IPL 2025 Orange & Purple Cap Update: Starc Climbs Back to Second Spot
As IPL 2025 continues to thrill fans with intense contests and stunning performances, the race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap is heating up with every game. After Saturday’s double-header, while the leaders in both categories remain the same, the battle below them has seen some interesting changes. Let’s dive into the latest update of the top run-scorers and wicket-takers of the season so far.
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1. Purple Cap Leaderboard: Noor Ahmad Maintains Top Spot
Noor Ahmad, the young left-arm wrist spinner from Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has been the standout bowler of the season. His consistency and clever variations have made him the most successful bowler so far in IPL 2025.
•Total Wickets: 10 wickets from 4 matches
•Best Figures: 4 for 18 vs Mumbai Indians
•Latest Performance: 1 wicket vs Delhi Capitals (dismissed Axar Patel)
Noor has become the first bowler this season to hit the double-digit mark in wickets, and with CSK playing some good cricket, he might be able to extend his lead further. His ability to deceive batters with flight and turn, especially on slower tracks, has made him a crucial weapon for Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side.
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2. Starc Storms Back to No. 2 With Fiery Spell
After briefly dropping in the rankings, Mitchell Starc of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has bounced back in style. His early wicket in the match against CSK on Saturday has taken him back to the second position on the Purple Cap table.
•Total Wickets: 9 wickets from 3 matches
•Best Figures: 5 for 35 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
•Latest Performance: 1 wicket vs CSK
Starc’s return to form is excellent news for KKR. His deadly pace and bounce have troubled batters in the powerplay and at the death. His 5-wicket haul against SRH is also the best bowling performance in IPL 2025 so far.
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3. Hardik Pandya Slips to Third Despite Five-For
Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya picked up a brilliant 5 for 25 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday, becoming only the second bowler to claim a five-for this season (after Starc). But despite that effort, he has now slipped to third in the standings.
•Total Wickets: 8 wickets from 4 matches
•Best Figures: 5 for 25 vs LSG
•Latest Performance: Went wicketless vs CSK
Hardik’s bowling has been surprisingly effective this season, and although he couldn’t add to his tally on Saturday, he remains one of the top contenders for the Purple Cap as the tournament progresses.
4. Orange Cap Leaderboard: Nicholas Pooran Still the Run Machine
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran continues to lead the Orange Cap chart despite a quiet game against MI where he scored only 12 runs. His aggressive stroke play in the earlier matches has given him enough of a cushion to stay at the top.
•Total Runs: 201 runs from 4 innings
•Best Score: 75 (30) vs DC
•Other Notable Scores: 70 (26) vs SRH, 44 (30) vs PBKS
Pooran has been the most explosive batter of the tournament so far, with a strike rate consistently over 200 in his top innings. His form at the death overs has been crucial in LSG’s batting strategy.
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5. Sudharsan’s Consistency Lifts Him to Second
Gujarat Titans (GT) opener Sai Sudharsan has quietly worked his way to the second position in the Orange Cap race. His 49 off 36 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) added to his impressive scores in previous matches.
•Total Runs: 186 runs from 3 innings
•Scores: 74, 63, and 49
Sudharsan is proving to be a reliable anchor at the top of the order. While not as flashy as Pooran, his ability to rotate strike and find gaps regularly makes him one of GT’s most valuable players.
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6. Marsh Jumps Back Into Top Three With Blazing Fifty
After a brief dip, Mitchell Marsh of Lucknow Super Giants is back in the top three of the Orange Cap race. His 60 off 31 balls against MI was a game-changing innings that helped LSG secure a much-needed win.
•Total Runs: 184 runs from 4 innings
•Notable Innings:
•60 (31) vs MI
•58 (33) vs SRH
•66 (34) vs DC
•Blip: Duck vs PBKS
Marsh has scored three fifties in four games, showing remarkable consistency. His ability to accelerate in the middle overs has been key to LSG’s batting success.
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7. Close Competition Brewing in Both Races
While the current leaders—Noor Ahmad (Purple Cap) and Nicholas Pooran (Orange Cap)—remain in firm control, the chasing pack is not far behind. Just a couple of good games can completely flip the standings.
•For Orange Cap: Players like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Ruturaj Gaikwad are still in the mix.
•For Purple Cap: Bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel, and Yuzvendra Chahal are only a couple of wickets away from climbing into the top five.
With half the league stage still to go, fans can expect plenty of movement in these leaderboards.
8. Final Thoughts
As IPL 2025 moves into its second month, the battle for the Orange and Purple Caps will only intensify. Star performers like Nicholas Pooran, Noor Ahmad, and Mitchell Starc have already set the tone, but with each game offering new heroes, the leaderboard will remain dynamic and exciting.
Stay tuned with CrickTab.com for daily updates on the Orange Cap and Purple Cap races, match previews, Dream11 tips, and all the latest buzz from IPL 2025.
