The Indian Premier League is a stage where batting royalty and emerging superstars showcase their genius. Each season, the race for the Orange Cap, awarded to the tournament’s leading run-scorer, is a captivating saga of consistency, power, and tactical brilliance. The 2025 edition was a spectacular display of batting prowess, with several players reaching new heights. From explosive openers to steady anchors, the season saw a variety of batting styles dominate the charts. This year, the battle for the top spot was fiercely contested, with the lead changing hands multiple times before one batsman stood tall above the rest.
The Orange Cap Race: A Season of Batting Dominance
The IPL 2025 season was defined by high scores and thrilling run-chases, putting immense pressure on batsmen to deliver consistently. While many players had standout performances, a select few maintained their form throughout the grueling tournament, ultimately populating the top of the run-scoring charts. The list features a mix of seasoned international veterans and dynamic young talents, each leaving an indelible mark on the season. Let’s explore the top run-scorers who lit up the tournament with their bats.
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1. Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – The Orange Cap Winner
Runs: 845 | Matches: 17 | Average: 65.00 | Strike Rate: 151.34 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 6
In a season that will be etched in RCB folklore, Virat Kohli was the architect of their fairytale triumph. He not only led from the front with his passion but also with his bat, putting together a monumental season to claim the Orange Cap for the second time in his illustrious career. Kohli’s 2025 campaign was a masterclass in modern T20 batting. He blended his classic, technically sound approach with an evolved, aggressive intent that left bowling attacks bewildered.
Kohli’s season began strongly, but it was during RCB’s incredible comeback phase that he truly hit his stride. He scored runs when it mattered most, anchoring chases and setting imposing targets. His two centuries were sublime displays of skill and endurance. The first, a blistering 112* against the Punjab Kings, single-handedly won them a crucial league game. The second came in the high-stakes Qualifier 2, where he crafted a brilliant 103 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad to propel his team into the final.
What stood out was his improved strike rate, particularly against spin in the middle overs—a facet of his game he had clearly worked on. His ability to find gaps with precision and clear the boundary with ease made him a complete T20 package. His unbeaten 92 in the final was the cornerstone of RCB’s victory, a fitting end to a season where he was, without a doubt, the best batsman in the competition.
2. Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings) – The Captain’s Knock
Runs: 788 | Matches: 16 | Average: 56.28 | Strike Rate: 145.92 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 7
Taking over the captaincy of a team as successful as Chennai Super Kings is no easy task, but Ruturaj Gaikwad embraced the responsibility with grace and spectacular form. He finished as the runner-up in the Orange Cap race, leading his team to the final with remarkable consistency. Gaikwad’s batting is a sight to behold—elegant, wristy, and deceptively powerful. He was the bedrock of CSK’s batting lineup.
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Throughout the season, Gaikwad was a model of consistency, registering seven half-centuries and a magnificent century. His game plan was simple yet effective: get through the powerplay with minimal risk and then accelerate. His partnership with Rachin Ravindra at the top of the order was one of the most successful in the league. His standout innings was a masterful 108* against the Lucknow Super Giants at Chepauk, where he carried his bat to guide CSK to a challenging total.
His brilliant 72 in the final almost took the game away from RCB, showcasing his ability to perform on the biggest stage. Gaikwad’s calm demeanor and his ability to read game situations make him one of the premier all-format batters in the country, and his 2025 season further solidified that reputation.
3. Will Jacks (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) – The Breakout Superstar
Runs: 692 | Matches: 16 | Average: 49.42 | Strike Rate: 181.15 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 4
If there was one player who set the tournament on fire with sheer, unadulterated power-hitting, it was Will Jacks. The English batsman had a breakout season for RCB, forming a destructive trio with Kohli and Faf du Plessis. Batting at number three, Jacks was given the license to attack from the get-go, and he delivered in spectacular fashion. His strike rate of 181.15 was the highest among the top ten run-scorers.
Jacks’ season was highlighted by two sensational centuries. The first was an unforgettable 100* off just 41 balls against the Gujarat Titans, an innings that included a barrage of sixes and left spectators in awe. His second hundred came against the Delhi Capitals, where he dismantled their bowling attack with brute force and impeccable timing.
He wasn’t just a reckless hitter; Jacks showed an ability to build an innings when required, but his primary role was to dominate the middle overs and never let the momentum drop. His fearlessness and ability to hit sixes all around the ground made him one of the most valuable players of the season and a crucial cog in RCB’s championship-winning machine.
4. Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals) – The Story of Redemption
Runs: 655 | Matches: 15 | Average: 65.50 | Strike Rate: 158.21 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 6
The IPL 2025 season witnessed the coming-of-age of Riyan Parag. After years of unfulfilled promise, the young batsman from Assam finally found his groove, thanks to a promotion to the number four position for the Rajasthan Royals. Parag transformed into a consistent and mature middle-order batsman, becoming the lynchpin of his team’s batting efforts.
He played a series of match-winning knocks, showcasing a newfound composure and an impressive range of shots. No longer just a lower-order finisher, Parag took on the responsibility of building innings and seeing his team through to the end. His average of 65.50 was one of the highest in the tournament, a testament to his consistency and his ability to remain not out.
His highest score of 88* against the Mumbai Indians was a perfect example of his new role. He came in when the team was in a spot of bother and played a controlled, yet aggressive, innings to guide them to victory. Parag’s performance was one of the most heartening stories of the season, proving that with the right role and backing, talent can truly flourish.
5. Abhishek Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – The Powerplay Dominator
Runs: 612 | Matches: 15 | Average: 40.80 | Strike Rate: 194.28 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 5
Alongside his opening partner Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma formed the most explosive opening duo in the league. For Sunrisers Hyderabad, their strategy was simple: all-out attack from ball one. Abhishek was central to this philosophy, playing with a freedom and aggression that often left opposition teams shell-shocked within the first six overs. His phenomenal strike rate of 194.28 tells the entire story.
The young left-hander was not just about power; he played with remarkable cricketing sense, targeting specific bowlers and areas of the ground. He specialized in dismantling bowlers in the powerplay, giving his team electrifying starts time and again. His five half-centuries were all quick-fire knocks that laid the foundation for SRH’s massive totals throughout the season.
His most memorable innings was a blistering 75 off just 28 balls against the Mumbai Indians, an innings that helped SRH post a record-breaking total. Abhishek Sharma’s 2025 season established him as one of India’s most exciting young white-ball prospects.
A Season to Remember
The race for the Orange Cap in IPL 2025 was a thrilling narrative that celebrated both established legends and rising stars. Virat Kohli’s triumphant return to the top of the run-scoring charts, combined with his team’s championship victory, was the stuff of legends. At the same time, the emergence of players like Will Jacks, the redemption of Riyan Parag, and the continued excellence of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma highlighted the incredible depth of batting talent in the league. These batsmen did more than just score runs; they defined matches, shaped their teams’ destinies, and provided unforgettable entertainment for millions of fans around the world.
FAQs – Most Runs in IPL History
1. Who holds the record for the most runs in IPL history?
– Virat Kohli holds the top spot with 8,661 runs in his IPL career (as of 2025
2. Which player is second on the list?
– Rohit Sharma ranks second, having scored 7,046 runs in the IPL.
3. What is the highest individual score in a single IPL innings?
– The highest individual score is 175* by Chris Gayle (for RCB vs Pune Warriors in 2025
4. Which season saw the most runs scored by a single player?
– In IPL 2016, Virat Kohli scored 973 runs, which is the record for most runs in one season.
5. How many centuries has Kohli scored in the IPL?
– Virat Kohli has scored 8 centuries in the IPL, the most by any player.
Conclusion
The record for most career runs in the IPL stands as a testament to consistency, longevity, and class. Virat Kohli, leading the charts with 8,661 runs, embodies all these qualities. Meanwhile, greats like Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, and Suresh Raina also feature prominently, having piled up massive run tallies over many seasons. Apna Cricket+4Wikipedia+4Jagranjosh.com+4