As IPL 2025 heats up, the Orange Cap race has taken a thrilling turn. After 12 games, including Mumbai Indians’ (MI) eight-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the top run-scorers have continued to set the stage on fire.

Nicholas Pooran of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is firmly at the top with 145 runs, holding an exceptional average of 72.50 and a blistering strike rate of 258.92. His performances have been nothing short of explosive, with 75 runs from 30 balls against Delhi Capitals and 70 runs from 26 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Pooran’s consistent form, coupled with his ability to accelerate at crucial moments, has made him the clear leader in the race for the Orange Cap.

The West Indian’s consistency in striking the ball cleanly and his ability to find gaps in the field even under pressure has made him a critical asset for his team. His aggressive approach has been one of the defining features of his batting in the tournament so far.

B Sai Sudharsan, though not the quickest scorer in the tournament, has been equally impressive. With a strike rate of 167.07, he has accumulated 137 runs from just two innings for Gujarat Titans (GT). Sudharsan has shown remarkable composure and adaptability in difficult situations, placing him in the second spot on the Orange Cap leaderboard. His ability to build innings and score at a brisk pace has been a significant factor in his rise up the charts.

The Purple Cap Standings:

On the bowling front, Noor Ahmad of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has been a revelation this season, leading the Purple Cap race with his impressive 9 wickets from just a few matches. The 23-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner has shown incredible control and variation in his bowling, making life difficult for opposition batters. Noor’s standout performances include his 4 for 18, 3 for 36, and 2 for 28 figures, demonstrating his ability to deliver in crucial moments and take wickets in the middle overs. His intelligent use of flight, pace, and turn has made him a key weapon for CSK in the early stages of IPL 2025.

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Purple Cap Table

In the match against RCB, Noor Ahmad dismissed in-form opener Phil Salt for 32, thanks to MS Dhoni’s lightning-fast stumping, before removing Virat Kohli for 31. He later sent Liam Livingstone back for 10, surpassing Shardul Thakur’s tally of six wickets. In CSK’s opening game against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Chennai, Noor claimed 4 for 18, earning the Player-of-the-Match award. The Afghanistan wristspinner was bought by CSK for INR 10 crore at the auction.

Shardul Thakur follows closely with six wickets in two games. He delivered a match-winning 4 for 34 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), removing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan in consecutive deliveries before dismissing Abhinav Manohar and Mohammed Shami. Thakur, an injury replacement for Mohsin Khan, also took 2 for 19 in LSG’s first game against Delhi Capitals (DC), dismissing Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abishek Porel in the first over.

RCB’s Josh Hazlewood climbed into the top three with a standout performance against CSK. Hazlewood dismantled CSK’s top order, dismissing opener Rahul Tripathi for 5 and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for a duck. Later, he returned to claim Ravindra Jadeja’s wicket for 25, finishing with 3 for 21. Against Kolkata Knight Riders, he had earlier registered 2 for 22.

Orange Cap Table

Nicholas Pooran is leading the batting charts, smashing 75 off 30 balls against DC and 70 off 26 against SRH. The LSG powerhouse has also dominated the six-hitting leaderboard with 13 maximums in two innings and boasts an explosive strike rate of 258.91.

Mitchell Marsh, opening for LSG, follows with 124 runs from two games, including 72 off 36 against DC and 52 off 31 against SRH. Playing as a specialist batter this season due to injury recovery, Marsh’s consistent contributions have given LSG stability at the top.

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