The Orange cap is arguably one of the highest honours in IPL history. Starting with Shaun Marsh in 2008, a host of renowned batters have won the Orange Cap, including Matthew Hayden, Chris Gayle, Sachin Tendulkar, David Warner, Virat Kohli, B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill.
Rohit Sharma is currently holding the cap, albeit only after a couple of matches, and is now the oldest player to snaffle it.
We take a look at five oldest players who have won the Orange Cap in IPL history:
5) Chris Gayle – 31 years
West Indies’ hard-hitter Chris Gayle had won the Orange Cap in IPL 2011 when he was only 31 years old. The 2011 edition saw him come into the side for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) midway through the season and clattered 608 runs in 12 innings at 67.55 with two hundreds and three fifties in their road to the final.
4) Sachin Tendulkar – 37 years
Mumbai Indians, then captained by Sachin Tendulkar, won the Orange Cap in IPL 2010 when he accumulated 618 runs in 15 innings at 47.53 and accomplished it, aged 37. The right-handed batter had also top-scored for the Mumbai Indians in the final at the Navi Mumbai against the Chennai Super Kings with 48 while chasing a stiff 169. However, the Super Kings came out triumphant by 21 runs.
3) Michael Hussey – 37 years
Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) opener Michael Hussey aggregated 733 runs in IPL 2013, averaging 52.35 in 17 innings with a staggering six half-centuries, accomplishing it at 37 years of age. However, it wasn’t enough for the Yellow Army to storm to the title win as Mumbai Indians lifted the trophy for the first time.
2) Matthew Hayden – 37 years
One of the most early pioneers of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Matthew Hayden clinched the Orange Cap in IPL 2009, aggregating 572 runs in 12 innings, averaging 52. The powerful left-hander was also 37 when he did so. Although Hayden couldn’t lift the trophy that year, the Aussie superstar managed to be part of CSK’s title-winning campaign the following season.
1) Rohit Sharma – 38 years and 339 days
While the aforementioned players had won the Orange Cap, it’s worth noting that Rohit Sharma is holding the honours when IPL 2026 is into its first week. The Mumbai Indians star will need a staggering amount of consistency to finish as the top run-getter this season, especially with the competition around him.