It was on 20 June 2011, when one of the greatest batsmen of the cricket world made his Test debut and the rest is history. Virat Kohli is his name and he established himself as the legend he is today through a lot of grit and hard work. Virat Kohli's test career is mostly a fairytale with a few ups and downs. SportzPoint.com takes you on a tour of Kohli's test career from the beginning to the ongoing test of India vs England.

2011:

The first test match of Virat Kohli's test career was against West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. His first match was a bit disheartening as he scored only 19 runs. In the first innings, he got out for 4 runs and in the second innings, he managed to hit 15 runs in 54 balls. Fidel Edwards managed to send him away back to the pavilion in both the innings.

In the entire year, he got the chance to play in 5 matches; 4 against West Indies and 1 against Australia. He hit 2 half-centuries and made a total of 202 runs with an average of 22.44 and a strike rate of 42.71

Read also: ENG vs IND Test Series: Virat Kohli ensures comeback

2012:

The first century of Virat Kohli's test career was against Australia hosted in the Oval. In the fourth Test match of India vs Australia, he smashed 116 runs in 213 balls and registered his first test century. In 2012, he got the opportunity to play in 9 test matches against 3 countries.

The 1st three matches were against Australia, the next two were against New Zealand and the last four were against England. Kohli smashed 1 century against all these 3 countries in 2012. In the second test match against New Zealand, Kohli scored 103 runs. Also, in the 4th test match against England, he hit 103 runs. Furthermore, he also registered 3 half-centuries under his name in 2012.

In the entire year, Kohli aggregated 689 runs with an average of 49.21 and a strike rate of 46.74.

2013:

This was the time when the king of cricket was flourishing and prospering for a great future ahead. His overall performance in 2013 has been exceptional with an average of 56.00 and a strike rate of 54.66.

2013 witnessed one of his best knocks in India tour of South Africa in a 2 test series. On the first match in Johannesburg, Kohli created a storm on the field and scored 119 runs in 181 balls. This was his second overseas test century.

Even after batting against legends like Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, and Imran Tahir, he remained positive and focused from the beginning and helped the team to draw the match at the end. Without this century, India could have lost the match.

Read also: Top 5 players with the most man of the series awards in International cricket

2014:

During this time Virat Kohli has already established himself as a prominent member of the Indian cricket team by his previous performances and stats. He played in 10 test matches against 3 countries in 2014.

The first 2 test matches were against New Zealand where Kohli scored a half-century in the first match and a century in the second match.

After a gap of about 5 months, India went on a tour to England and played 5 test matches. In the later future, Kohli revealed that the 2014 England tour was the lowest point of his career. After waking up, he had thoughts of feeling and getting out in the series. The England series was a disaster for him as his highest score in that series was 39 only. With runs of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0,7, 6, and 20 in the five tests of the England Tour 2014, he averaged 13.50 in the series.

But in the end, he made a huge comeback as always. In the India tour of Australia, he smashed 2 centuries in both the innings of the 1st match and another century in the third match. This entire tour is probably one of his most memorable performances. He kept faith in himself and played immensely well and made this tour one of the most remarkable one. Also, he became the captain of the team after MS Dhoni's retirement. Overall 2014 was a good year for him as he could make a comeback and aggregated a total of 847 runs in with an average of 44.58 and a strike rate of 60.54.

2015:

Virat started his 2015 Test journey with a bang and made a century in the 1st innings of 2015's 1st Test match. In Sydney Cricket Ground, he hit 147 runs against Australia. With an average of 42.67 and a strike rate of 54.05, he aggregated 640 runs.

He hit 2 half-centuries and 2 centuries in the 9 test matches of 2015. His 2nd century was against Sri Lanka hosted in Galle International Stadium. He made 103 in the 1st test match against Si Lanka.

Read also: Top 5 Most runs at Number 3 in ODIs: Kohli Crosses 10000 runs at number 3

2016:

The King of Cricket started 2016 as a king with a double century in the 1st test match. With his highest average of 75.94, 2016 was a year with 3 double centuries, 1 century, and 2 half-centuries.

In the first test match of the year against the West Indies, Kohli hit his 1st double century of 200. His next double century of 211 was against New Zealand in the Holkar Cricket Stadium. And finally, the 3rd double ton of 235 was against England in the Wankhede stadium.

2016 is hands-off one of his most successful years across all formats. With double tons of 200, 211, and 235, he aggregated 1215 runs (his then highest total) with a strike rate of 60.42.

2017:

2017 continued to be a great year like 2016 for the captain. This year witnessed 3 double centuries, 2 centuries, and 2 half-centuries in 16 innings. Firstly he began the first test of 2015 with his first double century at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium. The match was against Australia where the captain thrashed the bowlers to score 204 runs.

Secondly, he scored 2 centuries in the first 4 matches against Sri Lanka. Lastly, he ended the series in the best possible way with 2 double tons in the last 2 matches of the same series against Sri Lanka.

These were the years where Kohli proved his skills, caliber, and worth each and every time possible.

2018:

In 2018 the Indian captain scored his highest total in Tests in a single year. With an average of 55.08, he aggregated 1322 runs in 13 matches. His total runs include 5 centuries and 5 half-centuries as well. The cricket fans witnessed some of his most brilliant knocks in which year.

His first century of the year was against South Africa in the second match hosted in the SuperSport Park.

After a horrid tour of England in 2014, this was the first time he was facing England in the land of England. He registered centuries in the top test-playing countries except for England. He changed it by scoring 149 runs in Birmingham in the first innings of the 1st test match. India lost the first 2 test matches of this tour, and the captain himself turned the 3rd match in the visitor's favor by scoring 97 in the first innings and 103 runs in the second innings to score a total of 521 runs in the scoreboard. Though the team lost the series 1-4, the captain's 593 runs in 10 innings in the tour established him as one of the greatest legends of the sport.

The next country India faced was the West Indies where the captain once again scored a century and made 139 runs in the first innings of the first test.

Lastly in the India tour of Australia, he scored 123 runs in the Perth stadium. This series is memorable in so many ways as it was the first time India won at a series down under.

Read also: Every Virat Kohli Tattoo- The reason behind them and their significance

2019:

The Indian team faced Australia and West Indies first and then moved on to witness some incredible knocks of the captain.

South Africa's 2019 tour of India is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable achievements of the captain's career. He registered his highest test score in this series hosted in the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

In the 2nd test match, Kohli thrashed the bowlers and smashed 254*; his highest test score. Apart from his triumphant achievement, the other reason behind an incredible series is the 3-0 win.

After a successful series, the Indian team moved on with their third test series against Bangladesh. In the 2nd match of the series, the captain once again smashed a century and made 136 runs. This is very disappointing to hear that it was his last century yet.

2020:

The entire world came to a pause after the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in 2020. The pandemic put a stop to everything in the world. Therefore the Indian team could play only 3 test matches. The first two test matches were before the outbreak of covid-19 against New Zealand and the last match of 2020 was against Australia.

2020 was a hard year for Kohli in the sport. In 3 matches, he scored only 1 half-century and his highest score was 74. He scored a total of 116 runs with an average of 19.33 and a strike rate of 40.99. This average is his career's least of all time.

2021:

2021 is not going great for the captain as it has been 459 days since he scored an international century. In 8 matches so far, he managed to hit only 2 half-centuries. Both the half-centuries were against England hosted in India.

The Indian fans are anticipating a path-breaking performance from the captain for very long. None of us literally can wait anymore to see the captain roaring with his bat once again.

The cricketing world is buzzing with discussions surrounding the upcoming IND vs ENG series, and a voice has highlighted a significant void: the absence of Virat Kohli. England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, has openly expressed his belief that India will feel the lack of Kohli's renowned "fighting spirit" and other things on the field.

Stokes also revealed how he texted Kohli after his decision to retire and term it as a shame he won't be there to play in the field.

This statement from an opponent shows the immense impact Kohli has left and the challenge India faces in a crucial series without one of its finest test players.

Check the full story of Ben Stokes on Virat Kohli's absence in England series:

Ben Stokes on Virat Kohli's absence in England series

Ben Stokes has analysed how Virat Kohli's absence can affect India, 2 days prior the test series against England. When asked about what India will miss in Kohli after he decided to step down from tests, here's how the English skipper replied:

"I think what India will miss, will be his fighting spirit out in the game, his competitiveness, desire to win." He further goes on to add "It will be weird to not see number 18 at the back of any Indian shirt. I did text him saying it's going to be a shame not to play against him because I love playing against Virat."

Stokes also shared how he feels both Kohli and him have the same mindset when out in the field, and addressed the fact that he has done really well against England in his test career.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by We Are England Cricket (@englandcricket)

Read Also: England vs India Test Series: Here is India's overall test record against England in England

India vs England squads for the upcoming test series

India: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana.

England: Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes

The cricket world, known for its constant evolution, has seen a drastic shift in a month. Over the past month, six notable players have chosen to conclude their careers on the global stage.

From legendary batsmen to powerful all-rounders, these departures mark a significant moment in the history of cricket. These aren't just names; they are players who have shaped matches and won the hearts of millions.

Explore the list of 6 cricketers who announced their retirements since last month.

1. Rohit Sharma (Test retirement) | May 7, 2025

On May 7, 2025, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of his remarkable journey as a batsman, as well as India's captain in tests. His test career lasted for 12 years since his debut in 2013.

Sharma transformed himself into a brilliant test opener in the latter half of his career. One of his defining moments in Test cricket arrived in 2019 against South Africa, where he hammered a majestic 212 runs as an opener, showcasing his ability to wear down opposition attacks.

He is the fifth-most successful Test captain for India, leading to 12 Test victories.

Rohit Sharma's stats in tests:

2. Virat Kohli (Test retirement) | May 12, 2025

Following Rohit's retirement, India lost the era's most dominant force in test cricket. The announcement of Virat Kohli's test retirement on May 12, 2025, resonated globally, leaving everyone shocked and upset. 

Kohli approached the test format with a fierce competitive spirit and hunger for runs. His dedication and skill set in this format saw him notch 7 double centuries in his test career. He also became the most successful test captain of India during the 8 years (Dec 2014-Jan 2022) of his captaincy tenure, leading to 40 wins.

This decision of Kohli to step away from tests also brought the interests of Indian fans in tests in question. This retirement indeed marked the end of an era.

Virat Kohli's stats in tests:

3. Angelo Mathews (Test retirement) | May 23, 2025

Sri Lanka's enduring test pillar, Angelo Mathews, concluded his test career on May 23, 2025. He left behind a legacy of resilience and crucial performances as an all-rounder. 

Mathews possessed the ability to adapt his game and accelerate when required. His unbeaten 200 runs against Zimbabwe in 2020 stand out as one of his vital contributions. He also took a total of 33 wickets in tests.

He led Sri Lanka in 34 matches as a captain and won 13 among them.

Angelo Mathews' stats in tests:

4. Glenn Maxwell (ODIs Retirement) | June 2, 2025

Australia's one of the most captivating hitters and match-winners, Glenn Maxwell, announced retirement from ODIs on June 2, 2025. Known for his explosive strokeplay and ability to turn the game around, he had an amazing ODI career.

Maxwell's career has many moments to highlight, but nothing can match his astonishing 201* runs against Afghanistan in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Coming back with a back injury, this innings was a masterclass in aggressive and controlled batting.

He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, which goes down in the history of ODI cricket.

Glenn Maxwell's stats in ODIs:

5. Heinrich Klaasen (International retirement) | June 2, 2025

On June 2, 2025, Heinrich Klaasen announced his international retirement, which marked the end of a relatively short yet impactful career as a destructive batsman in white-ball cricket. 

Since his international debut for South Africa in 2018, he has been a hard-hitter of the ball and has become one of the most feared finishers in limited-overs formats. His phenomenal 174 runs off just 83 balls against Australia in an ODI in 2023 stands as a testament to his raw hitting power and ability.

Heinrich Klaasen's international stats (2018-2025)

6. Nicholas Pooran (International retirement) | June 10, 2025

The West Indies batter, Nicholas Pooran, announced his international retirement on June 10, 2025, at the age of just 29. This marked one of the earliest retirements for a high-profile West Indies player.

As a left-hander wicket-keeper batsman, Pooran quickly established himself as an electrifying hitter in white-ball cricket. He brought an aggressive approach to the crease, with the potential to turn the game in his favour.

He has done exceptionally well in his short-lived international career. His 98 runs off 53 balls against Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup perfectly tell the story of his talent.

Nicholas Pooran's international stats (2016-2025):

It's been 14 years since India lifted the 2011 World Cup, a moment etched in every fan's memory. That legendary squad brought joy to millions on that unforgettable night in Mumbai, but where are they now?

While many retired, some explored new paths in cricket, and others found different callings, one key player continues to represent India in ODIs.

Explore the current status of India's 2011 World Cup winning squad and know their journeys since the victory and where are they now.

The unforgettable 2011 World Cup Winning squad

Here's the overview of squad members:

MS Dhoni (C & WK), Virender Sehwag (VC), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla, Ravichandran Ashwin.

Coach: Gary Kirsten

Find out the updates on each one of them below:

1. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni is the winning captain of 2011 World Cup, who finished off in style with a six to seal the victory for India. He also led India to victory in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, becoming the first captain to claim all ICC limited-overs trophies.

He continued to captain India for several years and played a crucial role as a finisher in white-ball cricket. He also led CSK to win four IPL titles from 2011-2023.

• Retirement: Dhoni retired from test cricket in December 2014, and announced his retirement from international cricket (ODIs and T20Is) on August 15, 2020. However, he continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• Currently doing: Continues to captain Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He is involved in various business ventures and endorsements.

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

2. Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag was the vice-captain of India's 2011 WC-winning squad and provided explosive starts at the top of the order, including a stunning knock of 175 runs against Bangladesh in the opening match.

He continued his attacking batting in Test and ODI formats for a few more years.

• Retirement: Sehwag retired from all forms of international cricket in October 2015.
• Currently doing: He is a prominent cricket analyst and commentator, and a member of the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. He also runs the Sehwag International School in Haryana and has ventured into the sports gear and organic farming business.

3. Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir was an integral part of India's success in the 2011 WC, especially with his knock of 97 runs in the final. He continued to play a key role in India's top order for a period. He also led Kolkata Knight Riders to 2 IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.

Later, he served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants and then KKR, guiding them to their third title in 2024.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from all formats in December 2018.
• Currently doing: In July 2024, Gambhir was appointed as the head coach of India for three years until the 2027 ODI World Cup. He got his first major ICC title in a coaching role by leading India to victory in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy as the head coach.

4. Sachin Tendulkar 

Sachin Tendulkar was the leading run-scorer for India and the second overall in the tournament (482 runs in 9 innings), including two centuries.

He scored his record-setting 100th international century in March 2012 and became a member of the Rajya Sabha in the same year. Additionally, he was a part of Mumbai Indians team that won the IPL in 2013.

• Retirement: Retired from ODI cricket in December 2012, and from tests in November 2013. He also retired from the IPL in 2013.
• Currently doing: Sachin continues to be involved in cricketing and social initiatives, and remains a global ambassador for the sport.

Read Also: Pataudi Trophy renamed as Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy ahead of India vs England test series

5. Yuvraj Singh

The "Player of the tournament," Yuvraj Singh, delivered an exceptional all-rounder performance throughout the World Cup. He successfully battled germ-cell cancer in 2011 and returned to cricket the next year (2012).

Yuvraj continued to play white ball cricket for India occasionally and played in various IPL teams, winning twice with SRH in 2016 and MI in 2019.

• Retirement: Formally retired from international cricket in June 2019.
• Currently doing: He is involved in various cricketing leagues and charitable initiatives. He also mentored India's emerging star, Abhishek Sharma, and has a significant role in shaping his career.

6. Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina played an attacking role in the lower middle order, particularly in the quarter-final against Australia (unbeaten 34), and the semi-final against Pakistan (unbeaten 36).

He continued to be a significant part of India's white-ball setup for several years and was a key player for CSK in the IPL.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from all forms on August 15, 2020, on the same day as Dhoni. However, he continued to play domestic cricket and in various T20 leagues for a period.
• Currently doing: Raina has been involved in commentary and various cricket-related activities.

7. Virat Kohli

As the youngest batsman in the squad (22 years 95 days), Virat Kohli showed glimpses of his future greatness by performing well in the 2011 World Cup, including a century against Bangladesh.

Kohli rose to be one of the world's premier batsmen and captained India across all formats. He became the most successful test captain in history for India. He led India to numerous victories and broke several batting records.

He is the only player from India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad who is still actively playing international cricket (ODI format).

• Retirement: He retired from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup in 2024, and also retired from Test Cricket in 2025.
• Currently doing: He won the IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and had a phenomenal season. He is also expected to play in the 2027 World Cup.

Read Also: The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

8. Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan was a part of India's World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and played as a batting all-rounder, primarily in the lower middle order. He continued to play in domestic cricket and the IPL, playing for various franchises, including KKR and SRH.

Pathan was also a part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup winning squad.

• Retirement: Retired from all formats in February 2021.
• Currently doing: He became a member of parliament from the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency of West Bengal, and has been seen participating in the Legends League Cricket.

9. Zaheer Khan

The shepherd of India's pace attack, Zaheer Khan, was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup with 21 wickets in 9 matches. His contributions to the bowling unit were phenomenal.

He continued to represent India in internationals for a few more years.

• Retirement: Khan retired from international cricket in October 2015.
• Currently doing: He has been involved in commentary and coaching roles. He is also a cricket expert and analyst.

10. Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh proved to be crucial for the team in the WC 2011, with the kind of experience he had in the game. He continued to play for India occasionally after the World Cup, but his international appearances became less frequent.

He continued to play IPL for franchises like MI, CSK and KKR.

• Retirement: Retired from all formats in December 2021.
• Currently doing: He is a cricket commentator and an analyst. He has also ventured into politics, serving as a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

Read Also: 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium

11. Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra played three matches in the 2011 World Cup and was particularly effective in the semi-final against Pakistan, where he took 2 wickets for 33 runs.

He faced injuries but made a remarkable comeback to the Indian T20I team and played the T20 World Cup that year.

• Retirement: Nehra retired from all forms of international cricket in November 2017.
• Currently doing: He has been involved in coaching in the IPL (head coach: Gujarat Titans) and won the 2022 season.

12. Munaf Patel

Munaf Patel played a significant role as a consistent medium-pacer in the 2011 WC winning squad, picking 11 wickets in 8 matches. He continued to play domestic cricket and in various T20 leagues after the World Cup.

• Retirement: He retired from all formats in December 2018.
• Currently doing: Served as the bowling coach for Delhi Capitals since the 2024 season and has been seen participating in Legends League Cricket.

13. S Sreesanth

S Sreesanth came in as a replacement for Praveen Kumar (ruled out due to injury) in India's 2011 WC squad. He played 2 matches, including the final.

His career was significantly impacted by a spot-fixing scandal in the 2013 IPL, which led to a ban from cricket.

• Retirement: He made a comeback in domestic cricket after the ban was reduced, and retired from all domestic forms in March 2022.
• Currently doing: Sreesanth is the co-owner of the Kollam Aeries team in the Kerala Cricket League. He also participated in reality shows like Big Boss and was involved in acting and other ventures.

14. Piyush Chawla 

The youngest player in India's 2011 World Cup winning squad, Piyush Chawla (22 yrs 46 days), picked 4 wickets in the three matches he played. He continued to play domestic cricket and IPL for various franchises and won.

• Retirement: Chawla announced from all forms of cricket in June 2025. His last international appearance for India was in 2012.
• Currently doing: He has been associated with the sport as an analyst and was seen giving inputs in per-match shows in IPL and other leagues.

Read Also: Most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket by an Indian bowler

15. Ravichandran Ashwin

The spin master, Ravichandran Ashwin, played only 2 matches in the tournament, picking up 4 wickets. He turned out to be one of the most successful Test bowlers for India, with 537 Test wickets.

Ashwin later developed into a useful all-rounder and could bat well. He was also named ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2016.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from international cricket in December 2024.
• Currently doing: He is actively involved in playing cricket in IPL and played in the TNPL as well. Ashwin is also an active YouTuber, who analyses and shares cricketing stories on his channel, which currently has 1.71M subscribers. 

The Most Valuable Player in IPL is the cricketer who earns the most points on the MVP Chart of a particular season. Before the 2013 season, the best player of an IPL season received the 'IPL Man of the Series' title. However, the organizers changed it to the IPL Most Valuable Player in 2013.

How do players get the IPL Most Valuable Player award?

There is a special rating system, under which the cricketers earn points for fours, sixes, wickets, catches, dot balls, and stumpings. For every four, the player gets 2.5 points, while a maximum earns him 3.5 points.

A catch or a stumping is equal to 2.5 points, and a wicket gets the player 3.5 points. The bowler earns one point for every dot ball bowled. The leader of this standing takes the IPL Most Valuable Player trophy home.

Also Read: IPL 2022 Full schedule and fixture in PDF

Here SportzPOint presents you the Most Valuable Player in each season of IPL since the award's inception in 2013.

Shane Watson | 2013

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson won the Most Valuable Player award in its inaugural edition in 2013. Watson had undone the damage to his IPL prospects that year with all-round performance for the Rajasthan Royals. With 22 sixes, 59 boundaries, 6 catches, and 13 wickets, Watson edged past the big Chris Gayle by 37 points to clinch the Most Valuable Player once again.

A packed Chennai crowd also witnessed Shane Watson's first IPL 100. Incidentally, Watson's 61-ball 101 was also the first century of the 2013 edition of the IPL

Glenn Maxwell | 2014

After failing to find a spot on the Australian side in 2014, Glenn Maxwell staged a fantastic show in the 7th edition of the IPL. The all-rounder Maxwell scored as many as 552 runs in the tournament, during which he also smashed 36 sixes and 48 fours, all at a strike rate of 187.75.

The Aussie fell agonizingly short of a maiden IPL century – he blasted CSK's bowlers to get to a 38-ball 95. Although Kings XI Punjab lost in a thrilling final against the Knight Riders, Glenn Maxwell would have cherished the 2014 season of the IPL for his stellar run.

Read Also: The highest run-getter in every season of IPL till now

Andre Russell | 2015

Kolkata's Caribbean Knight Andre Russell was power personified as far as the 2015 IPL was concerned. The broad-shouldered all-rounder set the IPL on fire with stellar performances lower down the order. Russell was the bright spot of KKR's deep batting order, as the Caribbean genius scored 326 runs through the course of the season.

Russell could brag about his 21-ball 51 against Kings XI Punjab which helped KKR steeple a target of 183. A strike rate of 192.29 stood out in Andre Russell's scintillating season. Don't forget his 14 wickets and 6 catches.

Virat Kohli | 2016

The 9th edition of the IPL pulled every available spotlight on just one man, Virat Kohli. Former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper was in mint form, as he seemed to have no difficulty in racking up immense runs. Virat Kohli came tantalizingly close to 1,000 runs in a single IPL season, finishing with 973.

En route to yet another blotched IPL final, Kohli hammered 4 centuries – which was the most by a batsman in a single IPL season – and comfortably snapped the Orange Cap. Despite a disappointing end to the season, Virat Kohli had taken the IPL by storm by his insatiable hunger for T20 runs.

Also Read: The highest wicket getter in every season of IPL till now

Ben Stokes | 2017

The tag of 'Most Valuable Player' was attached to Ben Stokes long before he took the field in the 2017 edition of the IPL. Stokes fetched Rs. 14.5 crore and was set to ply his skills for the Rising Pune Supergiant. He didn't disappoint his selectors who invested big money in him. Stokes proved his worth and added the title of Most Valuable Player alongside his already existing tag of Most Expensive Overseas Player.

Although he was dearly missed in the final, Stokes had amassed 316 runs at 31.60 before he left on national duty. The Big Ben lit up the IPL with a stellar century against the Gujarat Lions and was also instrumental in the Pune's impenetrable death-bowling. Stokes bagged a total of 12 wickets while maintaining a miserly economy rate of 7.18.

Suni Narine | 2018

Sunil Narine became the second cricketer after Shane Watson to become the most valuable player of IPL twice. After IPL 2012 he won the prestigious award once again in 2018. By this time he not only proved himself as an excellent bowler but also as a great hard-hitting opener.

He completely justified the roles given to him by giving an extreme start to KKR in the powerplay in most of the matches and also helped the team to reach the playoffs. In 16 matches he scored 357 runs with a strike rate of 189.89 and took 17 wickets with an economy rate of 7.65. One of his most magnificent knocks from IPL 2018 is his half-century in only 17 balls against RCB.

Read Also: Oldest player to score IPL century

Andre Russell | 2019

Once again a player from KKR became the most valuable player of IPL 2019 following Sunil Narine in 2018. Andre Russell also became the third cricketer to be in the MVP award twice in IPL history after Shane Watson and Sunil Narine. By this time, he proved himself as a batter who could win matches in dire situations.

In 2019 IPL Russell completely thrashed boundaries all around and literally played with the opponent bowlers. He aggregated 510 runs in only 14 matches with an out-of-the-ordinary strike rate of 204.81. He not only restricted himself with batting but also picked up 11 wickets for KKR while bowling in the death overs mostly.

Jofra Archer | 2020

Rajasthan Royals' all-rounder Jofra Archer claimed the IPL Most Valuable Player award in 2020. The English player topped the MVP standings with 305 points to his name.

Archer picked up 20 wickets, bowled 175 dot deliveries, smashed five fours and ten sixes as well as took five catches to beat the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rashid Khan to become the Most Valuable Player in IPL 2020. No other player could score 300 MVP points last year.

Also Read: IPL 2022: Players to play each season of IPL

Harshal Patel | 2021

The Most Valuable Player of IPL 2021 is Harshal Patel from Royal Challengers Bangalore. With 264.5 points, the cricketer had an amazing season this year. Starting from taking crucial wickets to winning the Purple Cap, Game-changer of the season, picking the highest number of wickets in IPL, he did it all. He had a dreamy season after making a comeback to RCB from DC. Also, he took a 4 wicket haul and a 5 wicket haul this season as well.

Suryakumar Yadav | 2025

Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav has been named the Most Valuable Player for IPL 2025. The MI middle-order star finished the season with 717 runs to his name from 16 matches, registering his best season so far averaging, 65.18. He struck five half-centuries in the course of the tournament, emerging as MI’s highest run-scorer in IPL 2025. SKY is the second MI batter to win the Most Valuable Player of the season award after Sachin Tendulkar in 2010.

N.B: Last updated on 04/06/2025.

The player who scores the most runs in a single season of the IPL wins the Orange Cap award. This award has been given to the highest run-scorers since the first season of the Indian Premier League (2008). Cricketers must consistently play some brilliant innings and deliver match-winning performances in a season to win the Orange Cap.  So, let's look at all the Orange Cap winners in IPL since 2008.

Read Also: Rishabh Pant will serve a 1-match Ban and is fined for breaching a Code of Conduct

Orange Cap History:

• Shaun Marsh (616 runs in 11 matches in 2008) was the first player to win the award.
• The record for most runs in a single IPL season is held by Virat Kohli (973 runs in the 2016 edition).
• David Warner has the record of winning the Orange Cap the most number of times (3).

Rules for Orange Cap:

• The Orange Cap is awarded to the leading run-scorer of the IPL season.
• The batsman who holds the Orange Cap during the season is allowed to wear it while in the field during the games, as long as he holds the top-scorer spot in the tournament.
• In a season where two or more batsmen are tied on runs, the batsman with a better strike rate is awarded the Orange Cap.
• In a season where an opposition batsman overtakes the tally of the current holder of the Orange Cap, the previous holder is allowed to wear the Cap until the end of that particular innings in which another batsman overtakes him.

Orange Cap winners list in IPL since 2008

2008 - Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh from Punjab Kings is the Orange Cap winner of the inaugural edition of the IPL. The Australian batsman started the IPL journey with a bang. He scored 616 runs in only 11 matches with an average of 68.4 and a strike rate of 139.68. His 616 runs include 1 century and 5 half-centuries.

2009 - Matthew Hayden

The next Orange Cap winner is Matthew Hayden. Even after his international retirement from the Australian Cricket team in early 2009, he proved his worth in that season. He showed a spectacular performance and scored a total of 572 runs in 12 matches. In the 2nd edition of IPL, he played for Chennai Super Kings and scored 5 half-centuries with an average of 52 and a strike rate of 144.81.

2010 - Sachin Tendulkar

The God of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar has also enlisted his name in this list of Orange Cap winners. In the 2010 IPL, the then captain of Mumbai Indians aggregated 618 runs including 5 half-centuries in 15 matches. He represented his team in the best way possible and took the team to the final as well but unfortunately, MI finished their journey as runners-up after losing against CSK in the finals. In the 3rd edition of IPL, he played in 15 matches with an average of 47.53 and a strike rate of 132.61

2011 - Chris Gayle

What is a list of top T20 scorers without Chris Gayle? It is incomplete indeed. Chris Gayle is undoubtedly one of the best players in the T20 format and one of the greatest hitters in all the formats of cricket. In the 2011 IPL, he scored a massive 608 runs in only 12 matches. One of his most distinguished factors is his strike rate. He played with a strike rate of 183.13 which is the highest of any Orange Cap winners in the tournament. Also, his total runs include 2 centuries and 3 half-centuries with an average of 67.55.

2012 - Chris Gayle

In the very next year, Chris Gayle again created several storms on the field and became the top run-scorer in the IPL 2012 season. No one could ever dare to come in the way of his extreme rise in the T20 format. In the 4th edition of IPL, the Jamaican cricketer scored a massive 733 runs including 1 century and 7 half-centuries in 15 matches. He played with an average of 61.08 and a strike rate of 160.74.

Read Also: The IPL Effect: How the Tournament Transformed the Dynamics of T20 Cricket Worldwide

2013 - Michael Hussey 

Michael Hussey, popularly known as Mr cricket has also made his name into this list with 733 runs in 17 matches. The Orange Cap winner of the 2013 IPL smashed 6 half-centuries with an average of 52.5 and a strike rate of 129.5. He made a huge contribution to CSK's entry into the finals. Unfortunately, MI won the title of the season.

2014 - Robin Uthappa

One of the impactful players of IPL 2014 was Robin Uthappa. He played a key role in taking Kolkata Knight Riders into the finals and also winning their second title. Uthappa played in 16 matches and scored 660 runs including 5 half-centuries with an average of 44 and a strike rate of 137.78.

2015 - David Warner

David Warner of Sunrisers Hyderabad was the Orange Cap winner of IPL 2015. The team played their debut match in 2013 and Warner made 2015 a good season for the team and the fans by scoring 562 runs in 14 matches. His total runs also include 7 half-centuries with an average of 43.23 and a strike rate of 156.54

2016 - Virat Kohli 

A list of achievements by batsmen is incomplete without the King of Cricket Virat Kohli. The captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore is the highest run-scorer in a single edition of IPL. In 2016 IPL he smashed 4 centuries and 7 half-centuries to aggregate a total of 973 runs in 16 matches. In that season, he played with an average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.03. The 2016 IPL has been a good year for the team as they made it to the finals but unfortunately could not win the title.

2017 - David Warner

Once again David Warner had a spectacular season in the marquee T20 league and became the Orange Cap winner of IPL 2017. The captain of the defending winning team smashed 641 runs including 1 century and 4 half-centuries in 14 matches. He played with an average of 58.27 and a strike rate of 141.81.

Read Also: ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Squads of Every Team

2018 - Kane Williamson

IPL 2018 changed the T20 career of the New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. Before the season, he was not that appreciated as an impactful T20 player. But he utilized the opportunity and gave his best and proved his worth to everyone as a great batsman in all three formats. In 17 matches, he scored 735 runs including 8 half-centuries with an average of 52.5 and a strike rate of 142.44. The captain represented the team and took it to the final as well as won the Orange Cap.

2019 - David Warner

The only cricketer to win the Orange Cap 3 times in IPL history is none other than David Warner. He achieved this milestone in IPL 2019 by scoring 692 runs in 12 matches. He smashed 1 century and 8 half-centuries to score a total of 692 runs with an average of 69.2 and a strike rate of 143.86. His impactful performances along with his opening partner Jonny Bairstow took the team to the playoffs in IPL 2019 but unfortunately, they did not win the title.

2020 - KL Rahul

The skipper of Punjab Kings, Kl Rahul won the 2019 Orange Cap. He and his teammates were unable to end the journey on a good note but the captain made sure to glorify the team's name and became the highest run-scorer of the season. In 14 matches he scored 670 runs with an average of 55.83 and a strike rate of 129.34. His whopping 670 runs also include 1 century and 5 half-centuries.

2021 - Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai Super Kings's present skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad won the IPL 2021 orange cao for his sensational batting. He scored 635 runs in 16 innings at an average of 45.35. He was one of the few reasons CSK won their fourth IPL title in 2021. Gaikwad struck 4 half-centuries and one century that season with a best score of 101 not out. 

2022 - Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler was just unbelievable in the IPL 2022 season. Rajasthan didn't win the title but Buttler won hearts. He struck 863 runs in 17 innings at an average of 57.53 with 4 centuries and as many as half-centuries. He also became the second batter after Virat Kohli to score 4 centuries in a single IPL season. Buttler also struck a whooping 45 sixes that season, the fourth highest by a player in a season of the Indian cash-rich league.

2023 - Shubman Gill

Gujarat Titans' present captain Shubman Gill had a season to remember in IPL 2023. He broke several records and won the prestigious Orange Cap. Gill finished as the leading run-scorer, amassing 890 runs in only 17 matches. He played big knocks in pivotal moments in the tournament to guide his side to back-to-back IPL finals. However, MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings clinched their fifth IPL title by defeating GT in the final. Gill’s 890 runs came at an impressive average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 157.80 while scoring three centuries and four fifties.

2024 - Virat Kohli

The 2024 was a brilliant season for Virat Kohli with the bat and he finished at the top of the highest run-getter charts in the Indian Premier League. He couldn't take RCB to the Final but did his part with the bat. RCB qualified for the playoffs after making a stupendous comeback, winning all their last six group-stage matches and lots of credit goes to Kohli. But, they got knocked out of the tournament after losing to Rajasthan in the Eliminator. Virat scored 741 runs at a spectacular average of 61.75 and a great strike rate of 154.69 which includes five half-centuries and one century. He was by far the best batsman of the 2024 season and won his second-ever orange cap in the history of the competition.

2025 - Sai Sudharsan

Sai Sudharsan won the Orange Cap after a stellar season for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025. It was the form of their top three that powered GT’s run to the playoffs this season and Sudharsan led the way in a lineup that included his captain Shubman Gill and an all-time T20 great in Jos Buttler. Sudharsan finished the season with 759 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.21 and maintained a strike rate of 156.17. He scored six half-centuries and one century.