IPL 2020: Top contenders to win the Orange Cap
Ever since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League has become a league of unmatched reputation. The 13th edition of the league is around the corner and it is to kick off from 19th September 2020 in the United Arab Emirates. Although quite a few players have cornered themselves citing different reasons, the IPL is still going to star some brilliant players of the shorter-format. Winning the Orange Cap is a matter of pride for any batsman as being a leading run-scorer in a tournament with such high competition is no small feat. Let us take a look at 5 players who can claim the cap this year-
5. Virat Kohli- RCB
The Indian skipper is renowned for his immense consistency with the bat. He is the leading run-scorer in the IPL and in 169 innings, he has a massive 5412 runs at an average of 37.85 and a strike rate of 131.61 with 36 half-centuries and 5 centuries to his name. Kohli holds the record of scoring the most runs in a single season i.e. his incredible 973 runs in the 2016 edition. Kohli is always in the hunt whenever it is about scoring runs and he is one of the best bets for the Orange Cap.
4. David Warner- SRH
The aggressive opener from Australia has been one of the most successful overseas players to play in the league. In 126 innings, he has 4706 runs at an average of 43.17 and a strike-rate of 142.39 with 44 half-centuries and 4 centuries to his name. He holds the record for winning the Orange Cap most number of times and has won it thrice: 2015, 2017, and 2019. All in all, Warner is one of the strongest contenders whenever it is about the Orange Cap.
3. Jonny Bairstow- SRH
David Warner’s partner in the Sunrisers Hyderabad unit and an extremely destructive opening batsman from England, Jonny Bairstow is another fitting contestant to win the Orange Cap this year. Bairstow has established a reputation in the limited-overs game and though he has played only one edition of the IPL, his numbers are phenomenal. In 10 innings, he has 445 runs at 55.62 and a massive strike rate of 157.24.
2. Rohit Sharma- MI
Another threatening force, the MI-skipper is one of the most dangerous and consistent players in the league. In 183 innings, he has 4898 runs at an average of 31.60 and he strikes at 130.82. Rohit has 36 half-centuries and a solitary century to his name and given his hunger of scoring runs and capabilities with the bat, he is one amongst the most certain contenders to bag the cap this year.
1. KL Rahul- KXIP
The Karnataka-star is often overlooked and underestimated in the shadow of some big names of the Indian team, however, his game in the last couple of years has been second to none. In the IPL too, he scored 659 runs at 54.91 in 2018 followed by 593 runs at 53.90 in the 2019 edition. Overall, KL has 1977 runs in 58 innings at an average of 42.06 and a strike rate of 138.16 with 16 half-centuries and one century. Given his abilities with the bat, he is a definite candidate for bagging the cap this year.
