IPL
Virat Kohli. Credit: IPL

Since its inception in 2008, Indian Premier League (IPL) have brought a revolution in Indian cricket. The tournament has produced many young talents over the years who have used this platform to make a name for themselves in the cricketing world. IPL has provided India with a platform to nourish young guns and create a pool of cricketers to strengthen the supply chain.

Over the years, we have witnessed the batters making this tournament his own. Many have used this tournament to forge their way into the national sides. Scoring tons and tons of runs, the batsmen have taken away the Orange Caps over the last 11 years.

On this context, let us take a look at Orange Cap winners in the history of IPL:

SHAUN MARSH (Kings XI Punjab, 2008)

IPL: List of Orange Cap Winners in all the Seasons

Shaun Marsh was an unknown commodity when the Indian Premier League began its journey in 2008. Roped in by Kings XI Punjab, Marsh turned out to be the consistent run-scorer for the tournament. Although Rajasthan Royals took back the trophy home, the Australia cricketer went home with the Orange Cap.

The southpaw returned with 611 runs from 11 matches to guide the Kings XI to the top four. He also registered one century and five fifties with the highest score of 115 to grace the first season of the tournament.

MATTHEW HAYDEN (Chennai Super Kings, 2009)

Chennai Super Kings, Matthew Hayden, Indian Premier League, Retention Policy, Player Retentions, Irfan Pathan
IPL

Matthew Hayden played a significant role at the top of the batting order in the initial years of the IPL. His outstanding hitting at the top helped the MS Dhoni-led side, and Hayden’s best outing came in the second season of the IPL.

Hayden’s ability to tear off the bowling apart from the word go makes his stand apart from the rest. In 2009, the southpaw amassed 572 runs at an average of 52 from 12 games including five half-centuries to win the Orange Cap in that season.

SACHIN TENDULKAR (Mumbai Indians, 2010)

IPL: List of Orange Cap Winners in all the Seasons
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Sachin Tendulkar has won almost everything possible in the field of cricket. During the 2010 season of IPL, Tendulkar played a crucial role to take his side to the finals of the tournament before losing out to Chennai Super Kings in the final.

The Master Blaster scored 618 runs from 15 games at an average of 47.53 including five half-centuries. He also struck a record-breaking 86 boundaries in that season to lead the scoring chart. Sachin won the IPL title in 2013 season of the tournament although he didn’t take part in the final.

CHRIS GAYLE (Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2011)

IPL: List of Orange Cap Winners in all the Seasons

Chris Gayle is arguably the best T20 player to play the game. His ability to hit the ball fiercely is unparallel and can hit the ball from any lengths and clears the ground with ease.

Gayle won the Orange Cap award during the 4th season of IPL as he was the leading run scorer of that edition. He scored a total of 608 runs from 12 matches which helped him win this award. Gayle registered two hundred in that very season along with three fifties. He made the tournament his own which helped Royal Challengers Bangalore finish on the top of the points table.

CHRIS GAYLE (Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2012)

Chris Gayle Fastest Century IPL
BCCI

Chris Gayle became the first player in the history of the tournament to win the Orange Cap in twice in consecutive years for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He made both the competition his own murdering the bowlers at the top of the batting order.

Gayle aggregated 733 runs in that season and was his highest score so far in any season of IPL. The Windies cricketer scored at an average of 61.08 with seven fifties and one century. Gayle also struck 59 sixes in that edition of the tournament.

MICHAEL HUSSEY (Chennai Super Kings, 2013)

Michael Hussey IPL
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Chennai Super Kings is the only team to qualify for all the playoffs and have preferred to play as a team. MS Dhoni has led the teams brilliantly which is the key to their success over the years. They have produced stars over the years, and Michael Hussey took over the centre stage during the 2013 edition.

They finished as the table-toppers before losing out to Mumbai Indians in the final. Hussey held the stead for the Chennai scoring 733 runs from 17 matches at an average of 52.35 including six half-centuries at a strike-rate of 129.50.

ROBIN UTHAPPA (Kolkata Knight Riders, 2014)

Robin Uthappa KKR IPL 2018 Captain IPL
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Robin Uthappa led by the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in the 2014 edition of the tournament. With experience on his side, Uthappa shouldered the responsibility at the top of the batting order.

Uthappa registered 660 runs from 16 games with five half-centuries at an average of 44. The right-handed batsman scored runs almost in all the matches giving them their second IPL title after 2012. Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir used Uthappa to great effect who lived up to the expectations.

DAVID WARNER (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2015)

Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2018, David Warner, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
IPL

David Warner is currently one of the biggest hitters of the cricket ball. Opening the innings, he is the most dangerous in the powerplay overs hitting right from the first delivery.

The Aussie batsman was at his personal best in the 2015 season of the IPL leading the team from the front. Warner registered 562 runs from 14 games with seven fifties in that season. He took batting to an all new level in the season of IPL.

VIRAT KOHLI (Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2016)

IPL: List of Orange Cap Winners in all the Seasons
IPL

With 973 runs from 16 matches including four massive centuries and seven fifties, the world cricket saw the legend of the current generation grace the cricket lover with some blistering hitting. It was Virat Kohli who shattered almost all the records from the earlier season to amass a record-breaking 973 runs.

However, it was not enough to help Royal Challengers Bangalore to the title as they stopped one step away from the trophy losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL final. Kohli had a staggering average of 81.08 and scored a strike-rate of over 150.

DAVID WARNER (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2017)

IPL
IPL

David Warner has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the history of IPL. He starred for the Sunrisers Hyderabad during their successful season in 2016, although Warner didn’t finish as the highest run-scorer.

Meanwhile, Warner came back in the next edition to showcase his talent once again. The southpaw scored 641 runs from 14 matches to finish as the highest run-getter of the tournament and take home the Orange Cap. Warner amassed at an average of 58.27 including one hundred and four fifties. However, his heroics with the bat was not enough to give them the trophy as they bowed out from the playoff stage.

KANE WILLIAMSON (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2018)

IPL
IPL

The last year of the IPL saw Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson take home the Orange Cup. It was a well-fought competition with many contenders for the highest run-scorer of the season. But Williamson took it home despite losing the final to Chennai Super Kings.

Williamson finished with 735 runs from 17 matches at an average of 52.50 including eight half-centuries. He showed some classical display of batting mainly focusing on ones and twos but also maintained a good strike-rate throughout the season.

DAVID WARNER (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2019)

David Warner
IPL

After serving a one year ban, David Warner returned to cricket with all guns blazing in this season of the IPL. He smacked absolutely everything at his disposal and forged a terrific partnership with Jonny Bairstow at the top of the order.

Warner left the tournament midway to resume his national duties ahead of the World Cup. However, before leaving India, the Aussie batsman notched 692 runs from 12 matches including eight half-centuries and one hundred. The southpaw was consistent during his stay and showed the world what he is capable of.

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