IPL 2026 Orange Cap race: Sai Sudharsan returns to top spot as Shubman Gill climbs to No.2
TOI Sports Desk May 19, 2026 12:04 AM
Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan moved to the top of the IPL 2026 run-scorers list after his half-century against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Saturday. Sudharsan scored 53 off 28 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes during the Gujarat Titans’ chase. The left-hander now has 553 runs from 13 innings this season and overtook Heinrich Klaasen to take the Orange Cap lead.
GT captain Shubman Gill also climbed the batting charts after his knock against KKR. Gill moved up five places to second in the list of highest run-scorers this season. Gill made 85 off 49 balls, with five fours and seven sixes.
He now has 552 runs from 12 matches at a strike rate of 161.40. On Sunday, Virat Kohli also moved up in the standings and is now at third on the list with 542 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 164.74. KL Rahul is just behind Kohli, as the DC batter has accumulated 533 runs at a strike rate of 171.93. Klaasen slipped to fifth place with 508 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 153.93.
With all five batters in strong form and separated by only a few runs, the Orange Cap race remains wide open heading into the final stretch of IPL 2026.