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Sai Sudharsan Paces, Kohli Pursues as IPL 2025 Run Scorers Battle Heats Up
The IPL 2025 Orange Cap race has now reached a nail-biting climax as Sai Sudharsan edges ahead of Virat Kohli in a thrilling contest. With the tournament hurtling towards its finale, every inning holds the power to reshape the leaderboard.
Sudharsan leads Kohli by a mere 13 runs, while Suryakumar Yadav lurks in third place, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown. The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, and Nicholas Pooran are also in the mix, making this batting battle one of the most intense in IPL history.
Who will emerge victorious? Let's dive into the standings, key performances, and what's at stake.
Orange Cap Standings Now: Sudharsan Leading, Kohli Following Close
As of the 29th day of April in 2025, these were the five leading run-scorers in the IPL 2025 run chart.
1. Sai Sudharsan (GT) – 456 runs (average: 50.66, strike rate: 150)
2. Virat Kohli (RCB)-443 runs (Avg: 63.28, SR: 138.87)
3. Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai Indians)-427 runs (strike rate: 169.44)
4. Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR)-426 runs (five fifties)
5. Jos Buttler (GT)-406 runs (average: 81.20)
However, although Sudharsan has five 50-plus scores, Kohli's six half-centuries and a higher average position him as a serious contender for the number one spot. Suryakumar Yadav's remarkable strike rate of 169.44 and Nicholas Pooran's 34 sixes make the psychosis factor in the race.
Major Performers Influencing the Tournament
1. Virat Kohli's Relentless Consistency
- 443 runs in 10 innings, including a 73 average.
- The best average in the race: 63.28.
- Held the Orange Cap briefly after a 51 vs. DC before Sudharsan overtook him.
2. Sai Sudharsan: A Breakthrough Year
- 456 runs in 9 matches with a high score of 82.
- Five 50-plus scores, proving he can anchor GT's innings.
- Reclaimed the lead with a 39 vs. RR.
3. Suryakumar Yadav: All-Format Executioner
- 427 runs with a strike rate of 169.44, the highest among the top 5.
- Three fifties, including a rapid-fire 54 off 28 balls versus LSG.
4. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler Late Charge
- His 70 (40 balls) against GT sent Jaiswal into 4th place.
- Buttler's contributions of 97* and 81.20 average position him as a dark horse.
Can Kohli surpass Sudharsan
With RCB still in playoff contention, Kohli has at least four more matches to regain the Orange Cap. Sudharsan's three not-outs afford him an advantage in terms of long innings capability. With games in hand for GT, he can extend his lead further.
-Key Factors:
- Kohli's batting against spinners (struggled in middle overs).
- Sudharsan accelerates with power (SR: 150).
- Any of Suryakumar's match-winning knocks may break the record.
- Leading run-scorer in the IPL with a tally of 8,447 runs. - Two-time winner of the One-Day Cup (2016, 2024).
- Holds the record for most runs in IPL in one season (973 runs in 2016).
Should Kohli clinch the Orange Cap this time, he would improve upon the prolific David Warner's (three caps) standing as the most successful Orange Cap winner.
Historical Context: Kohli’s Orange Cap Legacy
Highest IPL run-getter (8,447 runs).
Kohli has won two Orange Cap titles in 2016 and 2024. He also holds the record for most runs in a season (973 in 2016).
If Kohli emerges victorious once more, then he will be the most successful Orange Cap victor along with David Warner (3 caps).
Who's Coming Out on Top
The top of the IPL 2025 orange cap contenders would be Sudharsan, Kohli, and close Suryakumar, but Butler and Jaiswal are more than capable of really scoring big, reading a century or more.
The one who emerges ahead in the prediction is likely to be the absentee or favorite, with Kohli being the potential choice due to his extensive experience and RCB's reliance on him. However, aggressive youthfulness might be the current trendsetters, with Sudharsan being a notable example.
Final Showdown: Who Will Claim the Orange Cap in IPL 2025
Dramatic plot twist in a season already heightened: the IPL 2025 Orange Cap race has Kohli chasing history, young guns like Sudharsan rising to the occasion, and, of course, every match can change the course. Who will be wearing the cap when the dust settles, then? Watch this space!