IPL 2026 Orange Cap Prediction: Who Will Score the Most Runs?
The Orange Cap is the IPL’s most prestigious individual batting award, given to the leading run-scorer at the end of the tournament. Every season, the race for this cap produces dramatic twists, with players surging into contention during the business end of the league stage. IPL 2026 features several candidates who combine consistency with the ability to play big match-winning innings.
Top 5 Orange Cap Candidates
1. Virat Kohli (RCB): The all-time IPL run-scorer remains the most prolific batter in the tournament’s history. Kohli’s hunger for runs shows no signs of diminishing, and his record at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the boundaries are short and the outfield fast, gives him a significant home advantage. His ability to bat deep and convert fifties into hundreds makes him the bookmakers’ favorite. At 37, his fitness levels remain outstanding, and motivation has never been an issue.
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR): The young left-hander has transformed from a promising talent into a genuine superstar. Jaiswal’s powerplay dominance means he faces more balls per innings than almost any other batter, which directly translates to run-scoring opportunities. His fearless approach and improving ability to pace innings make him the most likely challenger to Kohli’s crown. At just 24, this could be the season where Jaiswal announces himself as the IPL’s next great run-scorer.
3. Shubman Gill (GT): The Gujarat captain bats with a classical elegance that produces runs in volumes. Gill’s technique against both pace and spin means he is effective across all venues and conditions. As captain, he typically bats through the innings, accumulating runs at a strike rate that balances aggression with responsibility. A full fit season from Gill could see him challenge for 600+ runs.
4. Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK): The stylish right-hander has quietly become one of the most consistent performers in the IPL. Gaikwad’s ability to play the anchor role while maintaining a strike rate above 135 makes him a steady accumulator of runs. Playing for CSK, he benefits from a calm dressing room environment and batting conditions at Chepauk that reward patience and technique.
5. KL Rahul (LSG): Despite criticism about his strike rate, Rahul consistently finishes among the top run-scorers every season. His ability to bat long and absorb pressure makes him a reliable run-machine. If Rahul adds slightly more aggression to his powerplay batting in 2026, he could finally claim the Orange Cap that has eluded him.
IPL 2026 Purple Cap Prediction: Who Will Take the Most Wickets?
The Purple Cap goes to the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. Unlike batting, where consistency can be planned, bowling wickets often come in clusters, making this race unpredictable until the final rounds of the league stage.
Top 5 Purple Cap Candidates
1. Jasprit Bumrah (MI): The best T20 bowler in the world. Bumrah’s death-over accuracy, deceptive slower balls, and lethal yorkers make him the most threatening bowler in any match. If MI bowl first frequently, Bumrah’s powerplay spells could yield a wicket haul that puts him clear of the field. His economy rate ensures he bowls all four overs every game, maximizing his wicket-taking opportunities.
2. Rashid Khan (GT): The Afghan leg-spinner’s record in the IPL speaks for itself. Rashid’s combination of accuracy and variations makes him nearly impossible to score off, and batters who try often end up giving their wickets away. His death-overs bowling role means he often picks up wickets from batters swinging desperately, adding to his tally.
3. Yuzvendra Chahal (RR/Free Agent): The most prolific spinner in IPL history knows how to take wickets in bunches. Chahal’s leg-spin bowling, complete with a deceptive googly, produces multiple-wicket hauls more frequently than any other spinner in the competition. A strong start to the season could see Chahal lead the Purple Cap race early.
4. Mohammed Siraj (RCB): Siraj’s swing bowling in the powerplay is among the best in the IPL. His ability to move the new ball both ways and hit hard lengths consistently creates chances in the first six overs. If RCB defend totals regularly, Siraj could pick up two or three wickets per match through sustained pressure.
5. Kagiso Rabada (PBKS): The South African quick combines raw pace with clever variations. Rabada bowls at the death and in the powerplay, giving him eight overs across a match where wickets are most likely. His international experience and composure under pressure make him a Purple Cap contender every season he participates.
Other IPL 2026 Award Predictions
Most Valuable Player: Hardik Pandya (MI). The all-rounder’s impact with bat, ball, and in the field makes him the most complete player in the IPL. If Mumbai reach the final, Pandya’s contributions across all three disciplines will likely earn him the MVP award. His ability to change games in a single over, whether bowling a tight spell or smashing 25 runs, separates him from specialists.
Emerging Player of the Tournament: This award typically goes to an uncapped Indian player who makes a breakthrough during the season. Watch for young fast bowlers or aggressive middle-order batters who get extended runs in their franchise’s playing XI. Players from franchises that prioritize youth development, particularly RR and GT, tend to produce strong candidates for this award.
Most Sixes: Nicholas Pooran (LSG). The West Indian’s raw power and willingness to go aerial from the first ball he faces make him the most likely candidate for the most sixes award. Pooran does not believe in playing along the ground, and his ability to clear boundaries against pace, spin, and everything in between could see him hit 30+ sixes across the tournament.
Explore all our team predictions and match analysis on the IPL 2026 predictions homepage.
Who won the Orange Cap in IPL 2025?
The Orange Cap in recent seasons has gone to batters who combined consistency with big-match performances. The winner typically scores between 600-700 runs across the tournament. For IPL 2026, our top pick is Virat Kohli, who has the hunger, fitness, and home-ground advantage to make a strong bid for the award.
Can a bowler win both the Purple Cap and MVP award?
It is rare but possible. The MVP award typically goes to all-rounders since it considers batting, bowling, and fielding contributions together. A pure bowler would need an exceptional season of 25+ wickets at a very low economy to win MVP, which happens once in a decade at most.
Which IPL award is hardest to predict before the season?
The Emerging Player award is the hardest to predict because it depends on opportunities that are impossible to foresee. Injuries, form slumps, and tactical decisions all create chances for unknown players to break through. The Orange and Purple Cap races, by contrast, usually feature the same group of established stars competing year after year.