IPL 2019: Batsmen from every franchise who can win the Orange Cap

Indian Premier League over the years has become a platform to breed young talent. Having said that, it also provides a medium for cricketers to make a comeback. IPL also provides an opportunity to test players by giving them various responsibilities which might include opening the innings, bowling within the power-play or batting during the death overs. If a player is successful in a particular role, he is given a certain kind of security by the team management.

Chris Gayle made an awesome comeback in the IPL 2011, and became the highest run-getter for RCB for two successive years. Mike Hussey showed the world why he is called Mr.Cricket when he opened for CSK in 2013 and won the Orange Cap. Robin Utthappa never looked back for KKR in 2014 when he consistently scored runs to become the highest run-getter. This clearly shows that the players who were moved from their middle-order duties to open the innings eventually went on to win the Orange Cap.

Lets look into 8 such players who can win the Orange Cap in IPL 2019:

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#8 Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Daredevils)

Shikhar Dhawan has made a move to his state team Delhi Daredevils and the Delhi team management will be bolstered by the presence of Dhawan who has been in swashbuckling form off late. Dhawan broke Virat Kohli's all-time record of 641 runs in a calendar year by scoring 648 runs in 2018. Dhawan has added a few more shots and has become more adept in handling the short delivery. If Dhawan continues his ways in the IPL, we might see a few records being broken.

If Shikhar Dhawan is able to keep up his form, he might well be one of the contenders to go and win the Orange Cap in 2019.

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#7 KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab)

KL Rahul is an exciting talent, who makes batting look very attractive. He also holds the record for scoring the fastest fifty in the IPL in a mere 14 deliveries. Rahul came out of the shadows of Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers, his RCB mates and stamped his own authority with consistent scores in the 2018 IPL. He scored 659 runs in 14 games with 6 fifties and a SR 158.41, and was the most important player for the franchise.

If Rahul continues from where he left last year, he can well be the player who could walk out with the Orange Cap in 2019.

#6 Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals)

Jos Buttler has been one of the most exciting players in world cricket. He has been a consistent performer for both England and Rajasthan Royals. He was struggling for runs in the initial phase of IPL 2018, when he batted lower down the order. Shane Warne, the Rajasthan Royals coach, moved him up the order and Buttler became a phenomenon and helped Rajasthan qualify for play-offs by scoring 548 runs in 13 games at a SR of 155.4

Buttler has been in swashbuckling form of late and he might prove to be a nemesis for most teams and might even become the highest run-getter in 2019.

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#5 Kane Williamson (Sun Risers Hyderabad)

Kane Williamson is a class act who is a part of the famed 'Modern Day Fab 4'. He is a batsman who relies on timing and makes batting look ridiculously easy. Williamson has been a consistent performer for New Zealand and took his batting to a different level when he was given the captaincy for Sunrisers. He scored 735 runs and won the Orange cap for his performances in IPL 2018.

This time around the SRH team management would expect him to do one better by winning the Orange cap and also bring the trophy home, which they had won in 2016.

#4 Robin Uthappa (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Robin Uthappa is one of those stars who has been one of the most sought-after players in the league. He has played for Mumbai Indians, RCB and came onto his own when he started playing for Kolkata Knight Riders. He is the most experienced player for the franchise. Uthappa also won the Orange Cap in 2014, scoring 660 runs in 16 games with 7 half centuries and became one of the key contributors for KKR's triumph.

KKR would be hoping Uthappa to strike big with the bat which will help him win the Orange cap and also get the trophy which they won in 2012 and 2014.

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#3 Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)

Rohit 'Hitman' Sharma has been one of the most devastating players in T20 cricket and has 4 T20 International hundreds to his name. Once Rohit gets on a roll, he is a delight to the spectators but a nemesis to the opposition bowlers. His ability to hit sixes on a consistent basis is something that is admirable. Rohit is one of the rare players who has scored 4473 runs and has won IPL 4 times (3 times for MI and once for DC).

Rohit has never won the Orange Cap and this may be the ideal scenario from him to be the highest run-getter and also make his team triumphant in the process.

#2 Shane Watson (Chennai Super Kings)

Shane Watson has been one of the best T20 players the world has seen. He is a powerful striker and even won the Man of the Series in IPL 2008 and 2012 World T20. Watson has scored 5 T20 hundreds and was one of the main reason for CSK's dominance in 2018. He made a stroke-filled 117 in a mere 57 balls in the final against SRH. Watson has been a consistent performer at the top and usually makes it count when he's set.

If Watson continues his form, there is a possibility that he may accrue a lot of runs for CSK and may even win the Orange Cap in 2019.

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#1 Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

When it comes to breaking records and topping the run-charts, it's hard to think beyond Virat Kohli. He is a run-machine, a ton-machine and probably the most sought-after player in the world across formats.

Kohli is the only player in IPL's history to have played for the same franchise since the league's inception in 2008. Kohli leads RCB with flair and panache and recently became the only player to score 500+ runs in 5 different seasons. He even won the Orange Cap in 2016 for his record-breaking performances where he scored 973 runs with a staggering 4 hundreds and 7 fifties at an average of 81.8

Virat Kohli will be one of the obvious names in the top run-getters list, but he would prefer to win the trophy for RCB, which has never won the IPL even after 3 final appearances.