As IPL 2025 heads into its final stretch with just four games remaining, the race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap is heating up. The league stage is done, and the playoffs are here, which means several players still have a chance to clinch these coveted individual honors. Here’s a look at the top contenders in both categories:
Orange Cap Race
The top three run-scorers for the season — B Sai Sudharsan (679 runs), Shubman Gill (649), and Suryakumar Yadav (640) — will have between one to three games remaining depending on the outcome of the Eliminator between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI). If the winners of this game go on to win Qualifier 2, they’ll have a chance to play in the final.
Virat Kohli, currently in 5th place with 602 runs, has a chance to surpass the top three if RCB makes it all the way to the final. Kohli needs just 78 more runs in Qualifier 1 to move into the number one spot. With eight half-centuries and an average of 60.20, Kohli is in fine form and could end up at the top if RCB progresses.
Other notable players in the Orange Cap race include Shreyas Iyer (514) and Prabhsimran Singh (499), both of whom could potentially improve their positions in the playoffs. However, reaching the Orange Cap seems unlikely for them unless they have a stellar playoff run.
As for players already out of the tournament, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul have all seen their IPL campaigns end, along with Jos Buttler, who has left for England’s ODI team.
Purple Cap Race
Currently, the Purple Cap is held by Noor Ahmad (24 wickets) of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), but his season is over. This opens up an opportunity for Prasidh Krishna (23 wickets) to take the top spot, particularly if GT make it through to Qualifier 2, giving him more chances to add to his tally.
Trent Boult (19 wickets) of MI also has a good chance, especially if MI progresses to the finals, where he could feature in three remaining games. Josh Hazlewood and Arshdeep Singh, both with 18 wickets, are poised to make a push for the Purple Cap, as they have the potential to play three more games. However, the team that wins Qualifier 1 will have one less game to play, potentially reducing their chances.
Also in contention are Jasprit Bumrah and R Sai Kishore, both with 17 wickets, who could still climb up the rankings with strong performances in the coming games.
MVP and Other Top IPL 2025 Performers
As the playoffs approach, ESPNcricinfo’s MVP table is shaping up, reflecting some of the best performances in key areas of the game, such as batting strike rates, bowling economy rates, most sixes, and best bowling figures. These individual performances could play a critical role in the final stages of IPL 2025.
Final Thoughts
With Kohli aiming for the Orange Cap and Hazlewood and Arshdeep battling for the Purple Cap, IPL 2025 promises some thrilling encounters in the playoffs. The race for the caps could come down to the wire, making each match crucial for these players’ chances to claim the honors. As the competition intensifies, all eyes will be on Qualifier 1 to see if Kohli can top the run charts and if Hazlewood or Arshdeep will be the last man standing in the Purple Cap race.
