The Orange Cap is given to the batter who scores the most runs in an IPL season. It has been part of the tournament since the first season in 2008. Every year the race for the cap keeps fans excited, and each winner joins a special list of batting greats.
This page lists every Orange Cap winner in IPL history from 2008 to 2025. You will find the full season wise table, the players who won it more than once, and answers to common questions about the award. David Warner leads the list with three Orange Caps, while Virat Kohli set the all time season record with 973 runs in 2016. The latest winner is Sai Sudharsan, who topped the run chart in IPL 2025.
Orange Cap Winners in IPL Overview
| Detail | Record |
|---|---|
| What it is | Award for the highest run scorer in an IPL season |
| Given since | 2008 |
| Most wins | David Warner, 3 wins (2015, 2017, 2019) |
| Most runs in one season | Virat Kohli, 973 runs in 2016 |
| Latest winner | Sai Sudharsan, 759 runs in 2025 for Gujarat Titans |
Complete List of Orange Cap Winners
Here is every Orange Cap winner from the first season to the most recent completed season.
| Season | 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 |
Record History
Shaun Marsh set the tone in 2008. He was an uncapped Australian who missed the first few games of the season, yet he still finished with 616 runs for Kings XI Punjab. He remains the only uncapped player to win the Orange Cap.
The early years belonged to overseas stars. Matthew Hayden took the cap in 2009, and Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian winner in 2010 with 618 runs for Mumbai Indians. Then came the Chris Gayle show. Gayle won back to back caps in 2011 and 2012, and his 733 runs in 2012 set a new high. Michael Hussey matched that exact tally of 733 runs in 2013, a rare tie in the record books.
Robin Uthappa won in 2014 with 660 runs and played a big role in Kolkata Knight Riders lifting the trophy that year. David Warner won his first cap in 2015 with 562 runs, the lowest winning total in Orange Cap history. Then Virat Kohli produced the greatest batting season the league has ever seen. His 973 runs in 2016, with four centuries, broke the record by a huge margin, and no one has come close since.
Warner added two more caps in 2017 and 2019 to become the only three time winner. Kane Williamson stepped up in 2018 with 735 runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad. KL Rahul won in 2020, and Ruturaj Gaikwad became one of the youngest winners in 2021 with 635 runs for Chennai Super Kings.
The recent seasons have produced big totals. Jos Buttler scored 863 runs in 2022, Shubman Gill reached 890 in 2023, and Kohli won his second cap in 2024 with 741 runs. Sai Sudharsan carried the cap to Gujarat Titans in 2025 with 759 runs, continuing the rise of young Indian openers in this race.
Most Orange Cap Wins by Player
| Player | Orange Caps | Winning Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| David Warner | 3 | 2015, 2017, 2019 |
| Virat Kohli | 2 | 2016, 2024 |
| Chris Gayle | 2 | 2011, 2012 |
What This Record Tells Us
Winning the Orange Cap is about steady scoring across a full season, not one or two big innings. Every winner on this list stayed fit, played most of his team’s games, and scored in almost every match. That is why most winners are openers. They face the most balls and get the best chance to build big totals.
The gap between Kohli’s 973 runs and the next best totals shows how special the 2016 season was. Even the great seasons of Buttler in 2022 and Gill in 2023 fell short of it by more than 80 runs. Warner’s three wins tell a different story. He never had one record breaking season, but he was the most reliable run scorer in the league for five years.
The cap winner’s team does not always win the trophy. Uthappa’s 2014 season is one of the few times the top run scorer also lifted the cup in the same year. For fans, this race matters because it runs through the whole season. The cap changes hands many times before the final winner is decided, which makes every game worth watching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Orange Cap in IPL 2025?
Sai Sudharsan won the Orange Cap in IPL 2025. He scored 759 runs in 15 matches for Gujarat Titans at a strike rate of 156.17.
Who has won the most Orange Caps in IPL?
David Warner has won the most Orange Caps, with three wins in 2015, 2017 and 2019, all for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle have won it twice each.
Who scored the most runs in a single IPL season?
Virat Kohli holds the record with 973 runs in the 2016 season for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He scored four centuries that year, and no batter has passed 900 runs in any other season except Kohli himself.
Who won the first Orange Cap in IPL history?
Shaun Marsh won the first Orange Cap in 2008 with 616 runs for Kings XI Punjab. He is still the only uncapped player to win the award.
Which Indian players have won the Orange Cap?
Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Robin Uthappa (2014), Virat Kohli (2016, 2024), KL Rahul (2020), Ruturaj Gaikwad (2021), Shubman Gill (2023) and Sai Sudharsan (2025) are the Indian winners.
What is the lowest winning total for an Orange Cap?
David Warner’s 562 runs in 2015 is the lowest total to win the Orange Cap. Low scoring seasons can produce tighter races for the cap.
Which teams have produced the most Orange Cap winners?
Sunrisers Hyderabad lead the way with four wins, three by David Warner and one by Kane Williamson. You can see the full team wise breakdown in our list of teams with the most Orange Cap wins.
Where can I check official Orange Cap stats?
The official season stats are published by the IPL, and detailed season records are available on ESPNcricinfo’s list of Orange Cap winners. For recent season batting numbers, see our IPL batting stats and Orange Cap leaderboard and the highest batting averages in IPL.
Statistics updated through: 11 October 2026
