How Many Orange Caps Does RCB Have in IPL? Full List
Quick Answer: How Many Orange Caps Does RCB Have?
RCB players have won the Orange Cap 4 times in IPL history.
Here’s the full list:
| Player | Year | Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | 2011 | 608 | 67.55 |
| Chris Gayle | 2012 | 733 | 61.08 |
| Virat Kohli | 2016 | 973 | 81.08 |
| Virat Kohli | 2024 | 741 | 61.75 |
Two players. Four Orange Caps. Both legends of the franchise.
Why do some sites say 3?
Because many articles were written before Kohli won his second cap in 2024 and were never updated. The correct, current count is 4.
What Is the Orange Cap in IPL?
The Orange Cap is awarded to the highest run-scorer of the IPL season, with a full list of winners showing how the race has evolved over the years It was introduced at the start of the inaugural edition in 2008. During the tournament, the player leading the run charts gets to wear the cap on the field — it changes hands as the season progresses. At the end of the final, the player with the most runs takes it home permanently.
It’s one of the most prestigious individual awards in the IPL — and winning it means you were the best batter in the league that entire season.
RCB Orange Cap Winners — Full Breakdown
Chris Gayle — 2011 (608 runs)
Gayle arrived at RCB in 2011 as an injury replacement. Not many knew what to expect. What followed was one of the most explosive batting performances the IPL had seen.
He scored 608 runs in just 12 matches at a breathtaking strike rate of 183.13 — the highest in the tournament that year. He hit 2 centuries and 3 fifties. RCB, powered by Gayle at the top, made it all the way to the final. They lost to CSK, but Gayle walked away with the Orange Cap and the Player of the Tournament award.
Chris Gayle — 2012 (733 runs)
The very next season, Gayle did it again. He became the first — and still the only — player to win back-to-back Orange Caps. In 15 matches, he scored 733 runs at a strike rate of 160.74, with 7 fifties and a century. His run total was a new record for a single IPL season at that time. He was simply unstoppable.
Virat Kohli — 2016 (973 runs)
This is the one that defines an era.
In 16 matches, Kohli scored 973 runs at an average of 81.08 — the highest run tally ever recorded in a single IPL season. No one has come close in the 9 seasons since. He hit 4 centuries and 7 fifties. He won the Orange Cap, the Most Valuable Player award, and led RCB to the final, where they narrowly lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The 2016 season stands alone in IPL history. It wasn’t just Kohli at his best — it was one of the greatest individual batting campaigns in the history of T20 cricket.
Virat Kohli — 2024 (741 runs)
Eight years after his 2016 masterpiece, Kohli came back and won the Orange Cap again, continuing his consistency as a top performer in IPL 2026 as well. This time with 741 runs in 15 matches at an average of 61.75, including 1 century and 5 fifties. He overtook his own previous Orange Cap count and became the only RCB player to win it twice.
RCB that season recovered from a terrible six-match losing streak, qualified for the playoffs with a dramatic win over CSK in their final league game, and Kohli was at the heart of that comeback.
RCB vs Other Teams: Orange Cap Count Comparison
Here’s how RCB compares with other franchises in terms of Orange Cap wins:
| Team | Orange Cap Wins | Players |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 3 | David Warner (2015, 2017, 2019) |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 4 | Chris Gayle (2011, 2012), Virat Kohli (2016, 2024) |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 1 | Sachin Tendulkar (2010) |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 2 | Matthew Hayden (2009), Ruturaj Gaikwad (2021) |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 2 | Shaun Marsh (2008), Jos Buttler (2022) |
| KKR | 1 | Robin Uthappa (2014) |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 2 | Shubman Gill (2023), Sai Sudharsan (2025) |
RCB leads all franchises with 4 Orange Caps — more than any other team in IPL history.
Why Does RCB Have So Many Orange Caps Despite Winning Only One Title?
This is the most interesting part of the story.
RCB won their first IPL title only in 2025 — after 18 seasons. Yet they lead the Orange Cap table. How?
Because they were built around batting, not balance.
For years, RCB had three of the most dangerous batters in T20 cricket — Gayle, Kohli, and AB de Villiers — all at the same time. That kind of top-order firepower consistently produced massive individual stats. Gayle got the Orange Cap in 2011 and 2012. Kohli got it in 2016 and 2024.
But individual brilliance doesn’t always translate to team success. RCB for years lacked the bowling depth, the middle-order consistency, and the tactical balance that title-winning teams like CSK and MI had. Their batting carried them to finals and playoffs — but not to the trophy, until 2025.
In a way, the Orange Cap story is a perfect summary of what RCB was for most of their history: the league’s most entertaining batting side, and often the most frustrating team to support.
All-Time IPL Orange Cap Winners List (2008–2025)
| Year | Player | Team | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Shaun Marsh | Kings XI Punjab | 616 |
| 2009 | Matthew Hayden | Chennai Super Kings | 572 |
| 2010 | Sachin Tendulkar | Mumbai Indians | 618 |
| 2011 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 608 |
| 2012 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 733 |
| 2013 | Michael Hussey | Chennai Super Kings | 733 |
| 2014 | Robin Uthappa | Kolkata Knight Riders | 660 |
| 2015 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 562 |
| 2016 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 973 |
| 2017 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 641 |
| 2018 | Kane Williamson | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 735 |
| 2019 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 692 |
| 2020 | KL Rahul | Kings XI Punjab | 670 |
| 2021 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Chennai Super Kings | 635 |
| 2022 | Jos Buttler | Rajasthan Royals | 863 |
| 2023 | Shubman Gill | Gujarat Titans | 890 |
| 2024 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 741 |
| 2025 | Sai Sudharsan | Gujarat Titans | 759 |
IPL 2026 is currently underway (started 28 March 2026) — the Orange Cap race for this season is still ongoing.
Who Has Won the Most Orange Caps Overall?
David Warner leads all players with 3 Orange Caps (2015, 2017, 2019), all for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli both have 2 Orange Caps each — making them the only two RCB players to win it multiple times, and both are among the most decorated individual run-scorers in IPL history.
Final Word
RCB may have waited 18 years for an IPL title, but when it comes to individual batting excellence, no team has dominated the Orange Cap race the way they have. Four caps. Two legendary players. A story built on runs, records, and some of the most memorable batting the IPL has ever seen.
Kohli’s 973 in 2016 still sits alone at the top of the all-time single-season record list. Gayle’s back-to-back caps in 2011 and 2012 have never been matched. And in 2025, after finally lifting the trophy, RCB’s batting legacy feels more complete than ever.
Want to read more? Check out our articles on Virat Kohli’s IPL records and the complete list of IPL Purple Cap winners.
FAQS
RCB players have won the Orange Cap 4 times — Chris Gayle in 2011 and 2012, and Virat Kohli in 2016 and 2024.
Both Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli have won it twice each.
Yes — Kohli won the Orange Cap in 2016 (973 runs) and again in 2024 (741 runs).
RCB leads with 4, followed by SRH (3) and CSK (2).
Virat Kohli’s 973 runs in IPL 2016 — which is also the all-time record for any player in a single IPL season.
Sai Sudharsan of Gujarat Titans, with 759 runs in 15 matches.