5 players who can win the Orange Cap in IPL 2021

The Orange Cap is the most prestigious award for the batsmen in IPL. The highest run-getter among the eight IPL franchises gets the honor of taking the Orange Cap home.

The batsman who scores the most runs after every team plays at least one league match is the first player to receive the Orange Cap. As the season progresses, the players who aggregate runs consistently rise higher on the table.

If a batter scores heaps of runs, his team should do well. However, the same has not been the case in the IPL. In 13 seasons, only once has the Orange Cap winner been a part of the IPL-winning squad. That occasion came in 2014 when Robin Uthappa won the title with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Last year, KL Rahul was the most successful batsman in the IPL. Here are the top five contenders for the Orange Cap prize in 2021.

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5. Rohit Sharma can win his first Orange Cap

Rohit Sharma is the only IPL skipper to have won the tournament five times. After taking over Mumbai Indians' reins from Ricky Ponting, Sharma has guided his franchise to the championship in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.

The Mumbai Indians captain has been very successful in T20I cricket. He is the only batsman with four T20I centuries. Even in the IPL, Rohit Sharma is one of just five batsmen to have aggregated over 5,000 runs. However, the Orange Cap has eluded Sharma.

He missed a few games because of injury issues in IPL 2020. However, Rohit is in great shape ahead of IPL 2021. Fans can expect him to lead MI from the front this season.

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4. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill has made his ODI and Test debut for the Indian cricket team. However, he is yet to receive his maiden T20I cap.

After seeing Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav's recent heroics, Gill will be inspired to perform consistently in IPL 2021, thereby strengthening his candidature for a spot in the Indian T20I squad.

Gill has played three seasons for the Kolkata Knight Riders team so far. His total aggregate in IPL is 939. His batting average is close to 35, with his strike rate being 125.20.

The right-handed batsman had his best IPL season last year. Batting in the top-order for KKR, Gill amassed 440 runs in 14 innings.

If he plays a few more big knocks in IPL 2021, he could become the second KKR batsman to win the IPL Orange Cap 2021.

3. KL Rahul could become the first Indian to win back-to-back Orange Cap titles

Chris Gayle is the only batsman in IPL history to retain his Orange Cap title. No Indian batter has achieved this feat so far. Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul will have the opportunity to join Gayle in the elite club this year.

As mentioned ahead, Rahul bagged the Orange Cap last year with 670 runs in 14 innings. The right-handed batsman has been a part of the IPL since 2013, but 2020 was only the second time he breached the 600-run mark in a single season.

IPL 2020 was also the first time KL Rahul led a team in the competition. Given he will have more experience now, Rahul could improve his consistency and breach the 700-run mark in 2021.

If Rahul wins the Orange Cap again, he could cement his spot in the T20 World Cup squad.

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2. David Warner

David Warner is the only cricketer in IPL history to win three Orange Cap titles. The Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper captured the prestigious prize for the first time in 2015. His second Orange Cap title came in 2017, while in 2019, he bagged his third Orange Cap.

If one looks at the trend of his Orange Cap awards, David Warner should win it again in 2021.

Warner aggregated 548 runs and finished third on the batsmen's leaderboard in IPL 2020. Looking at his record in India, the chances of Warner winning his fourth Orange Cap are very high.

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1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli was in top form during the England T20I series

Virat Kohli returned to form in the recently-concluded T20I series against England. The Indian skipper registered a 50+ score in three different batting positions during the five T20Is.

Kohli remained unbeaten in the last T20I after he came out to open with Rohit Sharma. Soon after, the Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper confirmed he would open the innings for his franchise in IPL 2021.

Since Kohli will get an opportunity to face more deliveries in the IPL this year, he will be the number one contender to win the Orange Cap.

Virat's batting average rises from 38.17 to 47.86 when he opens in IPL. His batting strike rate also goes up from 130.74 to 140.17.