IPL 2020: The Orange cap race

The first half of this year's Indian Premier League was full of exquisite hitting with the willow from multiple superstars of the game. As the IPL 2020 has entered into its second half Indian Cricket fans have seen an even contest between the bat and ball. As the best of the cricket should be. Which makes it even more interesting to look at the contenders of the IPL orange cap and the IPL purple cap in the race.

A good part of this race is that every game provides some altercation to the list of the run-scorers or the wicket-takers. Considering that fact, the Bharat Army presents the top five contenders for the orange cap this season (Not necessarily the top-five run-scorers at the moment):

5. Quinton de Kock:

This may come in as a bit of a shocker. The fact that he is not in the top five currently, doesn't mean that he won't be at the end of this IPL T20 tournament. Mumbai Indians have just clear cut ignored the even year jinx in IPL 2020 and have looked like a team that will feature in the IPL final. And a reason for that has been the runs from the bat of QDK.

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In nine games that he has played, the Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman has 322 runs and he only seems to be getting better. In fact, he has three consecutive half-centuries in the last three games for Mumbai and has momentum in his favour. de Kock has been embracing the role of opening the batting at MI. So much so that someone like Chris Lynn hasn't been given a single start in the tournament so far. Even though they do have Ishan Kishan who can keep wickets, in their playing XI. So with Mumbai on a song and looking well oiled for that road to the final, you can expect their exciting southpaw from South Africa to be a big contender for the orange cap.

4. Virat Kohli:

It is almost futile to do an orange cap race analysis without talking about King Kohli. And with Royal Challengers Bangalore looking in quite the mood this season, you can always expect their captain to be among the runs. He is always there, always! Virat Kohli this season has 365 runs in 10 IPL games with two half-centuries. And the fact that he has gotten to that point after not having been able to hit a boundary in his first three outings is just pure class.

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The Team India captain has had the luxury of not being under constant need to deliver as he mostly has at RCB. With Devdutt Padikkal and partly Aaron Finch providing RCB with good starts and individuals stepping up to deliver, King Kohli alongside Mr. 360 AB De have been short on pressure and more on the enjoyment side of the batting rainbow. RCB also have one foot in the IPL playoffs 2020 so you can expect more firepower of Virat Kohli in IPL 2020.

3. Shikhar Dhawan:

A name not many would have favoured in this particular context. But amidst a bunch of young guns, Shikhar Dhawan has proved that old wine anecdote. 'Gabbar' scored two consecutive half-centuries and then two consecutive centuries and DC's last four games. By doing the latter, he became the first Indian player to have achieved a feat like that in IPL history. Dhawan also completed 5000 runs in IPL.

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While he started slowly this year, the India opener has utilized the benefit of his team doing well and has become the most exciting component of Delhi Capitals. Particularly with the strike rate that he is scoring his runs at. Both his hundreds came at a strike rate of more than 150. And with Delhi almost having a guaranteed playoff spot, Dhawan is going to be a top contender for the orange cap. Right to the very end. 

2. Mayank Agarwal:

Mayank Agarwal has been a superb support system to his skipper KL Rahul when it comes to scoring runs on the top. The duo has done the job for their franchise more than any other batsmen. Mayank has 398 runs in 10 games, which include one century and two half-centuries. His timing has been top-notch.

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And who can forget the way he soaked all the pressure around in that freak Super Overs game against Mumbai Indian and hit two consecutive fours against the evergreen Trent Boult to seal the deal for his team. With Kings Xi Punjab still very much in the race for the playoffs, Mayank Agarwal has an important role to play and you can almost sense that he knows it. It is almost like if you are counting Rahul in the race, how can you forget Mayank. They truly are the Ram-Lakhan of this team looking to construct a bridge to the playoffs in the name of their captain.

1. KL Rahul:

Kings XI Punjab doesn't have just one of their openers in the Orange cap race. Those that have watched KL Rahul bat this season cannot sit without their mouth open in admiration of the pure genius this man is. 540 runs in 10 IPL games and he is nowhere near done. Recently he became the first Indian player in the history of the league to score 500+ runs in three consecutive seasons, which proves the hallmark of the KL Rahul brand of cricket.

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This season he has had the added job of the captain. He has also been keeping the stumps just like he has for Indian Cricket Team in the last few series. But with all of this, he has not let his guard down with the bat. KL Rahul has truly led from the front having scored five half-centuries and a glittering hundred against his former franchise RCB. One can almost feel sorry for Rahul looking at the IPL Standings despite his heroics with the bat. But with their last three games, it is too delicious to digest, the prospects of them making the unlikeliest of backdoor entries into the playoffs. Whether they do or not, KL Rahul has been the most deserving candidate this season of winning the orange cap. (This article has been brought to you by cricketnews.com)