IPL 2021: 5 dark horses who could win the Orange Cap for the first time

#3 Rishabh Pant - Delhi Capitals

DC's Rishabh Pant

Appointed as Delhi Capitals captain in the absence of Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant seems all set for a career-defining IPL season. Long heralded as the successor to former Indian skipper MS Dhoni, the young wicket-keeper now has the chance to prove his worth in the leadership department as well.

Pant is in the form of his life, having become an Indian team regular in all three formats and having played a number of match-winning innings in the recent past. His keeping has also never been better, and he has the perfect support system at DC for IPL 2021.

Pant is perhaps the most important player in the DC batting lineup now, and we could see him take on increased responsibility in IPL 2021. He could surge up the Orange Cap charts and seriously contend for the award for the first time in his IPL career.

---

#2 Jonny Bairstow - Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH's Jonny Bairstow

A few weeks ago, Jonny Bairstow wasn't even guaranteed a place in the Sunrisers Hyderabad playing XI. But after a Man of the Series performance in the ODI leg of England's tour of India, the opener seems set to play an important role alongside David Warner for the Orange Army in IPL 2021.

Bairstow is another batsman who's in the form of his life. And although his 2019 season was prolific, he was never a real contender for the Orange Cap as he missed a portion of the league phase that year. We could see him pile on the runs in IPL 2021 and take SRH to another deep run in the playoffs.

Bairstow may not be as fancied as Warner and Williamson, but he's an equally important cog in the SRH wheel.

---

#1 Mayank Agarwal - Punjab Kings

PBKS' Mayank Agarwal

If not for an unfortunate injury he sustained, Mayank Agarwal could've seriously challenged captain KL Rahul for the Orange Cap in IPL 2020. The Punjab Kings opener smashed a century and nearly scored another as he gave his team solid starts on a regular basis.

Agarwal isn't in great form at the moment, having lost his place in the Indian Test team to Shubman Gill. But in the IPL, he's been a reliable performer over the last few years. And his partnership with Rahul at the top of the order for PBKS is ideal for him to score a mountain of runs in IPL 2021.

We could see Agarwal make a genuine run for the Orange Cap in IPL 2021.