Cricket fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting the start of IPL 2023, the highly anticipated Indian Premier League. This tournament brings together some of the world’s best cricketers, all competing to win the coveted championship title. One of the most exciting aspects of the IPL is the race for the Orange Cap, which is awarded to the batsman who scores the most runs during the season. With so many talented players set to take the field, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top. In this blog, we’ll take a look at five players who stand a good chance of winning the Orange Cap in IPL 2023.
Number 1. Jos Buttler
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With his explosive and versatile opening style, Jos Buttler is a force to be reckoned with in T20 cricket. His wealth of experience and skill make him one of the top players in this format, and his place on the Rajasthan Royals team only adds to his potential success. Looking back at his impressive stats from IPL 2022, it’s clear that Buttler has what it takes to dominate the competition. He racked up 863 runs in just 16 matches with an average of 57.53 and a remarkable strike rate of 162.48. Buttler hit 23 sixes and 96 fours, the most of any player that season, and even scored two centuries, one of which was a stunning 103 off 56 balls with 11 fours and six sixes against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
In fact, Buttler’s power was on full display when he scored the highest individual score in the powerplay, smashing 54 off 24 balls with eight fours and three sixes against the Gujarat Titans. With his ability to score big runs quickly and his excellent temperament and leadership skills, Jos Buttler is definitely a top contender for the Orange Cap in IPL 2023 if he maintains his form and fitness.
Number 2. Virat Kohli
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Virat Kohli is no stranger to setting records in the IPL. He has been a maverick batsman and capable captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, off late, an inconsistency has crept into his game and many feel that he is no longer a force in the shortest format of the game. However, if there is something Virat loves more than anything, it is to silence his critics, and what better way than to go all guns blazing and win himself an orange cap in the upcoming season of the IPL.
During IPL 2022, Virat Kohli was the first batsman to score over 300 runs in 13 consecutive IPL campaigns. Across 16 innings, he tallied a total of 341 runs with an average of 22.73 and a strike rate of 115.98. Additionally, Kohli achieved a personal milestone when he scored his first half-century in 15 innings during a match against GT.
Number 3. Ben Stokes
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Chennai Super Kings landed an absolute dynamite in the form of Ben Stokes, who is not only a capable all-rounder but also a capable captain. Many believe that he is the likely candidate to succeed MS Dhoni as the skipper of the Chennai Super Kings, but what the team and fans need from him, first and foremost, is to score those big runs and make an impact that will take the team back to the top of the table, where it traditionally finishes every season.
Ben Stokes chose to skip IPL 2022’s auction and focus on his role as England’s captain in international Test cricket. While he previously played for the Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017 and the Rajasthan Royals from 2018 to 2021, he opted to sit out this year. During his time in the IPL, Stokes had a standout season in 2017, where he scored 306 runs and claimed 12 wickets.
Number 4. Suryakumar Yadav
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Suryakumar Yadav has been a consistent performer in the IPL, where he plays for MI. He has scored 2341 runs in 115 matches at a strike rate of 135.71 with 13 fifties. He was instrumental in MI’s title wins in 2019 and 2020. In IPL 2022, he scored 303 runs in eight innings at an average of 43.29 and a strike rate of 147.09 with three fifties. He played some match-winning knocks, such as an unbeaten 82 off 40 balls against SRH and a crucial 52 off 36 balls against RCB.
He is a reliable and dynamic batsman who can bat at any position and switch gears effortlessly. He has a wide range of shots, from conventional to unconventional ones. He is also a good fielder and a handy bowler.
He has a chance to win the Orange Cap in IPL 2023 because he can score big runs consistently against quality bowling attacks on familiar pitches in India.
Number 5. Ruturaj Gaikwad
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Ruturaj Gaikwad is a prolific opener for CSK in IPL, scoring 1015 runs in 36 matches at an average of 33.83 and a strike rate of 129.74 with 7 fifties. In IPL 2021, he was CSK’s top run-scorer with 635 runs at an average of 45.35 and a strike rate of 132.58 with 4 fifties. He also won the Emerging Player Award.
In IPL 2022, he scored 368 runs in 14 games at an average of 26.29 and a strike rate of 123.65 with 3 fifties, including a match-winning 99 not out off 62 balls and a fluent 54 off 38 balls.
Gaikwad is a skilled, consistent, and confident batsman who can play all kinds of shots with grace and power. He can handle pressure and pace, build partnerships, and set up big totals or chase down targets. He is a dependable and dominant run-maker who could win the orange cap in IPL 2023.
