In this article, we are going to take a look at the IPL Orange Cap Holder 2018 List. Kane Williamson heads the pack, followed in turn by Rishabh Pant, Lokesh Rahul, Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Jos Buttler, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik and Shikhar Dhawan.
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1. Kane Williamson (SRH)
Kane Williamson, who captained Sunrisers Hyderabad that year, had his best IPL season in 2018 when he scored 735 runs in 17 matches at an average of 52.50. He made eight fifties, including his top score of 84, to grab the Orange Cap awarded to the player with the biggest number of runs in a season. During the season, the New Zealander hit 28 fours and 6 sixes to boast a strike rate of 142.44. Williamson registered his top score in a group match against CSK in Hyderabad on 22 April 2018. In that game, CSK batted first and scored 182/3. Opening the innings, Williamson had to rescue the innings after SRH were reduced to 22/3 in the 5th over. Sharing stands of 49 and 79 with Shakib al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan, Williamson scored 84 off 51 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes and brought SRH within a whisker of winning a match they lost by 4 runs.
2. Rishabh Pant (DC)
Playing for Delhi Capitals, Pant scored 684 in 14 matches at an average of 52.61 with one ton and five fifties, including his top score of 128 not out. He had a strike rate of 173.60 helped by 68 fours and 37 sixes. Rishabh Pant’s highest score came in a group match against SRH on 10 May 2018 when he scored an unbeaten 128 off 63 balls with 15 fours and 7 sixes to propel DC to a score of 187/5. Sadly for Pant and DC, SRH chased down the target with 9 wickets and 7 balls to spare.
3. Lokesh Rahul (KXIP)
KL Rahul helped himself to 66 fours and 32 sixes in a season in which he scored 659 runs in 14 matches at 54.91 with a strike rate of 158.41. He had 6 fifties, including the top score of 95 not out. His top score came in a group match against RR in Jaipur. Batting first, RR scored 158/8. Opening the innings for KXIP, Rahul fought a lone battle with an unbeaten 95 off 70 balls. With a lack of support from the other batsmen and with the next highest score being 11 by Stoinis, Rahul’s knock went in vain and KXIP finished with 147/7.
4. Ambati Rayudu (CSK)
Rayudu scored 602 runs in 16 matches at 43.00 with one ton and three fifties, including his top score of 100 not out. He scored 53 fours and 34 sixes with a strike rate of 149.75. His top score was made against SRH in Pune on 13 May 2018 when SRH batted first and scored 179/4. Ambati Rayudu’s 100 off 62 balls with 7 fours and 7 sixes helped CSK chase down the target with 8 wickets and 6 balls to spare.
5. Shane Watson (CSK)
Watson played 15 matches to score 555 runs at 39.64 with two tons and two fifties, including his top score of 117 not out. He had a strike rate of 154.59 helped by 44 fours and 35 sixes. His top score was made in Mumbai in the final against SRH on 27 May 2018, in which SRH batted first and scored 178/6. Replying, Shane Watson opened the innings and hit 11 fours and eight sixes in his 57-ball knock to help CSK win by 8 wickets.
6. Jos Buttler (RR)
Buttler made 548 runs in 13 matches at 54.80 with five fifties, including his top score of 95 not out. He hit 52 fours and 21 sixes to help register a strike rate of 155.24. He scored 95 not out in 60 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes to help chase down a target of 177 set by CSK in a group match in Jaipur on 11 May 2018.
7. Virat Kohli (RCB)
Kohli scored 530 runs in 14 games at 48.18 with 4 fifties, including his top score of 92 not out. His strike rate of 139.10 was made possible by 52 fours and 18 sixes. Unfortunately for Kohli and RCB, his top score came in a lost cause against MI in Mumbai on 17 April 2018. Chasing 214 to win, RCB managed to score only 167/8 despite Kohli’s unbeaten 92 off 62 balls with 7 fours and 4 sixes.
8. Suryakumar Yadav (MI)
Yadav made 512 runs in 14 games at 36.57 with 4 fifties, including his top score of 72. He hit 61 fours and 16 sixes to help register a strike rate of 133.33. His top score came in a lost cause against RR in Jaipur on 22 April 2018. Opening the innings, Yadav made 72 off 47 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes to help MI to a score of 167/7. RR chased down the target with 3 wickets and 2 balls to spare.
9. Dinesh Karthik (KKR)
Karthik scored 498 runs in 16 matches at 49.80 with 2 fifties, including the top score of 52. He enjoyed a strike rate of 147.77 with 49 fours and 16 sixes. In a match against KXIP played in Indore on 12 May 2018, Karthik made his season’s highest score of 52 off 23 balls, with 5 fours and 3 sixes to help KKR to a score of 245/6. In reply, KXIP were restricted to 214/8.
10. Shikhar Dhawan (SRH)
In 16 games, Dhawan made 497 runs at 38.23 with 4 fifties, including his top score of 92 not out. His strike rate of 136.91 was embellished by 59 fours and 12 sixes. Playing against DC in Delhi on 10 May 2018, Dhawan scored 92 off 50 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes to help SRH chase down a target of 188 with 9 wickets and 7 balls to spare.
| POS | PLAYER | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
| 1 | KaneWilliamson | 17 | 735 | 84 | 52.5 | 142.44 | 0 | 8 | 64 | 28 |
| 2 | Rishabh Pant | 14 | 684 | 128* | 52.61 | 173.6 | 1 | 5 | 68 | 37 |
| 3 | Lokesh Rahul | 14 | 659 | 95* | 54.91 | 158.41 | 0 | 6 | 66 | 32 |
| 4 | Ambati Rayudu | 16 | 602 | 100* | 43 | 149.75 | 1 | 3 | 53 | 34 |
| 5 | Shane Watson | 15 | 555 | 117* | 39.64 | 154.59 | 2 | 2 | 44 | 35 |
| 6 | Jos Buttler | 13 | 548 | 95* | 54.8 | 155.24 | 0 | 5 | 52 | 21 |
| 7 | Virat Kohli | 14 | 530 | 92* | 48.18 | 139.1 | 0 | 4 | 52 | 18 |
| 8 | Suryakumar Yadav | 14 | 512 | 72 | 36.57 | 133.33 | 0 | 4 | 61 | 16 |
| 9 | Dinesh Karthik | 16 | 498 | 52 | 49.8 | 147.77 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 16 |
| 10 | Shikhar Dhawan | 16 | 497 | 92* | 38.23 | 136.91 | 0 | 4 | 59 | 14 |