IPL Orange Cap Winners List: From 2008 to 2023

The IPL is one of the biggest cricket tournaments and over the years has been dominated by the batsmen. We’ve seen so many fairytale stories where batsmen have single handedly won games for their team by playing a match winning cameo knock. But over the 14 match season, it’s the batsmen with most consistency, and exceptional performances with the bat, whose team goes on to reach to the higher stages of the tournament. It is they who guide their team to success by always turning up to score runs with the bat. And to honour their incredible performances in this incredible league is the IPL Orange Cap – awarded to the highest run scorer in the Indian Premier League each year.  

Virat Kohli plays a cover drive in the 2016 IPL

Credit: ESPN Cricinfo

In this chapter by ZAP, let's look at the list of IPL Orange Cap winners from 2008 – 2023. 

IPL Orange Cap Winners List (2008-2009):

Year

Player

Team

Matches

Runs

Highest Score

100s

50s

Batting Average

Strike Rate

2008

Shaun Marsh

Punjab

11

616

115

1

5

68.44

139.68

2009

Matthew Hayden

Chennai

12

572

89

0

5

52.00

144.81

2010

Sachin Tendulkar

Mumbai

15

618

89

0

5

47.53

132.61

2011

Chris Gayle

Bangalore

12

608

107

2

3

67.55

183.13

2012

Chris Gayle

Bangalore

15

733

128

1

7

61.08

160.74

2013

Michael Hussey

Chennai

16

733

95

0

6

52.35

129.5

2014

Robin Uthappa

Kolkata

16

660

83

0

5

44.00

137.78

2015

David Warner

Hyderabad

14

562

91

0

7

43.23

156.54

2016

Virat Kohli

Bangalore

16

973

113

4

7

81.08

152.03

2017

David Warner

Hyderabad

14

641

126

1

4

58.27

141.81

2018

Kane Williamson

Hyderabad

17

735

84

0

8

52.50

142.44

2019

David Warner

Hyderabad

12

692

100

1

8

69.20

143.87

2020

KL Rahul

Punjab

14

670

132*

1

5

55.83

129.34

2021

Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai

16

635

101*

1

4

45.35

136.26

2022

Jos Buttler

Rajasthan

17

863

116

4

4

57.53

149.05

2023

Shubman Gill

Gujarat

17

890

129

3

4

59.33

157.80


IPL Orange Cap 2008 Winner – Shaun Marsh:

The IPL Orange and Purple Cap Award

The first ever season of the IPL was played in 2008 and the Orange Cap was introduced a week after the commencement of the tournament. The sole purpose of this award was so that people remember the history makers and record setters eternally. The concept was such that the batsman who scored the most runs in the tournament would wear the Orange Cap while fielding during the course of the season. The player who scored the most runs overall after the final would get the actual Orange Cap award.

2008 IPL Orange Cap Winner Shaun Marsh Celebrating a century

Credit: Sportskeeda

Shaun Marsh was the first orange cap winner in the IPL and scored the most runs in the IPL in 2008. He missed Kings XI Punjab's first four IPL games, but he still managed to score an impressive 616 runs in the debut season. He also hit a century against the first-place Rajasthan Royals and thanks to his heroics with the bat, Punjab could manage to reach the semi finals. 

Matches: 11

Runs: 616

Strike Rate: 139.68

Highest Score: 115

100s/50s: 1/5

IPL Orange Cap 2009 – Mattew Hayden:

2009 IPL Orange Cap Winner Mathew Hayden batting

Credit: CricTracker

Matthew Hayden scored the most runs in the IPL 2009 season, while playing for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Known for his aggressive batting style and dominance at the top order, Hayden scored an impressive 572 runs in 12 innings. One of his standout performances was a remarkable 93-run innings against the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). Despite having retired from international cricket, Hayden's contributions played a crucial role in Chennai Super Kings reaching the semi-finals that year.

Matches: 12

Runs: 572

Strike Rate: 144.81

Highest Score: 89

100s/50s: 0/5

IPL Orange Cap 2010 – Sachin Tendulkar:

2010 IPL Orange Cap Winner Sachin Tendulkar batting

Credit: ESPN Cricinfo

The IPL Orange Cap 2010 for scoring the most runs in the 2010 season was won by none other than the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. He scored a total of 618 runs in 14 innings, securing the top spot on the run-scoring charts. One of his standout performances was against the Rajasthan Royals, where he played an unbeaten innings of 89 runs off 59 balls. Tendulkar's contributions with the bat did not go unnoticed, and he was also named the Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performances throughout the 2010 IPL edition. Despite doing so well, while even captaining the Mumbai Indians in four matches, and guiding them to the final, they fell short against the Chennai Super Kings. 

Matches: 15

Runs: 618

Strike Rate: 132.61

Highest Score: 89

100s/50s: 0/5

IPL Orange Cap in 2011 – Chris Gayle:

2011 IPL Orange Cap Winner Chris Gayle smashes a ball down the ground

Credit: ESPN Cricinfo

Chris Gayle was part of the the Kolkata Knight Riders IPL team in the first three seasons of the IPL. But with unimpressive performances with the bat and inconsistent form, he was let go and was brought later to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as an injury replacement for their Ryan Harris. Who knew that a player considered failed would go on to be one of the best batsmen in the league? 

Chris Gayle was the 2011 IPL Orange Cap holder by scoring the most runs in the 2011 IPL season, a total of 608 runs in 12 innings, and carrying RCB to the finals against CSK. Bangalore couldn’t beat CSK in the final, but for his superb batting, he was named the Player of the 2011 IPL Tournament. 

Matches: 12

Runs: 608

Strike Rate: 183.13

Highest Score: 107

100s/50s: 2/3

IPL Orange CAP 2012 Winner – Chris Gayle:

2012 IPL Orange Cap Winner Chris Gayle plays a sweep shot

Credit: ESPN Cricinfo

Gayle continued his domination with the bat becoming the Orange Cap holder in two successive seasons. Chris Gayle scored 733 runs in 15 innings, the most runs in IPL 2012, which included 7 fifties and a century at an outstanding strike rate of 160.74. Playing at the Chinnaswamy Stadium and known for his sheer power hitting ability, he also set the record for hitting the most sixes in an IPL hitting 59 sixes, a record still unbroken

Matches: 15

Runs: 733

Strike Rate: 160.74

Highest Score: 128

100s/50s: 1/7

IPL Orange Cap 2013 Winner – Michael Hussey:

Michael Hussey, the 2013 IPL Orange Cap winner celebrates a half century

Mr. Cricket from Australia, Michael Hussey clinched the Orange Cap while representing the Chennai Super Kings. Renowned for his calm and composed demeanor, Hussey's consistent run-scoring established him as one of the most reliable batsmen in the IPL. He notched up a total of 733 runs in 17 innings, the most runs in IPL 2013, scoring four half-centuries and a highest score of 95. Despite his efforts to guide Chennai to the final, an exceptional fast bowling performance from Lasith Malinga and Mitchell Johnson in the Mumbai Indian vs Chennai Super Kings shattered his CSK’s hopes of securing their third IPL trophy in 2013. 

Matches: 16

Runs: 733

Strike Rate: 129.5

Highest Score: 95

100s/50s: 0/6

IPL Orange Cap 2014 Winner – Robin Uthappa:

Robin Uthappa recieves the 2014 IPL Orange Cap

Credit: CricTracker

In 2014, Robin Uthappa became the first player from a tournament winning team to win the IPL Orange Cap, when he won the trophy with Kolkata Knight Riders. The initial phase of the IPL took place in the UAE due to general elections in India that year. Uthappa faced challenges in the tournament's earlier stages, but upon returning to India, he revamped his batting approach and blew off. He started opening the batting with Gautam Gambhir and scored the most runs in the 2014 IPL Season, scoring 660 runs in 16 matches. Uthappa's aggressive style and ability to score swiftly made him a crucial member of the Kolkata Knight Riders lineup. One of his standout innings occurred against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he scored an unbeaten 83 runs off 51 balls.

Matches: 16

Runs: 660

Strike Rate: 137.78

Highest Score: 83

100s/50s: 0/5

IPL Orange Cap 2015 – David Warner:

 

2015 IPL Orange Cap Winner David Warner batting for the SRH

Credit: Cricketnmore

David Warner became the fourth Australian player to win the IPL Orange Cap when he won it in 2015. Captaining the Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL Team, he scored the most runs in the 2015 IPL, amassing 562 runs in 14 matches, with an impressive batting average of 43.23. Despite being the best player in his team, and providing exceptional starts in the powerplay, he could not drag SRH to the playoffs. 

Matches: 14

Runs: 562

Strike Rate: 156.54

Highest Score: 91

100s/50s: 0/7

2016 IPL Orange Cap Winner – Virat Kohli:

2016 IPL Orange Cap winner Virat Kohli walks of dejected as he collects his IPL Orange Cap trophy

Credit: Sportskeeda

There has never been a domination by a batsman in a season than what Virat Kohli showed with the bat in the 2016 IPL season. He delivered a remarkable performance, setting a record for the highest runs scored in a single season with a total of 973 runs. He showed beastly consistency and extraordinary run scoring form, with a total of 973 runs in 16 matches, boasting an outstanding average of 81.08, with four centuries, including one in a shortened 15-over game against the Punjab Kings. 

Despite leading his team to the final, they narrowly missed out on victory against David Warner's Hyderabad. Kohli not only claimed the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs in IPL 2016, but also became the batsman with the most runs in IPL history at that time.

Matches: 16

Runs: 973

Strike Rate: 152.03

Highest Score: 113

100s/50s: 4/7

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2017 IPL Orange Cap Winner – David Warner:

2017 IPL Orange Cap Winner David Warner Celebrating a knock
Credit: The Indian Express

In 2017, David Warner won his second IPL Orange Cap by delivering stellar performances with the bat. Scoring a proficient 641 runs in 14 innings, Warner played a key role in guiding the Sunrisers Hyderabad to the playoffs. With an impressive average of 58.27 and a strike rate of 141.81, he scored 641 runs in 14 innings, and played a remarkable innings of 126 runs in just 59 balls against the Kolkata Knight Riders, which stands as the best IPL innings of his career.

Matches: 14

Runs: 641

Strike Rate: 141.81

Highest Score: 126

100s/50s: 1/4

2018 IPL Orange Cap – Kane Williamson:

2018 IPL Orange Cap Winner Kane Williamson batting for the SRH

Credit: Hindustan Times

In 2018, Kane Willaimson showed unreal consistency in the season defying all law of averages turning up with his best in every game with his bat. Captaining the Sunrisers Hyderabad, he smashed 735 runs in 17 innings, maintaining an impressive average of 52.50. His impressive stats played a crucial role in guiding the SRH to the final, where they ultimately fell short against the Chennai Super Kings, mainly due to Shane Watson's brilliant century. His highest score of the season was 84 runs off 51 balls in a league stage match against the Chennai Super Kings.

Matches: 17

Runs: 735

Strike Rate: 142.44

Highest Score: 84

100s/50s: 0/8

2019 IPL Orange Cap – David Warner:

2019 IPL Orange Cap Winner David Warner Celebrating a century

Credit: Business Standard

David Warner is the only player on the IPL Orange Cap Winners List to win the award three times. His remarkable performance for the Sunrisers, scoring 692 runs in just 12 innings at an outstanding average of 69.20, included a brilliant century against Kolkata. Despite leaving the tournament early to attend Australia's World Cup preparatory camp, Warner became the highest scorer in IPL 2019, winning the Orange Cap for the third time. And now holds the record for the Orange Cap awards (3) in IPL history.

Matches: 12

Runs: 692

Strike Rate: 143.87

Highest Score: 100

100s/50s: 1/8

2020 IPL Orange Cap – KL Rahul:

2020 IPL Orange Cap Winner KL Rahul Celebrating a century

Credit: Scroll.in

The 2020 season was a Covid affected season and the IPL had to be canceled midway and was moved to the UAE for safety reasons. Punjab Kings, who have been one of the worst teams in the IPL, appointed KL Rahul as their captain. While leading his side, he scored 670 runs in 14 games with an impressive average of 55.83 and a strike rate of 129.34. His best performance was a remarkable innings of 132 runs off 69 balls against his former side, the Royal Challengers Bangalore. 

Matches: 14

Runs: 670

Strike Rate: 129.34

Highest Score: 132*

100s/50s: 1/5

IPL 2021 Orange Cap – Ruturaj Gaikwad:

2021 IPL Orange Cap Winner Ruturaj Gaikwad Celebrating a half century

Credit: India Today

The IPL’s motto, "𝐘𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐡𝐚 𝐀𝐯𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐡𝐢", means "Where Talent meets Opportunity" and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s breakthrough in the league shows just that. Opening the innings along with the CSK Legend, Faf Du Plessis, he often outperformed him and was the main man over him up the order. He scored 636 runs in 16 matches with an impressive average of 45.36, the most runs in IPL 2021, also won IPL the Emerging Player Award, and became the youngest player to win the Orange Cap. He even smashed a ton against the Rajasthan Royals and showed his batting class. A very technically sound batsman, he is often cited as the future Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain after Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Matches: 16

Runs: 635

Strike Rate: 136.26

Highest Score: 101*

100s/50s: 1/4

IPL 2022 Orange Cap – Jos Buttler:

2008 IPL Orange Cap Winner Jos Buttler hits ball out of the ground

Credit: India Today

Rajasthan Royals was the team that lifted the inaugural edition of the IPL back in 2008. Since then, they have not ever been close to lifting the trophy again until the 2022 IPL season. A coordinated team effort and a batting lineup carried by the incredible Jos Buttler, helped RR reach back to the IPL final after 14 years. Jos Buttler scored the most runs in the IPL 2022, scoring 863 runs in 17 innings, boasting an impressive average of 57.53 and a striking strike rate of 149.05 which won him the Orange Cap for the 2022 season. He also matched the record for the most centuries in a single IPL season, hitting four centuries and sharing the record with Virat Kohli. Rajasthan Royals eventually faltered in the finals against Gujarat Titans, nonetheless, Buttler had an amazing season with the bat and is still one of the best wicketkeeper batsmen in the league.

Matches: 17

Runs: 863

Strike Rate: 149.05

Highest Score: 116

100s/50s: 4/4

TATA IPL 2023 Orange Cap Winner – Shubman Gill:

2023 IPL Orange Cap Winner Shubman Gill Celebrating a century

Credit: The Quint

Shubman Gill, the prince of the Indian Cricket Team had a statement season and being the best batsman in the 2023 IPL smashing the most runs in the season and winning the Aramco 2023 Orange Cap. He was the main man of the Gujarat Titans batting attack helping them through to the IPL Final. He scored 3 centuries in the season, which included one against Royal Challengers Bangalore which killed their Playoff hopes, and the other against Mumbai Indians which knocked them out of the tournament. Scoring a massive 890 runs at a stellar strike rate of 157.80, he became the third batter to surpass the 800-run mark in a single season after Virat Kohli in 2016 and Jos Buttler in 2022. Despite his heroics, Gujarat Teams failed to lift the Trophy against Chennai Super Kings in the 2023 final. 

Matches: 17

Runs: 890

Strike Rate: 157.80

Highest Score: 129

100s/50s: 3/4

2023 Women’s Premier League (WPL) Orange Cap Holder:

The 2023 WPL season was a massive success and a big boost to women’s cricket and growth of the T20 franchise for women, just like the WBBL. The brainchild of the BCCI, WPL garnered a huge audience support with many stadiums packed completely. The Five-team tournament saw the Delhi Capitals Women’s Team and the Mumbai Indians Women’s Team go face to face in the finals. 

2023 WPL Highest Run Scorers List:

Player

Team

Matches

Runs Scored

Highest Score

Batting Average

Strike Rate

50s

Meg Lanning

Delhi Capitals

9

345

72

49.29

139.11

2

Natalie Sciver

Mumbai Indians

10

332

72

66.40

140.08

3

Tahlia McGrath

UP Warriorz

8

302

90

50.33

158.12

4

Harmanpreet Kaur

Mumbai Indians

9

281

65

40.14

135.10

3

Hayley Matthews

Mumbai Indians

10

271

77

30.11

126.05

1

the 2023 WPL Orange Cap winner Meg Lanning batting for the Delhi Capitals Women's Team

Credit: NewsBytes

Meg Lanning won the 2023 WPL Orange Cap by scoring the most runs in the WPL season. She scored 345 runs in 9 matches, at a stunning strike rate of 139.11. Though she and her team, which included the young gun Shafai Verma did well to reach the final of the WPL, they could not beat Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians. 

FAQ:

What are orange cap and purple cap in the IPL?

The Orange and Purple Cap in the IPL are individual awards given to the players at the end of the IPL season. The orange cap is Awarded to the player with the most runs scored throughout the season and the purple cap is awarded to the bowler who takes the most wickets throughout the season.

Which player has the most orange caps in IPL?

David Warner has won the most orange caps in the IPL, winning 3 in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Who is the youngest player to win an orange cap in IPL?

Shubman Gill is the youngest Aramco Orange Cap holder when he won the award in 2023 at 23 years of age. Prior to Shubman Gill, it was Ruturaj Gaikwad who held the record.

Who got the orange cap in the Women's Premier League (WPL)?

Australia’s Meg Lanning, also the captain for Delhi Capitals Women’s Team won the 2023 WPL Orange Cap by scoring 345 runs in 9 matches.


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