IPL 2022 will begin on March 26th at the Wankhede Stadium. Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will clash in the first encounter. The group phase of the league will happen across Mumbai and Pune. Ahead of the season, BCCI has reportedly brought on board Aramco as the sponsors for the Orange and the Purple Cap. This will be happening for the first time in IPL history. In this article, we predict five players who might win the Orange cap in IPL 2022.
1) KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants)
The winner of the Orange Cap in IPL 2020, Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul is one of the players who might win the Orange cap in IPL 2022. Since 2018, KL has scored almost 600 runs in every campaign. Every edition, he has also been one of the prominent contenders for the Orange Cap.
At a new franchise, KL will still be backed to be the highest run-scorer. This time around, he has better batting depth in his team and hence, he could express himself more at the crease. Moreover, the pitches in the group phase, especially in Mumbai, suit Rahul’s batting. Therefore, he could yet again do well in the tournament.
2) Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians)
The most expensive player at the IPL 2022 Mega-Auctions, Ishan Kishan is certain to be the opener for Mumbai Indians henceforth. Earlier seasons, he was shuffled between the top and the middle-order. However, at the back end of IPL 2021, Ishan played at the top and with Quinton de Kock not there anymore, Ishan is the obvious choice to open the batting.
Ishan had a terrific IPL 2020, in which he scored 516 runs despite batting in the middle-order. Considering he has improved as a cricketer now and moreover, with the addition of international experience, Ishan will be a force to reckon with. He will also have the best possible guide in Rohit Sharma at the opposite end.
3) Faf du Plessis (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
2021 was a memorable year for Faf du Plessis. He scored 633 runs and missed the Orange Cap by a whisker. However, he could get the honour this time around.
The South African will ply trade at Royal Challengers Bangalore for IPL 2022. Faf is likely to open alongside Virat Kohli. Yes, Faf will have greater responsibility but he has anyways operated in similar circumstances before. If he is in the same form as in the last few seasons, he could as well go on to win the Orange Cap.
4) Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings)
Despite being an uncapped cricketer at the start of the tournament, Ruturaj Gaikwad went on to win the Orange Cap in IPL 2021. The Maharashtra opener made 635 runs at an average of 45.36 last season.
His form in the domestic tournaments has been good and hence, it is likely that he will do well again. Gaikwad’s approach is well suited to getting big scores and hence, he will be one of the contenders for the Orange Cap in IPL 2022.
5) David Warner (Delhi Capitals)
David Warner is also one of the players who might win the Orange cap in IPL 2022. The Aussie has won three Orange Caps so far, the most in the history of the league. He achieved the feat in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
2021 was a tough year for him but it will be a fresh start for him from next season. Warner was the Player of the tournament at the 2021 T20 World Cup, a competition that helped him rediscover his form. At Delhi Capitals, Warner will have a steady opening partner in Prithvi Shaw, who usually takes care of the run-scoring at the start. Therefore, Warner will have a lot of scope to score big runs next season.
