IPL 2019: 3 widely celebrated cricketing legends that may win the Orange Cap this season

In less than a couple of weeks from now, the most renowned domestic cricket league around the world, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is just about to begin. As always, the event will bring the most prolific Indian players along with celebrated international individuals across the globe under one umbrella to showcase their cricketing talent. Without a doubt, it promises to yet another cricketing extravaganza for cricketing fans.

One key aspect that makes the IPL extremely exciting more than anything else is the exuberant display of batting. With boundaries and sixes flying all around, it keeps the viewers on their toes every single moment.

Over the years, IPL acknowledges the consistency through awarding ‘Orange Cap’ to the highest run scorer of the season and needless to say, it is certainly one of the biggest achievements for any batsman playing in the tournament.

In the earlier editions, there have some quality players proudly winning the prestigious award and this year will have no exception. Let’s look into the 3 probable to end up with the orange cap this IPL season:

Chris Gayle (KXIP)

Without an inch of a doubt, the Universal Boss is the most experienced and destructive T20 player on the planet. Up until now, Gayle is the only batsman to score 10,000 runs in T20 Cricket (12318 runs).

Unsurprisingly, the West Indian batsman owns few batting records in the IPL: maximum sixes (292), highest individual score (175*) and is only the second player to have the won the Orange Cap twice.

Though he had not-so-great 2018 season by his own standards (368 runs with 1 century and 3 fifties), considering his current batting form, the 39-year-old is certainly a big contender to wear the Orange Cap for the 3rd time.

AB De Villiers (RCB)

After the unexpected retirement from international cricket, the South African batsman has continued wowing his fans in the domestic T20 circuits around the world.

Though the prolific run-scorer have never been awarded the Orange Cap despite coming very close on multiple occasion (2009,2015,2016 – top 5 leading run scorers), with his consistent performances over the years, ranks at top 10 leading run scorer in the IPL with just a few runs below 4,000 (3953 runs).

Considering his current batting form and his availability throughout the season, he, by default, becomes a very strong contender for the Orange cap this season.

Virat Kohli (RCB)

The batting maestro has always been amongst runs across every format and the Indian Premier League is no exception. Currently, he is only behind Suresh Raina (4985) by mere 37 runs to become the all-time leading run scorer in IPL.

Though RCB captain has only once been the proud owner of the Orange Cap (2016), he has very close on several occasions in the past (2011, 2013, and 2015 - top 5 run scorers).

Despite the fact that he will be rested for few matches in between the tournament for the purpose of workload management just before the most important cricketing event, the ICC World Cup 2019 this summer, yet he will look to make a meaningful impact in every inning.

And considering his recent love affair with centuries, he may end up wearing the Orange cap once again.

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