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The race for the Orange Cap in IPL 2026 is heating up with every match. Following the clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), there has been a significant shift in the standings. Star batter Virat Kohli has climbed to the top of the leaderboard once again.
Virat Kohli Back on Top with Match-Winning Knock
Virat Kohli is in exceptional form this season. In the match against LSG, he played a crucial knock of 49 runs, helping RCB successfully chase down a target of 147.
With this performance, Kohli now has 228 runs from 5 matches in IPL 2026. He is averaging 57 with an impressive strike rate of over 158. During this run, he has smashed 25 fours and 8 sixes.
Kohli also continues to hold the record as the highest run-scorer in IPL history, having already crossed the 8,800-run mark in the tournament.
Key Contenders in the Orange Cap Race
As Kohli moved to the top spot, Heinrich Klaasen slipped to second place. Klaasen has scored 224 runs in 5 innings and remains a strong contender.
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar occupies the third position with 222 runs.
Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi complete the top five with consistent performances.
IPL 2026 Orange Cap Standings (After RCB vs LSG)
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 5 | 228 | 158.33 |
| 2 | Heinrich Klaasen | SRH | 5 | 224 | 142.67 |
| 3 | Rajat Patidar | RCB | 5 | 222 | 213.46 |
| 4 | Ishan Kishan | SRH | 5 | 213 | 190.17 |
| 5 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR | 5 | 200 | 263.15 |
| 6 | Sanju Samson | CSK | 5 | 185 | 172.89 |
| 7 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | RR | 5 | 184 | 157.26 |
| 8 | Angkrish Raghuvanshi | KKR | 5 | 182 | 155.55 |
| 9 | Dhruv Jurel | RR | 5 | 176 | 177.77 |
| 10 | Jos Buttler | GT | 4 | 176 | 158.55 |
Virat Kohli’s Orange Cap Legacy
This isn’t the first time Kohli has dominated the Orange Cap race. He has previously won it:
- In 2016, with a record-breaking 973 runs in a single season
- In 2024, with 741 runs at a strike rate of 154
Now in IPL 2026, he looks in prime form again and is a strong contender to win the Orange Cap for the third time.
Conclusion
As IPL 2026 progresses, the Orange Cap race is becoming increasingly competitive. While Virat Kohli currently leads the chart, players like Klaasen, Patidar, and Kishan are close behind and pushing hard.
It will be interesting to see whether Kohli can maintain his lead or if another batter emerges at the top in the coming matches.
Also Read: MI vs PBKS IPL 2026 Pitch Report: Wankhede Stats, Records & Match Preview
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