Orange Cap in IPL 2024

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) concluded with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lifting the trophy for the third time. They had last won the title back in 2012 and 2014 under Gautam Gambhir’s leadership and with him in the capacity of mentor and Shreyas Iyer as captain, KKR dominated the cash-rich league throughout.

Several batters showcased their skills throughout the tournament and scored a lot of runs. Even though pitches were flat this time around on most venues, only few batters could make the most of those conditions and ended up amassing a lot of runs for their respective teams.

Players with most runs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 

Most runs IPL 2024 – Orange Cap in IPL 2024

Virat Kohli (RCB) – 741 runs

Virat Kohli had one of his best IPL seasons with the bat for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He opened the innings in all the matches and amassed a staggering 741 runs in 15 outings at an average of 61.75 and the strike rate of 154.69. He smacked five half-centuries and one century albeit it came in the losing cause. Kohli changed his game according to the demands of modern day cricket this time around smashing 38 sixes, second most among all players in IPL 2024. Along with it, the former RCB skipper also hit 62 fours.

His form at the top of the order was one of the major reasons for RCB’s turnaround in the second half as they made it to the playoffs beating Chennai Super Kings in their last league game. Unfortunately, Kohli’s impeccable efforts couldn’t give RCB the trophy as they bowed out of the tournament losing the eliminator to Rajasthan Royals.

Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) – 583 runs

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) witnessed a change in leadership just before the opening game of the season this year. MS Dhoni handed over the reins to talented batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and the latter embraced the responsibility very well. He made sure to score plenty of runs opening the innings for the five-time champions. Ruturaj amassed 583 runs in 14 innings in IPL 2024 at a brilliant average of 53 and a strike rate of 141.16.

The captain led from the front scoring five fifty-plus scores one of which was a stunning century (108*) that came against Lucknow Super Giants. However, Gaikwad’s efforts didn’t prove to be enough as CSK couldn’t make it to the playoffs for the third time since IPL 2020. At the same time, they couldn’t defend their title as well but the captain’s efforts were praised all around and he will be hoping to do better in the coming years.

Riyan Parag (RR) – 573 runs

The most stunning turnaround of the IPL 2024 has to be of Riyan Parag. He was being trolled left, right and centre on social media over the last few years for his non-performance. But this year, Parag stepped up and finally did justice to the talent he possesses. To their credit, even the Rajasthan Royals management realised the cricketer’s strength and they promoted Parag to number four this season.

The faith reaped instant rewards as he notched up consistent scores at the position and at one stage, he was contesting for orange cap with Kohli. Nevertheless, Parag ended as the third highest run-getter of the season with 573 runs to his name in 14 innings at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21 with four half-centuries to his name. Unfortunately, Parag’s form faded at the fag end of the season or else he would’ve tallied a lot more runs. Overall, the Royals’ number four also smashed 40 fours and 33 sixes and would be keen on being consistent in IPL in the coming years.

Travis Head (SRH) – 567 runs

Sunrisers Hyderabad redefined the batting approach in T20 cricket this season in IPL and the major credit of the same goes to opener Travis Head. After not making it to the playing XI in their season opener, Head made sure he pummelled the ball hard in every outing and scored 567 runs in 15 innings at a stunning strike rate of 191.55. He smashed runs at an average of 40.50 displaying amazing consistency and played key roles in SRH crossing the 250-run mark multiple times in the season.

Head’s form tailed off in the last few matches as he bagged three ducks in last four outings including a golden duck in the final against KKR. But even then, the southpaw managed to hit 64 fours and 32 sixes during SRH’s run to the finals of IPL 2024.

Sanju Samson (RR) – 531 runs

Probably for the first time in his IPL career, Sanju Samson displayed amazing consistency throughout the cash-rich league. Leading from the front for the Royals, he smashed 531 runs in 15 innings at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.46 with as many as five fifties to his name. 

Samson also smashed 48 fours and 24 sixes while he showed off his amazing hitting skills against the spinners in the middle overs. His efforts helped the team make it to the playoffs but the loss of form as a team in the second half hurt the Royals as Samson and his mein bowed out of the tournament in the second qualifier.

Sai Sudharsan (GT) – 527 runs

Sai Sudharsan was one of the only few players to score a century in IPL 2024. He amassed 527 runs in just 12 innings for the Gujarat Titans this season at a strike rate of 141.28 and an average of 47.9 with two fifties and a ton to his name. Sudharsan batted in top three while opening the innings at times for the Titans this season and amassed runs in style in almost every match for the IPL 2022 champions.

He smacked 48 fours and 16 sixes this time around and his heroic 103-run knock came against CSK. Unfortunately, his efforts with the bat didn’t bear fruits as the Titans couldn’t make it to the playoffs finishing at the eighth position in the points table with only 12 points.

A dominating season of 7️⃣4️⃣1️⃣ runs with the bat in 1️⃣5️⃣ matches 😎❤️

The Orange Cap award for the season belongs to none other than Virat Kohli 👑#TATAIPL | #TheFinalCall | @imVkohli | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/ZbR3rIy04u

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2024

KL Rahul (LSG) – 520 runs

Despite all the talk around his strike rate, KL Rahul once again managed to score more than 500 runs in a single IPL season. He amassed 520 runs in 14 innings to finish as the seventh highest run-getter in IPL 2024. His average of 37.14 and the strike rate of 136.12 was decent enough as he also crossed the fifty-run mark four times this season.

Rahul’s pace of scoring the runs was questioned on multiple occasions but at times, he also recovered later in the innings and despite the fact that he couldn’t lead LSG to the playoffs, a season in excess of 500 runs should be considered a brilliant effort from the skipper of the team.

Nicholas Pooran (LSG) – 499 runs

Another player from the Lucknow Super Giants side who held the batting together for them in IPL 2024 was Nicholas Pooran. The swashbuckling left-handed batter smashed 499 runs in 14 innings at a brilliant strike rate of 178.21 and was one of the few batters to hit more sixes than fours. Pooran struck 36 maximums this season as opposed to 35 fours which is a stunning effort for a player who batted mostly at five or six this edition.

His average of 62.37 is also the best among everyone this season and Pooran should be deemed unlucky to not play the playoffs with his team losing steam in the second half, especially the last three to four matches of the season.

Sunil Narine (KKR) – 488 runs

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of IPL 2024, Sunil Narine was the ninth highest run-getter of the season. He opened the innings and plundered 488 runs in 14 innings at a sparkling strike rate of 180.74. His average of 34.85 might seem very less but in almost every match, Narine got KKR off to a flier along with his opening partner Phil Salt.

Narine was the star with the ball as well as he played a major role in the KKR winning the trophy for the record third time. Overall, Narine smashed 50 fours and 33 sixes with the bat making it one of the best, if not the best IPL season for him.

Abhishek Sharma (SRH) – 484 runs

Abhishek Sharma redeemed himself in IPL 2024 with the bat. The young left-handed batter, along with his opening partner Head, redefined the batting in T20 cricket. He smashed 484 runs at an amazing strike rate of 204.21, the best among all the top 10 run-scorers of the season. He scored three half-centuries while also hitting 36 fours and 42 sixes during his stay in the middle.

Like Head, even Abhishek’s score faded away in the last few matches. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic effort with the bat from the southpaw as SRH ended as the runners up in IPL 2024.