The 2025 IPL is just days away from starting, with the highlight of the franchise league calendar set to be a blockbuster. Here's who's shaping up to compete for the coveted Orange Cap.
The highest run-scorer in the IPL has a star-studded past winner list. David Warner has won the award more than any other player, having won the cap in 2015, 2017 and 2019, while Chris Gayle is the only player to have won it in consecutive years. Virat Kohli was last year's winner, claiming his first Orange Cap since 2016, making him the third person to win the award twice.
With in-form batters littering the squad lists for this year's tournament, it should be a highly competitive fight to top the run-charts this year.
IPL 2025: Who are the contenders for the Orange Cap?
All the usual names are in contention for the Orange Cap. Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill head the bookies' favourites, both backed at 10/1 on Betfair. As the leading run-scorer in last year's tournament and having scored a glut of runs in his last few white-ball outings for India, Kohli is a strong contender. Gill won the award in 2023, when he was aged just 23. Last year was a quieter one for the Gujarat captain, however, and while he scored a memorable century, he was a way off the top of the run-scoring standings.
With a century against Pakistan, Virat Kohli moved past Ricky Ponting to claim third place on the all-time international run charts.
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) February 23, 2025
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Below the two frontrunners by the bookies odds are KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Suryakumar Yadav, all backed at 12/1 on Betfair, while Travis Head is the foremost backed overseas player, also at 12/1. Rahul has a chance for a fresh start this year at a new side, while Gaikwad will look to go one better than last year when he finished second on the run-scorer list. Head is also likely a good bet as arguably the most in-form batter in the world over the last couple of years. He struck at 191.55 and scored 567 runs in last year's competition.
IPL 2025: Who will win the Orange Cap?
Of the above mentioned options, the smart money would be on one of the top two, with Kohli likely in slightly better form. However, those willing to take more of a chance could opt for Rahul, who showed glimpses of his best last year and may be freed up in a new-look batting lineup.
An outside bet could be placed on Rachin Ravindra, who is backed at 20/1 on Betfair. The New Zealand superstar was prolific in the recent Champions Trophy, and has a history of success in Indian conditions. Another option would be Tilak Varma, who has been in prolific T20I form over the last six months, and is backed at 16/1 on Betfair.
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