Punjab Kings’ skipper Shikhar Dhawan on Sunday became the new Orange Cap holder in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Dhawan slammed an unbeaten 99 off just 66 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL 2023 encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
The southpaw’s magnificent innings helped the Kings post 143/9 in their 20 overs. However, the hosts rode on Rahul Tripathi’s unbeaten 74 off 48 balls and captain Aiden Markram’s unbeaten 21-ball 37 to register an eight-wicket win.
During Dhawan’s impressive knock, the 37-year-old pipped Chennai Super Kings’ Ruturaj Gaikwad to climb to the top spot in the race for the Orange Cap.
🧡 @SDhawan25
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) April 9, 2023
The only Orange you need to love today 😉#SRHvPBKS #JazbaHaiPubjabi #SaddaPunjab #TATAIPL
The PBKS captain has now scored 225 runs in three matches in IPL 2023 at an excellent strike rate of 149, including two fifties to his name.
“I didn’t expect to reach there at the end of the day but I was playing according to the situation, still keeping positive,” Dhawan said at the post-match presentation.
“Of course it was disappointing (seeing wickets keep falling) but the way we thought the wicket was going to play, it was playing differently. It was seaming and sometimes kept low. But that’s a learning process for my batting unit and that’s fine,” he added.
Gaikwad is now second on the list with 189 runs in three matches, while Delhi Capitals’ David Warner features third with 158 runs in three games so far.
Rajasthan Royals’ Jos Buttler and Lucknow Super Giants’ Kyle Mayers complete the top five list. While Buttler has amassed 152 runs in three matches, Mayers has accumulated 139 runs in IPL 2023 so far.
IPL 2023 Orange Cap list
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | SR |
| Shikhar Dhawan (PBKS) | 3 | 225 | 225 | 149.00 |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) | 3 | 189 | 94.50 | 161.53 |
| David Warner (DC) | 3 | 158 | 52.67 | 117.03 |
| Jos Buttler (RR) | 3 | 152 | 50.67 | 180.95 |
| Kyle Mayers (LSG) | 3 | 139 | 46.33 | 187.83 |
Meanwhile, Dhawan will aim to continue his impressive form against defending champions Gujarat Titans in their upcoming 2023 encounter at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Thursday, April 13.
