IPL 2026: Heinrich Klaasen, Sai Sudharsan Breach 500-Run Mark In Orange Cap Race During GT Vs SRH Clash

Gujarat Titans opener B Sai Sudharsan claimed the Indian Premier League's coveted Orange Cap with a knock of 61 off 44 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday. The Orange Cap is offered to the player with most runs in an IPL season.

The half-century at the Narendra Modi Stadium took Sudharsan's tally for the season past the 500-run mark, underlining his remarkable consistency in IPL 2026. The stylish left-hander struck five fours and two sixes during his fluent knock, registering his fifth fifty of the season and his third consecutive half-century in the tournament.

The 24-year-old also has a hundred in this IPL which he got against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. But his hold of the Orange Cap was short-lived as Heinrich Klaasen overtook his tally during Hyderabad's innings.

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For a third straight year, Sudharsan has amassed over 500 runs in the IPL. Last year he got 759 runs and in IPL 2024 he amassed 527 runs. 

Thanks to his fifty and a half-century by Washingon Sundar (50 off 33 balls), GT got a competitive score of 168/5 in 20 overs on a tough pitch.

SRH's Klaasen wasn't far behind and he overtook Sudharsan with a knock of only 14 off 16 balls and crosses the 500-run mark too. Klaasen's tally stands at 508 runs. The South African batter has hit five half-centuries this year. He has struck 23 sixes and 38 fours so far.

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