches: 15
Average: 61.75
Strike rate: 154.70
Virat Kohli returned to the top of the IPL run-scoring charts in 2024.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star scored 741 runs in 15 matches, averaging 61.75 and striking at 154.70.
It was Kohli's second Orange Cap after his extraordinary 2016 season.
The 2024 campaign also demonstrated the evolution of Kohli's T20 batting. He combined the consistency that has defined his career with a more aggressive approach, particularly during the powerplay.
Kohli's two Orange Caps place him behind only David Warner on the all-time list.
2023 Orange Cap Winner – Shubman Gill
Team: Gujarat Titans
Runs: 890
Matches: 17
Average: 59.33
Strike rate: 157.80
Shubman Gill produced one of the great modern IPL batting seasons in 2023.
He scored 890 runs in 17 matches for Gujarat Titans, finishing only 83 runs behind Virat Kohli's all-time record of 973.
Gill's campaign included three centuries and four fifties, and his 890 runs remain the second-highest tally by an Orange Cap winner.
His season helped Gujarat Titans reach the IPL final, although Chennai Super Kings eventually won the championship.
Virat Kohli's 973 Runs Remain the Record
Virat Kohli's 2016 season remains the gold standard for Orange Cap-winning campaigns.
Kohli scored 973 runs in 16 matches, including four centuries and seven fifties.
He averaged 81.08 and struck at 152.03.
No batter has yet reached 900 runs in another IPL season.
Shubman Gill came closest with 890 in 2023, followed by Jos Buttler's 863 in 2022.
What makes Kohli's record even more remarkable is that it came in a season in which he scored four centuries, at a time when four IPL hundreds from a single batter in one season seemed almost impossible.
Nearly a decade later, 973 remains the benchmark.
Players with the Most Orange Caps
David Warner holds the record for the most Orange Cap victories.
He won the award three times, all while representing Sunrisers Hyderabad.
| Player | Orange Caps | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| David Warner | 3 | 2015, 2017, 2019 |
| Chris Gayle | 2 | 2011, 2012 |
| Virat Kohli | 2 | 2016, 2024 |
| Shaun Marsh | 1 | 2008 |
| Matthew Hayden | 1 | 2009 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 1 | 2010 |
| Michael Hussey | 1 | 2013 |
| Robin Uthappa | 1 | 2014 |
| Kane Williamson | 1 | 2018 |
| KL Rahul | 1 | 2020 |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 1 | 2021 |
| Jos Buttler | 1 | 2022 |
| Shubman Gill | 1 | 2023 |
| Sai Sudharsan | 1 | 2025 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 1 | 2026 |
Warner's three victories came in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
He remains the only batter to win the Orange Cap three times.
Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli are the only other players to have won it more than once, with two each.
Which Team Has Won the Most Orange Caps?
Two franchises are tied for the most Orange Caps.
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have produced four winners each.
Sunrisers Hyderabad – 4
David Warner won the award three times for SRH in 2015, 2017 and 2019, while Kane Williamson claimed it in 2018.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 4
Chris Gayle won back-to-back Orange Caps in 2011 and 2012, while Virat Kohli won in 2016 and 2024.
Chennai Super Kings – 3
Chennai Super Kings have produced three winners: Matthew Hayden in 2009, Michael Hussey in 2013 and Ruturaj Gaikwad in 2021.
Other teams
Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans and Kings XI Punjab have also produced Orange Cap winners.
The 2026 award gave Rajasthan Royals their second Orange Cap after Sooryavanshi followed Buttler's 2022 success.
Highest Orange Cap Run Tally
Virat Kohli's 973 runs in 2016 sit well clear at the top of the list.
| Rank | Player | Year | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 2016 | 973 |
| 2 | Shubman Gill | 2023 | 890 |
| 3 | Jos Buttler | 2022 | 863 |
| 4 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 2026 | 776 |
| 5 | Sai Sudharsan | 2025 | 759 |
| 6 | Virat Kohli | 2024 | 741 |
| 7 | Kane Williamson | 2018 | 735 |
| 8 | Chris Gayle | 2012 | 733 |
| 9 | Michael Hussey | 2013 | 733 |
| 10 | David Warner | 2019 | 692 |
The recent trend is particularly noticeable.
Since 2022, four Orange Cap winners have scored at least 759 runs: Buttler, Gill, Sudharsan and Sooryavanshi.
That reflects both the increasing number of matches played by leading teams and the increasingly aggressive nature of modern T20 batting.
Lowest Run Tally for an Orange Cap Winner
David Warner's 562 runs in 2015 are the lowest winning total in IPL history.
That figure needs context.
The number of matches played by teams, batting conditions and scoring rates have changed significantly over the years. A 562-run season in the middle of the 2010s cannot be compared directly with an 800-run season in a modern IPL.
Warner's 2015 campaign was still an excellent one. He scored his runs at a strike rate of 156.54 and finished comfortably ahead of the other run-scorers.
The same year also began Warner's remarkable run of Orange Cap success.
Orange Cap Winners by Nationality
The Orange Cap has been won by both Indian and overseas batters throughout IPL history.
The first two winners were overseas players, with Shaun Marsh and Matthew Hayden claiming the award in 2008 and 2009.
Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian winner in 2010.
The award then continued to move between Indian and overseas batters before Indian players became increasingly dominant in recent seasons.
From 2020 onwards, the winners have been:
- KL Rahul — 2020
- Ruturaj Gaikwad — 2021
- Jos Buttler — 2022
- Shubman Gill — 2023
- Virat Kohli — 2024
- Sai Sudharsan — 2025
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — 2026
That run includes only one overseas winner, Jos Buttler.
It is a sign of how deep India's batting talent has become within the IPL.
Orange Cap Winners Who Also Won the IPL
Winning the Orange Cap and the IPL title in the same season is surprisingly rare.
Only two players have done so.
Robin Uthappa – 2014
Uthappa won the Orange Cap with 660 runs as Kolkata Knight Riders won their second IPL championship.
Ruturaj Gaikwad – 2021
Gaikwad scored 635 runs as Chennai Super Kings won the IPL title.
Several other Orange Cap winners have taken their teams to the final but missed out on the championship.
Virat Kohli in 2016, Kane Williamson in 2018, Jos Buttler in 2022 and Shubman Gill in 2023 are notable examples.
Every IPL Orange Cap Winner Explained
2008 – Shaun Marsh
Shaun Marsh was the first Orange Cap winner in IPL history.
Representing Kings XI Punjab, Marsh scored 616 runs in 11 matches in the inaugural season.
He immediately established the Orange Cap as one of the league's most coveted individual honours.
2009 – Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden followed Marsh by scoring 572 runs for Chennai Super Kings.
The Australian opener's aggressive batting was perfectly suited to the early IPL.
2010 – Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian Orange Cap winner in 2010.
He scored 618 runs for Mumbai Indians, helping them reach the final.
2011 – Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle won his first Orange Cap in 2011 after joining Royal Challengers Bangalore during the season.
He scored 608 runs in 12 matches, including two centuries.
2012 – Chris Gayle
Gayle followed up his 2011 award with another Orange Cap in 2012.
He scored 733 runs, becoming the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons.
2013 – Michael Hussey
Michael Hussey scored 733 runs for Chennai Super Kings in 2013.
His consistency at the top of the CSK batting order made him the tournament's leading run-scorer.
2014 – Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa had an exceptional 2014 season, scoring 660 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders.
He also became one of the few Orange Cap winners to lift the IPL trophy in the same season.
2015 – David Warner
David Warner's first Orange Cap came in 2015.
He scored 562 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad, beginning a remarkable three-award period.
2016 – Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli scored 973 runs, the highest single-season tally in IPL history.
His four centuries remain part of one of the greatest individual campaigns the tournament has seen.
2017 – David Warner
Warner won the award again in 2017 after scoring 641 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
2018 – Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson became the first New Zealand batter to win the Orange Cap.
He scored 735 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad in a season in which he also captained the team to the final.
2019 – David Warner
Warner completed his record-breaking third Orange Cap in 2019.
He scored 692 runs in only 12 matches, producing one of the most productive campaigns relative to matches played in IPL history.
2020 – KL Rahul
KL Rahul won the Orange Cap after scoring 670 runs for Kings XI Punjab.
He also produced the highest individual score of the season, making 132 not out.
2021 – Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad won his first Orange Cap in 2021 after scoring 635 runs for Chennai Super Kings.
He became one of the youngest batters to claim the award.
2022 – Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler produced a spectacular 2022 season.
The Rajasthan Royals opener scored 863 runs, including four centuries, and helped RR reach the IPL final.
His total remains the third-highest by an Orange Cap winner.
2023 – Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill scored 890 runs for Gujarat Titans in 2023.
His total was the second-highest Orange Cap-winning tally at the time and remains second only to Kohli's 973.
2024 – Virat Kohli
Kohli returned to the top of the run-scoring charts in 2024 with 741 runs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
It was his second Orange Cap.
2025 – Sai Sudharsan
Sai Sudharsan won the Orange Cap in 2025 with 759 runs for Gujarat Titans.
His consistency throughout the campaign made him one of the standout batters of the season.
2026 – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi completed the 2026 season at the top of the run-scoring charts with 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals.
At just 15 years and 65 days old, he became the youngest Orange Cap winner and produced one of the most explosive batting campaigns the IPL has ever seen.
IPL Orange Cap Records
The Orange Cap's history contains some remarkable records.
Most Orange Caps: David Warner — 3
Most consecutive Orange Caps: Chris Gayle — 2
Most runs in a single season: Virat Kohli — 973 in 2016
Second-highest winning tally: Shubman Gill — 890 in 2023
Third-highest winning tally: Jos Buttler — 863 in 2022
Most sixes in a season by an Orange Cap winner: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — 72 in 2026
Youngest Orange Cap winner: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — 15 years, 65 days
Most Orange Caps by a franchise: Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 4 each
Most Orange Caps for one franchise: David Warner — 3 for Sunrisers Hyderabad
Lowest winning tally: David Warner — 562 runs in 2015
What Is the Orange Cap in the IPL?
The Orange Cap is awarded to the leading run-scorer in each IPL season.
During the tournament, the player at the top of the run-scoring charts wears the Orange Cap, with the final winner determined at the end of the season.
It has become one of the IPL's most recognisable individual honours and is effectively the batting equivalent of the Purple Cap, which is awarded to the tournament's leading wicket-taker.
Unlike awards such as MVP, the Orange Cap is based on a straightforward statistical measure: total runs scored.
Why Is the Orange Cap So Important?
Scoring the most runs over an entire IPL season is difficult because the competition brings together elite bowlers, changing venues and a packed schedule.
A batter can dominate for three or four matches and still finish well outside the top five.
Orange Cap winners generally combine two qualities: volume and consistency.
That is why some of the greatest names in IPL history appear on the list.
Kohli's 973-run season was built on an extraordinary combination of consistency and run production. Warner won the award three times through a mixture of aggression and remarkable reliability. Buttler and Gill produced huge totals by combining power with the ability to build substantial innings.
The 2026 season added a different kind of achievement, with Sooryavanshi pairing enormous run production with a strike rate above 237.
The Orange Cap has therefore evolved alongside the IPL itself.
IPL Orange Cap Winners: The Big Picture
The Orange Cap's history is a snapshot of how the IPL has changed over 19 seasons.
Shaun Marsh's 616 runs in 2008 were enough to become the first benchmark. Since then, the winning totals have repeatedly climbed into the 700s and 800s, with Kohli's 973 still standing alone at the top.
David Warner remains the most successful Orange Cap winner with three awards, while Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli have won it twice.
The award has also increasingly become an Indian batting story. After overseas players dominated many of the early seasons, Indian batters have won six of the last seven Orange Caps.
And the latest winner has added another remarkable first.
At 15 years and 65 days, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the youngest player ever to win the IPL Orange Cap, while his 776 runs and 237.30 strike rate made his 2026 campaign one of the most extraordinary in the award's history.
For now, Kohli's 973 remains the number everyone is chasing.
FAQ
