Having provided tips on the odds for the highest run getter overall, we turn our attention to predictions for the top run scorer at all 8 IPL 2021 teams including CSK, DC, KKR, MI, PBKS, RCB, RR and SRH.
Of course the field for the orange cap is very large and competitive but as we shift our analysis to consider each teams leading batsmen we are generally left with 2 or 3 plausible candidates to be each franchise’s top run scorer in IPL 2021 making predictions that much easier and once again enabling savvy gamblers a chance of hedging their bets across multiple players.
CSK top run scorer predictions IPL 2021
It appears their are 3 viable candidates at the top of the order for CSK to be their top run scorer in IPL 2021.
Faf du Plessis
The South African has been a stalwart in this CSK side for some time and with other experienced players now hanging up their boots much of the run scoring responsibility will fall upon his broad shoulders during IPL 2021. Despite CSK having a disappointing season last time out, Faf still managed to contribute 449 runs to the cause finishing 11th in the overall contest for leading run scorer and comfortably clear of anyone else in a yellow shirt. It is that consistency both on a season by season basis and across all conditions that makes du Plessis the favourite to once again be CSK’s top run scorer in this season’s IPL and you can back him at generous odds of 3.75 to do just that.
Ambati Rayudu
You can back Rayudu to lead the scoring charts for CSK this year at odds of 4.5. Rayudu never quite got over his snub for India’s World Cup squad in 2019 having had a stellar IPL season in the 2018 tournament when largely speaking he opened the batting. At the very least he may find himself handed the opportunity to bat number 3 in IPL 2021 and he is coming off the back of runs in domestic cricket. CSK start their campaign with 5 games at the Wankhede Stadium, a venue that Rayudu knows well from his time with Mumbai Indians
Delhi Capitals top run scorer predictions IPL 2021
With such a strong top order, picking a top run scorer for DC this year will be a tough task and it’s likely to come down to 4 batsmen on their books 3 of whom we have also tipped to be challenging for the orange cap at the end of the season!
Steve Smith
The former Rajasthan Royals captain certainly has a point to prove during IPL 2021 having been released by his former franchise and then failing to attract very much attention during the auction that followed. Still, this is a batsmen capable of scoring runs on a truly monumental scale and while there may have been a few raised eyebrows at his signing by DC, with the injury to Shreyas Iyer likely to keep him out all season, Smith’s favoured number 3 spot in T20 cricket has suddenly become available. At odds of 3.75 for him to be the Capitals’ top run scorer in IPL 2021 he is certainly worth a bet.
Shikhar Dhawan
Dhawan is likely to play as the more conservative opener next to Prithvi Shaw, a role that suited him well last season as he finally got his first IPL hundred and then immediately followed it up with another. Despite being dropped from India’s T20 squad early in the series vs England, he returned to the 50 over team and looked in very good form throughout. His experience in this competition makes him a good bet to once again be Delhi Capitals top run scorer in IPL 2021 and you can back him to that at odds of 3.75
Rishabh Pant
Having been left out of India’s squad for the 1st Test against Australia, Pant has since returned and can rightly claim to have been India’s best batsmen across all forms of the game over the last few months. T20 cricket is where he first made his name with IPL 2018 seeing him hit an incredible 684 runs to lead his side’s scoring charts. He’s likely to bat most of the season outside the top 3 and this will work against him being able to consistently face enough balls to rack up the really big scores. However, as Pant has shown in the past, he doesn’t need many balls to influence a game of cricket and you can back him as DC’s top run scorer in IPL 2021 at odds of 4.5
KKR top run scorer predictions IPL 2021
Who will score the top order runs for KKR is a pressing concern for the franchise in general but one name stands out as a player who could provide that much needed stability at the start of games.
Shubman Gill
While there are some question marks over Gill’s style of play and tempo as to whether he is really suited to T20, what he certainly offers is a classy stroke playing option at the top of the order that can anchor the innings. His 440 runs last season were crucial to KKR’s challenge for a playoff place and you’d image he will need to offer similar consistency this year if KKR are to improve on a topsy turvy season in 2020. You can back him to be KKR’s top run scorer in IPL 2021 at odds of 3.5 which seems very good value given the lack of alternatives the Knight Riders possess.
Eoin Morgan
KKR’s new captain had an excellent season despite his team’s struggles. Again, as a batsmen generally playing outside the top 3, the chances for him to score big runs on a consistent basis may be limited albeit that last the KKR top order failed so regularly that Morgan did see enough action to pass the 400 run mark. You can back him to be KKR’s top run scorer in IPL 2021 at odds of 7.0
Mumbai Indians top run scorer predictions IPL 2021
Rohit Sharma is once again the favourite to top MI’s scoring charts this season but his form over the last couple of IPL seasons suggest his price of 3.25 may be poor value while alternatives could yet prove a good bet.
Suyakumar Yadav
That better value to be MI’s top run scorer in IPL 2021 can surely be found in the form of Suryakumar Yadav who also appears in our list of predictions for Orange Cap winner. Yadav finshed as the franchise’s leading run scorer in 2018 and has been within touching distance the past couple of seasons too. His debut for India shows that his career is very much on the up and up and he’ll be looking for a strong IPL to cement his place in the World Cup squad. You can back him to score more runs than any of his celebrated teammates at very generous odds of 6.0
Quinton de Kock
Again better value than Rohit can be found in the odds of his opening partner de Kock. Since arrivng at the franchise the South African left hander has scored more runs than anyone else at Mumbai Indians and I’d be surprised if he is finished there. You can back him to once again be Mumbai’s top run scorer at odds of 4.0.
Ishan Kishan
The explosive left hander was Mumbai Indian’s top scorer last season and there is nothing to suggest that he can’t be as effective again this season. Batting at number 4 might limit his chances at times but equally we have seen Mumbai be flexible with their line-up in the past and if that is the case again and Kishan gets more time at the top of the order then his odds of 5.0 will seem very generous.
Punjab Kings top run scorer predictions in IPL 2021
KL Rahul
KL Rahul has topped the run scoring chart for Punjab Kings for the last 3 IPL seasons and given that no one has finished within 100 runs of him during that time, it’s difficult to see past him as the franchise’s top run scorer once again. As you’d imagine the odds on him to do so are pretty short at 2.10 but to be honest I can’t see any particular value in regards his closest challengers so a bet on the favourite is the way to go.
RCB top run scorer predictions in IPL 2021
Virat Kohli is the favourite to be RCB’s top run scorer and he was our number 1 prediction to win the Orange Cap following his announcement that he plans to open the batting this year. While his odds for tournament top run scorer seemed a good price his value to lead RCB on that front isn’t so great at odds of just 1.8. It’s true that there are holes in this RCB line-up but in regards top-order batsmen there is still some others to consider
Devdutt Padikkal
The left handed opener out scored both Kohli and AB in last season’s IPL and he comes into this tournament off the back of some very good form in domestic cricket. The second season for any youngster can be a difficult one but he represents good value at odds of 5.0 to repeat his efforts of 2020 and finish as RCB’s top run scorer.
Rajasthan Royals top run scorer predictions in IPL 2021
Consistency of runs from the top order is going to be one of the main challenges for the Royals in this IPL. Their big 3 players in that regard are Buttler, Stokes and new captain Sanju Sampson. All 3 blew a little hot and cold last year and Buttler’s poor run of form ultimately saw him pushed down the order. I’d imagine he’ll be given another chance in that role which is why he is the favourite to lead the scoring charts at odds of 2.5 but there is possibly better value to be had on the other 2
Sanju Samson
There is no doubting Samson’s talent and it’s not too late for him to push for a place in India’s World Cup squad if he has a strong IPL 2021. It will also be interesting to see how the captaincy impacts him. Will it bring the kind of focus for him to add consistency to his game or will it shackle his natural ability and scoring,? However at odds of 3.5 he is probably worth a small stake to be RR’s top run scorer in IPL 2021
Ben Stokes
There seems to be a clamour for Stokes to be moved up the order at both club and international level and on the occasions that he has been given that opportunity over the past 6 months he has shown why. His odds of 4.0 to be RR’s top run scorer are more generous simply because he hasn’t ever had a consistent run of games in the top 3 but that appears likely to change in 2021 and as such he represents good value for money.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad top run scorer predictions in IPL 2021
David Warner
Predicting a top run scorer for SRH in IPL 2021 is a tricky one. David Warner seems the logical choice and his brilliant record in this tournament over the years does mean that his odds of 2.62 are good value. At the same time, SRH have some other very talented top order batsmen to chose from. The big question in regards Kane Williamson and Jonny Bairstow is will they play every game or might SRH rotate the pair alongside some of their overseas all-rounder options? If that is the case then then Warner’s odds look even better but we may need to wait and see how they choose to line-up in their first couple of games before we know more.