IPL 2025: Shifting Dynamics in Purple Cap and Orange Cap Contention
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 continues to deliver thrilling performances, resulting in notable shifts in the standings for both the Purple Cap (leading wicket-takers) and the Orange Cap (leading run-scorers). Sunday’s double-header, featuring Delhi Capitals (DC) versus Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), significantly impacted the rankings.
Purple Cap: Wicket-Taking Standouts
Noor Ahmad remains at the summit of the Purple Cap table with nine wickets after 11 games. Despite CSK’s defeat to RR, Ahmad showcased his exceptional bowling, finishing with figures of 2 for 28, dismissing Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel. His performance throughout the season has been remarkable, highlighted by a Player-of-the-Match performance against MI where he claimed 4 for 18. Ahmad also took a crucial three wickets against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), including the dismissals of Phil Salt (assisted by an MS Dhoni stumping) and Virat Kohli.
However, Mitchell Starc has surged into the top three following a career-best T20 performance against SRH. Starc’s destructive opening spell saw him remove Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, before returning to dismiss Harshal Patel and Wiaan Mulder, finishing with an impressive 5 for 35. His earlier outing against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) saw him pick up 3 for 42.
Khalil Ahmed of CSK has also entered the top three. Against RR, he claimed 2 for 38, taking the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Joe Root. Previously, against MI, he secured 3 for 29 and 1 for 28 against RCB.
Current Top 3 Purple Cap Holders:
- Noor Ahmad - 9 wickets
- Mitchell Starc - 8 wickets
- Khalil Ahmed - 8 wickets
Orange Cap: Batting Dominance
Nicholas Pooran continues to reign supreme in the Orange Cap race. He recently scored 75 off 30 balls against DC and 70 off 26 balls against SRH, displaying exceptional hitting power. Pooran also leads the six-hitting leaderboard with 13 sixes in just two innings and boasts the highest strike rate at 258.92.
B Sai Sudharsan, while not initially known for rapid scoring, has shown his capabilities, maintaining a strike rate of 167.07. His scores of 74 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and 63 against MI, both achieved in exactly 41 balls, demonstrate his consistency.
Travis Head has broken into the top three of the run-getters list with a score of 22 off 12 balls against DC. His previous scores of 67 against RR and 47 against LSG contribute to his overall tally of 136 in three games.
Current Top 3 Orange Cap Holders:
- Nicholas Pooran
- B Sai Sudharsan - 137 runs
- Travis Head - 136 runs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Who currently holds the Purple Cap? Noor Ahmad holds the Purple Cap with nine wickets.
- Who is leading the Orange Cap race? Nicholas Pooran is currently leading the Orange Cap standings.
- Which bowler recorded the best figures in a recent match? Mitchell Starc recorded a career-best 5 for 35 against SRH.
- What’s been notable about B Sai Sudharsan’s batting? He’s demonstrated the ability to score quickly while maintaining consistent ball-facing.