IPL 2018: Top 5 Orange Cap candidates

The Orange cap is given to a batsman who scores most runs in the tournament. Only 3 Indian Batsmen finished with the Orange Cap in the first 10 editions of the Indian Premier League.

Batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle, Mathew Hayden, Robin Uthappa, and Michael Hussey have won it in the past. Only Chris Gayle and David Warner got it twice.

We have some exciting fresh talents in IPL 2018. Evin Lewis, Colin Munro, Jason Roy, and D'Arcy Short will look to score a lot of runs. Also, experienced batsmen like Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Aaron Finch, KL Rahul, and Ajinkya Rahane can score heavily at the top.

On that note, let’s take a look at the list of 5 players who are the leading candidates to score most runs in IPL 2018.

#5 Shikhar Dhawan; Sun Risers Hyderabad

Can he take the Orange Cap this time?

David Warner’s partner in crime, Shikhar Dhawan is a consistent run-getter for Sunrisers Hyderabad. More often than not, he plays the second fiddle to David Warner but scores a lot of runs. In 2017, Dhawan has scored 479 runs at an average of 36.84 and a strike rate of 127.39.

Dhawan has scored at least 300 runs in the last 7 editions of the IPL tournament and is expected to go big this time around. In a line up with aggressive batsmen like Deepak Hooda, Yusuf Pathan, Carlos Brathwaite, and Manish Pandey, Dhawan is a vital player and plays the role of an anchor.

Sunrisers Hyderabad used the Right to Match (RTM) card on Shikhar Dhawan and bought him for $0.82 million/Rs 5.2 Cr. The 32-year-old is in good limited overs form and expect him to score a lot of runs in the IPL 2018. His ability to play spin better will prove to be a huge factor for SRH this season.

#4 Suresh Raina; Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings run machine - Suresh Raina

Indian Premier League’s highest ever run-getter. The 31-year-old left-hander is one of the most prolific batsmen in the history of the tournament. He has amassed 4540 runs in the previous 10 editions of the tournament at a stunning average of 34.13 and a huge strike rate of 139.09.

He has scored 500+ runs in a season on three occasions. He was retained by Chennai Super Kings for a mind-boggling $2.2 million/Rs 11 Cr. Suresh Raina has been recalled to the Indian T20 side for the tour of South Africa and he will look to capitalize on the opportunity.

Surprisingly, Raina has never won an Orange Cap and the return of Chennai Super Kings will give him an opportunity to regain his best Twenty20 form. 2018 could be the year of Suresh Raina.

#3 Chris Lynn; Kolkata Knight Riders

How many sixes will be hit in IPL 2018?

Lynn took the IPL 2017 by storm but injuries curtailed his last season to just 7 games. He averaged 49.16 in 2017 at a humongous strike rate of 180.96. He was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for a stunning $1.86 million. The Australian is BBL’s all-time leading six-hitter.

He is a destructive batsman and brutality is his trademark. No player can hit the ball as hard and long as Lynn does. Even the good length balls will disappear when Lynn is in full cry. His six hitting abilities are simply phenomenal.

The 27-year-old is the man for Kolkata Knight Riders. If he stays fit for the entire tournament, expect him to break various IPL and T20 records. This will be his fifth IPL tournament and he can make it an unforgettable one for every cricket fan.

#2 David Warner; Sunrisers Hyderabad

Can he win his second consecutive Orange Cap?

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain led them to their maiden Indian Premier League title last year. He was retained by the franchise for a $2.4 million. With 4014 runs, the Australian batsman is the fifth highest scorer in the IPL history.

Warner has won the Orange Cap on two previous occasions in the IPL. The 31-year-old top scored in 2015 and 2017. Also, he has scored more than 500 runs in the previous four editions of the competition. He averages 40.54 and has a strike rate of 142 in the IPL.

He will once again open the batting for SRH this season. He was criticized for his ability to play spin but he has improved a lot over the years, especially in limited overs format. He is the most consistent IPL batsman over the last few years and his unorthodox batting style will be hard to contain.

#1 Virat Kohli; Royal Challengers Bangalore

Can he better his 2016 record?

Virat Kohli is an obvious no.1 candidate. With 4418 runs in 141 games, he is the second highest run-getter in the competition’s history. He also holds the record for most runs in a single IPL tournament, 973 runs in 2016. He was also the Orange Cap winner in 2016.

The 29-year-old will lead Royal Challengers Bangalore once again in April. He is expected to open the batting with the kiwi dynamite, Brendon McCullum. With short boundaries and a beautiful batting strip, Chinnaswamy Stadium will offer a lot of runs for Kohli.

Virat Kohli was retained for a huge $2.7 million, highest ever fee for a player in IPL history. He is in great form right now and will look to win his maiden IPL trophy. He had a poor IPL 2017 but expect him to score heavily in IPL 2018.