With just four games remaining in IPL 2025, the playoffs have arrived, and so has the race for the prestigious Orange Cap and Purple Cap. The league stage is over, and the remaining matches are set to decide who will finish as the best batsman and bowler of the season.
Orange Cap Race: Kohli Needs 78 Runs to Top the Table
The current top three run-scorers of the season are:
- B Sai Sudharsan (679 runs)
- Shubman Gill (649 runs)
- Suryakumar Yadav (640 runs)
These players could have anywhere from one to three more games to increase their tally, depending on how the playoffs unfold. The winners of the Eliminator between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will move on to Qualifier 2, and a win there would send them to the final.
Virat Kohli, who is currently in 5th place with 602 runs, could also have up to three chances to improve his position. However, this depends on RCB’s performance in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings (PBKS). If RCB wins, Kohli’s only remaining opportunity will be the final.
Kohli needs just 78 runs in Qualifier 1 to move into the number one spot. With eight half-centuries and an impressive average of 60.20, Kohli is well within reach of claiming the Orange Cap.
Shreyas Iyer (514) and Prabhsimran Singh (499) from PBKS are also still in contention, but winning the Orange Cap seems unlikely for them unless they have a remarkable playoff performance.
Out of the top ten, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul have all been eliminated from the tournament as their teams have been knocked out, and Jos Buttler of GT has left to join England’s ODI squad.
Purple Cap Race: Prasidh Krishna, Hazlewood, and Arshdeep’s Chances
The Purple Cap race is just as competitive, with Noor Ahmad from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) currently in the lead with 24 wickets. However, his season is over, which opens the door for Prasidh Krishna (23 wickets) to take over the lead. Krishna’s chances improve the longer GT stay alive in the tournament, as he could feature in up to three more games.
Trent Boult (19 wickets) of Mumbai Indians also has a chance to take the Purple Cap, depending on how far MI progress in the playoffs. Like GT, MI could play three more games.
Josh Hazlewood and Arshdeep Singh, both with 18 wickets, could still claim the Purple Cap with strong performances. The winner of Qualifier 1 will have one fewer match to play, but both Hazlewood and Arshdeep could still feature in up to three more games.
Also in the running are Jasprit Bumrah and R Sai Kishore, both with 17 wickets, who could climb the rankings with strong performances in the final matches.
MVP and Other IPL 2025 Stats
As the playoffs begin, ESPNcricinfo’s MVP table and other IPL 2025 rankings highlight the top performers in different categories, including:
- Highest batting strike rates
- Best bowling economy rates
- Most sixes
- Best bowling figures in a match
Final Thoughts
With the Orange Cap and Purple Cap races heating up, the remaining IPL 2025 matches will be crucial for players like Kohli, Hazlewood, and Arshdeep to claim individual glory. The playoffs will determine who takes home the coveted titles as the top batsman and bowler of the season.
