The IPL Orange Cap is one of the most prestigious individual awards in the Indian Premier League. It is presented to the batter who finishes each season
as the highest run-scorer in the tournament.
Introduced in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, the Orange Cap has often been a marker of batting dominance across a campaign. From legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Chris Gayle to modern stars like Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, the award has highlighted the league's most consistent run machines.
As of 2026, David Warner holds the record for the most Orange Cap wins with three, while Virat Kohli holds the record for the most runs scored in a single IPL season with a remarkable 973 runs in 2016.
IPL Orange Cap winners list (2008-2025)
| Year | Orange Cap Winner | Team | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | 759 |
| 2024 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 741 |
| 2023 | Shubman Gill | Gujarat Titans | 890 |
| 2022 | Jos Buttler | Rajasthan Royals | 863 |
| 2021 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Chennai Super Kings | 635 |
| 2020 | KL Rahul | Kings XI Punjab | 670 |
| 2019 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 692 |
| 2018 | Kane Williamson | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 735 |
| 2017 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 641 |
| 2016 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 973 |
| 2015 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 562 |
| 2014 | Robin Uthappa | Kolkata Knight Riders | 660 |
| 2013 | Michael Hussey | Chennai Super Kings | 733 |
| 2012 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 733 |
| 2011 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 608 |
| 2010 | Sachin Tendulkar | Mumbai Indians | 618 |
| 2009 | Matthew Hayden | Chennai Super Kings | 572 |
| 2008 | Shaun Marsh | Kings XI Punjab | 616 |
Players with the most Orange Caps in IPL history
Australian opener David Warner holds the record for the most IPL Orange Caps with three.
Warner topped the run charts in 2015, 2017 and 2019 while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad. His consistency at the top of the order made him one of the most reliable batters in IPL history.
Chris Gayle became the first player to win back-to-back Orange Caps when he finished as the highest run-scorer in both 2011 and 2012 for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Virat Kohli has also won the award twice, with his 2016 season widely regarded as the greatest batting campaign in IPL history.
Virat Kohli's record 2016 season IPL Orange Cap
The benchmark for IPL batting remains Virat Kohli's extraordinary 2016 season.
Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kohli scored an astonishing 973 runs in 16 matches, including four centuries. No batter has come close to breaking that record since.
The closest attempt came in 2022 when Jos Buttler scored 863 runs for Rajasthan Royals.
Young stars rewriting IPL batting records
The Orange Cap has increasingly been dominated by younger players in recent seasons.
Shubman Gill won the award in 2023 with 890 runs for Gujarat Titans, while Sai Sudharsan became the youngest Orange Cap winner in history in 2025.
Sudharsan was just 23 years and 237 days old when he finished the season with 759 runs, breaking Gill's record as the youngest recipient.
Orange Cap winners who also lifted the IPL trophy
Winning the Orange Cap does not always guarantee team success.
In fact, only two players in IPL history have managed to win the Orange Cap and the IPL trophy in the same season.
Robin Uthappa achieved the feat with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014, while Ruturaj Gaikwad repeated it with Chennai Super Kings in 2021.
As the IPL continues to produce high-scoring seasons and new batting stars, the race for the Orange Cap remains one of the most exciting storylines in every edition of the tournament.
