As the IPL 2025 restarts with 17 remaining matches, attention gravitates toward the Orange and Purple Cap races. Tonight’s clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) marks the return of top contenders, with Virat Kohli in the spotlight.
Kohli aims to secure the Orange Cap, needing only six runs to overtake current leader Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians (MI), who has 510 runs. Close contenders include B Sai Sudharsan (509 runs), Shubman Gill (508 runs), and Jos Buttler (500 runs). Kohli, with 505 runs, will face KKR at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he hopes his form will continue despite the recent defensive ‘white screen’ bowling strategies. “Fans always push us to perform better,” Kohli previously noted, reflecting his motivation.
Meanwhile, Prabhsimran Singh of Punjab Kings (PBKS), holding seventh place with 437 runs, will resume his chase against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. Nicholas Pooran from Lucknow Super Giants, an early leader, is at number eight with 410 runs and hopes to regain his momentum following the break.
Turning to the Purple Cap, Prasidh Krishna of Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) wristspinner Noor Ahmad are joint leaders, each with 20 wickets. Prasidh’s superior economy rate places him ahead. Close behind are RCB’s Josh Hazlewood and MI’s Trent Boult, with 18 wickets each. Hazlewood’s IPL return remains unclear due to a shoulder injury sustained in April.
In the coming days, GT and Delhi Capitals will face off, while Lucknow takes on Sunrisers Hyderabad, with all players aiming to enhance their positions in the rankings. As matches unfold, the competitiveness of this year’s IPL promises a captivating conclusion.
