Virat Kohli has once again stamped his authority on the IPL Orange Cap race, topping the standings in IPL 2026 with 8,889 runs—the most by any batter in the league’s history. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain’s current surge has been nothing short of dominant: he has piled up 228 runs across five matches, striking at 158.33 while maintaining an average of 57.00. Kohli’s run-making has carried a blend of precision and intent, with 25 fours and eight sixes helping him dictate terms at the top of the order.
Kohli’s place in Orange Cap history is well earned. He first captured the trophy back in 2016, delivering a season that still feels almost unmatched even years later. That year, he produced a record-breaking 973 runs, including four centuries, a haul that has not been replicated to this day. He added a second Orange Cap in 2024, finishing with 741 runs. In that campaign, his average climbed to 61.75 with a strike rate of 154.69, and he also struck a century as he guided his totals to another league-leading finish.
With time passing, the hunger for runs hasn’t cooled for Kohli—and IPL 2026 has become another stage for him to fire early and often, placing him right at the forefront of the Orange Cap conversation once again. However, the race remains tight, with several batters pressing hard just behind him.
In second position is Heinrich Klaasen of Sunrisers Hyderabad, who has made 224 runs from five innings. Klaasen’s value this season has come through consistent output rather than one-off explosions. His average stands at 44.80, while his strike rate is 142.67, reflecting a steady middle-order role where he can keep the scoreboard ticking and accelerate when the match demands it.
At number three is Rajat Patidar, Kohli’s teammate at RCB, with 222 runs. Patidar has been among the most dangerous hitters in the tournament at this stage, posting a strike rate of 213.46 and launching 21 sixes—also the highest number of sixes among the leading contenders. Alongside that power, he has kept his batting grounded enough to hold an average of 55.50.
Ishan Kishan, representing SRH, occupies fourth place with 213 runs. He has continued to play with an aggressive edge, backed by a strike rate of 190.17. His boundaries have been a major factor in his totals: he has struck 22 fours and 12 sixes, underlining why he has been one of the more explosive contributors in IPL 2026.
Rounding out the top five is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from Rajasthan Royals, who has scored 200 runs with a strike rate of 263.15. His fearless approach has stood out throughout the tournament so far, powered by 18 sixes, and it has ensured he remains firmly in the mix for the Orange Cap.
Here are the top 10 run scorers in IPL 2026 for the Orange Cap:
- 1. Virat Kohli (RCB) — 5 matches, 228 runs, strike rate 158.33
- 2. Heinrich Klaasen (SRH) — 5 matches, 224 runs, strike rate 142.67
- 3. Rajat Patidar (RCB) — 5 matches, 222 runs, strike rate 213.46
- 4. Ishan Kishan (SRH) — 5 matches, 213 runs, strike rate 190.17
- 5. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) — 5 matches, 200 runs, strike rate 263.15
- 6. Sanju Samson (CSK) — 5 matches, 198 runs, strike rate 172.89
- 7. Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) — 5 matches, 184 runs, strike rate 157.26
- 8. Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR) — 5 matches, 182 runs, strike rate 155.55
- 9. Dhruv Jurel (RR) — 5 matches, 177 runs, strike rate 177.77
- 10. Jos Buttler (GT) — 4 matches, 176 runs, strike rate 158.55
As the tournament progresses, the Orange Cap race looks set to stay fiercely contested, with Kohli leading the chase and a cluster of batters close enough to change the order in the very next round of fixtures. Keep an eye on the latest IPL Live Score, IPL news, the IPL Schedule, the IPL Points Table, and the unfolding battles for both the Orange Cap and the Purple Cap.
