IPL 2022: Top 10 Players who can win Orange Cap this season

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to commence in just a few weeks’ time. With the addition of two new franchises to the eight-team pool, IPL 2022 promises to be more exciting than ever. As always, apart from the prestigious IPL trophy, the two main individual accolades on offer are the Orange Cap and the Purple Cap. The former is awarded to the batter who scores the most runs in a given season, whereas, the Purple Cap is awarded to the bowler with the most wickets to his name. With 10 franchises competing in IPL 2022, we are certain to witness a close fight for the Orange Cap this season. Last year, Ruturaj Gaikwad pipped his teammate, Faf du Plessis by the smallest of margins, as he took home his maiden Orange Cap. David Warner, who was snapped up by Delhi Capitals will look to claim his fourth Orange Cap in 2022, after a disappointing season with Sunrisers Hyderabad last year. Meanwhile, let’s look at 10 top candidates who can win the Orange Cap this season: Royal Challengers Bangalore- Virat Kohli Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Virat Kohli has managed to score above 400 runs in each of the last four seasons. However, IPL has been a tournament where the former Indian skipper has always kept his fans yearning for more. In the past two seasons, Kohli has gotten off to good starts in the powerplay. However, his struggles often start once the field spreads out, and he is unable to keep the scoreboard ticking and play those big shots. However, this season, Virat Kohli will bat alongside an experienced batter in the form of Faf du Plessis who will allow him the liberty to take his time in the middle. The 33-year-old’s best season in terms of runs came in 2016, when he scored 973 runs in 16 innings at a staggering average of 81.08, which included four big hundreds. One of the primary reasons for his performance with the bat that season was an opening partner in the form of Chris Gayle, who took the pressure of him in the earlier overs. Overaall, Virat Kohli has 6283 runs in his IPL career at an average of 37.39, with 5 centuries and 42 half-centuries to his name. He certainly remains a top contender for the Orange Cap this season. Mumbai Indians – Ishan Kishan Ishan Kishan. (photo source: IPL/BCCI) Going by how Mumbai Indians went about their business with their retentions and in the auction, it seems that Ishan Kishan is all set to open the batting with Rohit Sharma in 2022. The southpaw managed to score 516 runs in the 2020 season, when he opened the batting for Mumbai Indians on several occasions. The youngster is a force to reckon with at the top of the order, as he is unafraid of taking his chances during the earlier overs. With someone of Rohit Sharma’s caliber opening the innings alongside him, Ishan Kishan will have the license to play his natural game. Moreover, the 23-year-old’s game has evolved over the past couple of years, as he can keep the score-board moving by playing the field around. He remains a good candidate to claim the Orange Cap in the IPL 2022 season. Delhi Capitals- David Warner David Warner. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) David Warner needs no introduction when it comes to IPL Cricket. The Australian batter has claimed a record three Orange Caps so far, in 2015, 2017 and 2019. After a fall out with the Sunrisers Hyderabad management last season, the dasher was picked up Delhi Capitals for a bargain price in the mega auction. Warner has amassed 5449 runs in 150 IPL matches at an astonishing average of 41.59, which includes four hundreds and 50 half centuries. In the recent past, we have often seen David Warner taking his time out in the middle during the early part of the innings. With Prithvi Shaw opening the batting alongside him, the Indian batter will set a platform for the Australian to calmly build his innings, something which he did so well at Sunrisers Hyderabad. Kolkata Knight Riders- Shreyas Iyer Shreyas Iyer. (Photo: IANS) Shreyas Iyer, skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders will look to make an instant impact for his new franchise. So far, the Mumbai-based batter has 2375 runs in 87 IPL matches at an average of 31.66. He scored 519 runs in the 2020 season, which was his best performance in IPL till date. The 27-year-old has been in spectacular form off-late, as he claimed the Player-of-the-Series award in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka last month. Shreyas Iyer should come into bat at number three for Kolkata Knight Riders, and he could emerge as a good candidate for the Orange Cap this season. With the ICC T20 World Cup coming up in just six months time, the Indian middle-order batter will want to prove his worth and let his bat do the talking. Punjab Kings- Shikhar Dhawan Shikhar Dhawan. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Shikhar Dhawan has not played much T20 Cricket off late, and he is certainly out of the reckoning for a place in the Indian squad at the moment. But time and time again, Shikhar Dhawan has found a way to answer his critics in style. The Punjab Kings batter may never have won an Orange Cap till date, but his consistency has ensured that he has often remained in the reckoning every season. Shikhar Dhawan’s consistency can be proved by the fact that he has scored more than 500 runs in each IPL season since 2016. In fact in 2020, he scored back-to-back centuries, and amassed 618 runs at an average of just over 44. Last season, the 36-year-old managed another impressive tally, scoring 587 runs at an average of 39.13. Shikhar Dhawan is surely one of the names you would expect to see in the Orange Cap list this season. Chennai Super Kings- Ruturaj Gaikwad Ruturaj Gaikwad. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Ruturaj Gaikwad showed glimpses of his ability towards the end of the 2020 season, when he smashed three consecutive half centuries. Last season, the CSK opener exceeded all expectations, as he went onto win the Orange Cap, after a terrific second half of the season. Ruturaj accumulated 635 runs in just 16 matches at an average of 45.35, which was just two runs more than his teammate, Faf du Plessis. In the absence of Mr. IPL, Suresh Raina in the CSK squad, Ruturaj Gaikwad remains they key batter for his side this season. And more often than not, the 24-year-old has shown his ability to handle pressure well. Ruturaj Gaikwad will be eager to defend his Orange Cap in 2022, and will also have one eye on the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. Rajasthan Royals- Sanju Samson Sanju Samson. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) There is no denying the amount of talent and potential Sanju Samson possesses is phenomenal. The Rajasthan Royals skipper has a tendency of getting off to a flyer in the tournament. However, his form dips midway through the tournament. Last season, Samson scored 484 runs at an average of 40.33, which is no doubt a respectable tally. Overall, Sanju Samson has 3068 runs in 121 IPL games at an average of just under 30. If the Indian middle-order batter can show some consistency this season, then he could be in the reckoning for the Orange Cap. He is expected to bat at the number three spot for his side, which will give him plenty of time to construct his innings. Sunrisers Hyderabad- Kane Williamson Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Kane Williamson managed to claim the Orange Cap in 2018, when he led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the finals. The Kiwi skipper scored 735 runs that season at an average of 52.50, which included eight half-centuries. In the presence of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow at the top of the order since the past few seasons, Kane Williamson has not get an opportunity to bat for vast periods of the game. Nevertheless, he managed to score 266 runs in 10 matches last season at an average of 44.33. Kane Williamson might open the batting for Sunrisers Hyderabad this season due to the lack of personnel in batting. This might be the season when the Kiwi batter finally gets among the runs on a consistent basis. Gujarat Titans- Shubman Gill Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Shubman Gill was picked up by Gujarat Titans in the draft, just prior to the mega auction. The Indian batter has gone about his business pretty well at the top of the order, scoring more than 400 runs in each of the last two seasons. Last year, he managed to score 478 runs in 17 innings at an average of 28.11. A key issue with Shubman Gill approach in T20 Cricket has been that he becomes a little too cautious after the powerplay overs. If Gill is able to play his natural game and express himself out there in the middle, then there is no doubt that the youngster is capable of scoring more than 500-600 runs in a season. Lucknow Super Giants- KL Rahul KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Twitter/Indian Premier League) KL Rahul is one of the most obvious candidates to win the Orange Cap this season. The former Punjab Kings opener has scored over 600 runs in three of the last four seasons, and claimed the Orange Cap in 2020. KL Rahul accumulated 626 runs in 13 innings last season at a staggering average of 62.60. He has an average of over 50 in each of his last four seasons, and he is expected to continue shining in this glamourous league. KL Rahul will open the innings for Lucknow Super Giants alongside Proteas wicketkeeper, Quinton de Kock. Having some like De Kock opening the batting alongside him, it will aid KL Rahul to get settled down in the middle, before he starts playing the big shots.

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IPL 2022: Top 10 Players who can win Orange Cap this season

The orange cap is awarded to the batter who scores the most runs in a single IPL season.

Lucknow Super Giants- KL Rahul

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