3 times an Orange Cap winner failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs

The league stages of IPL 2023 concluded with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) going down to defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Bangalore on Sunday, May 21.

The defeat saw RCB get eliminated from playoff qualification for the first time in the last four seasons, finishing with 14 points in as many games. The Gujarat Titans (GT), the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and the Mumbai Indians (MI) eventually ended up being the four teams clinching playoff spots.

Despite missing out on playoff qualification, RCB skipper Faf du Plessis has been on a magnificent run-scoring spree, with 730 runs in 14 matches. His tally has him on top of the Orange Cap list and 50 runs clear of second-placed Shubman Gill.

While the list is fluid and could see du Plessis being displaced from the top spot by the end of the tournament, it is rare to find the team with the Orange Cap holder eliminated from qualifying for the Playoffs.

The team with the Orange Cap holder has won the IPL title only twice in 15 years, yet qualified for the playoffs on all but three occasions.

On that note, let us look at the three times an Orange Cap winner failed to qualify for the Playoffs of the IPL.

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#1 KL Rahul (Punjab Kings, IPL 2020)

The last occasion where an Orange Cap winner missed out on playoff qualification was KL Rahul of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2020.

The 31-year-old was appointed as captain ahead of the season, and he did not disappoint with the bat, scoring 670 runs at an average of 55.83 and a strike rate of 129.34.

However, despite Rahul's outstanding season with the bat, PBKS finished sixth on the points table, winning just six of their 14 games.

It was KL Rahul's third straight season of scoring more than 550 runs for the PBKS, yet the side failed to qualify for the playoffs on each occasion.

Eventually, the franchise moved on from Rahul, and the right-handed opener has been captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) since the 2022 season.

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#2 David Warner (SunRisers Hyderabad, IPL 2015)

Australian opener David Warner moved to the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) after five seasons with the now-defunct Delhi Daredevils (DD) from 2008 to 2013.

Warner impressed in his first season with SRH in 2014, scoring 528 runs in 14 matches, but the team failed to qualify for the playoffs.

He carried his form in 2015 after being appointed the captain of SRH, scoring 562 runs in 14 games and winning the Orange Cap.

Despite Warner's heroics, SRH fell short of qualifying for the playoffs for a second straight season with 14 points in as many games.

The 36-year-old finally broke through to the playoffs with SRH in 2016, leading them to their first title while scoring 848 runs in 17 games.

David Warner was instrumental in SRH qualifying for the playoffs five consecutive seasons from 2016 to 2020, including winning the Orange cap again in 2017 and 2019.

The dashing opener played for SRH till 2021 before moving on to the Delhi Capitals last season.

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#3 Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2012)

The Universe Boss Chris Gayle became the first player in IPL history not to qualify for the playoffs despite winning the Orange cap in the 2012 season.

The West Indian hard-hitter made a heroic start to his run with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011, scoring 608 runs in 12 games and winning his first Orange Cap award. Gayle's incredible season included two centuries and three fifties as he helped RCB reached the final of the 2011 season.

In 2012, Gayle had an even better season with the bat, with 733 runs in 15 matches with an average of 61.04 and a strike rate of 160.74. This led to Gayle becoming the first player in the IPL to win the Orange Cap in consecutive seasons.

Despite the 43-year-old's incredible season, RCB finished just outside the playoff bracket with 17 points in 16 games.