The Women’s Premier League has quickly become one of the most watched cricket leagues in the world. Since its launch in 2023, it’s drawn elite talent from every corner of the globe. And every season, one batter rises above the rest.
That batter takes home the Orange Cap.
It’s the badge of the best run-scorer in the competition. Four seasons in, four different winners. Each one brought something unique to the crease. Here’s the full story, season by season.
WPL Orange Cap Winners List
WPL Orange Cap Winners List
Quick Summary
What is the WPL Orange Cap? It’s awarded to the highest run-scorer of each WPL season.
How many seasons? Four seasons played so far: 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Who won in 2026? Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian player to claim the Orange Cap.
Key Highlights
- Meg Lanning won the inaugural Orange Cap in 2023 with 345 runs
- Ellyse Perry followed in 2024 with 347 runs for RCB
- Nat Sciver-Brunt set an all-time WPL record with 523 runs in 2025
- Smriti Mandhana won in 2026 with 377 runs, making history as the first Indian winner
- Three of the four winners played for either Delhi Capitals, RCB, or Mumbai Indians
WPL Orange Cap Winners List (2023–2026)
Here’s a complete look at every Orange Cap holder across all four WPL seasons.
| Season | Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Meg Lanning | Delhi Capitals | 9 | 345 | 43.12 | 131.67 |
| 2024 | Ellyse Perry | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 9 | 347 | 49.57 | 138.95 |
| 2025 | Nat Sciver-Brunt | Mumbai Indians | 10 | 523 | 65.37 | 149.71 |
| 2026 | Smriti Mandhana | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 9 | 377 | 53.86 | 153.25 |
Orange Cap Season-by-Season Breakdown
Meg Lanning: Setting the Standard in 2023
The very first WPL Orange Cap went to someone who was already a legend. Meg Lanning arrived in India and immediately showed why she’s considered one of the best T20 openers in history.
She scored 345 runs in nine matches for Delhi Capitals. Her unbeaten 99 against Gujarat Giants was one of the highlights of the whole tournament. Lanning batted with control and kept finding gaps even on difficult pitches.
Delhi made it to the final that year. They lost to Mumbai Indians, but Lanning’s individual brilliance was undeniable. She gave the WPL its first proper batting icon.
Ellyse Perry: Runs Plus a Title in 2024
In 2024, Ellyse Perry edged past Lanning’s record. She scored 347 runs in nine games for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, collecting the Orange Cap by the narrowest of margins in terms of history.
But Perry’s season wasn’t just about personal numbers. She led RCB to their first-ever WPL title. They beat Delhi Capitals by 8 wickets in the final. Perry anchored innings when things were tight and accelerated when it mattered.
She’s known for her calm, yet you’d never call her passive. Perry picks the right moment and then punishes the bowling attack without warning.
Nat Sciver-Brunt: Breaking Every Record in 2025
Nobody in WPL history has scored more runs in a single season than Nat Sciver-Brunt. Her 523 runs in 10 matches for Mumbai Indians weren’t just a record. They were a statement.
She played with a consistency that set her apart from everyone else. Match after match, she walked out and delivered. Mumbai rode that form all the way to their second WPL title, defeating Delhi Capitals in the final.
Sciver-Brunt also took home the MVP award that season. Honestly, it was never really in doubt.
Smriti Mandhana: History Made in 2026
WPL 2026 belonged to Smriti Mandhana. She scored 377 runs in 9 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and became the first Indian player to win the Orange Cap. That’s not just a personal milestone. It meant something to millions of cricket fans across the country.
Her average of 53.86 and strike rate of 153.25 told the story of a batter at her peak. She combined timing, power, and smart shot selection throughout the tournament.
The defining moment came in the WPL 2026 final against Delhi Capitals. Mandhana was running a 103-degree fever. She still walked out and scored 87 off 41 balls. RCB chased down 204, their highest-ever successful chase. She made it look straightforward.
WPL Orange Cap List 2026: Top 10 Run-Scorers
Here’s how the WPL Orange Cap 2026 top 10 leaderboard shaped up during the season.
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smriti Mandhana | RCB | 9 | 377 | 87 |
| 2 | Meg Lanning | Delhi Capitals | 9 | 312 | 78 |
| 3 | Laura Wolvaardt | UP Warriorz | 8 | 298 | 91* |
| 4 | Nat Sciver-Brunt | Mumbai Indians | 9 | 274 | 72 |
| 5 | Ellyse Perry | RCB | 8 | 261 | 68* |
| 6 | Deepti Sharma | UP Warriorz | 9 | 243 | 65 |
| 7 | Shafali Verma | Delhi Capitals | 9 | 231 | 58 |
| 8 | Hayley Matthews | Mumbai Indians | 8 | 218 | 61 |
| 9 | Richa Ghosh | RCB | 9 | 204 | 54* |
| 10 | Beth Mooney | Gujarat Giants | 8 | 197 | 63 |
Note: These figures reflect season-end standings and may include playoff matches.
WPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap 2026: A Side-by-Side View
The WPL Orange Cap Purple Cap 2026 race ran simultaneously, with top batters and bowlers battling it out across the season. Here’s a quick snapshot.
| Award | Winner 2026 | Team | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Cap (Top Batter) | Smriti Mandhana | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 377 runs @ SR 153.25 |
| Purple Cap (Top Bowler) | TBC / Season Data | – | – |
The WPL Purple Cap 2026 race was equally fierce. The Purple Cap WPL award goes to the leading wicket-taker of the season. To check the WPL Purple Cap Winners list and WPL Purple Cap list across all seasons, see our dedicated Purple Cap article.
Expert Analysis: What the Orange Cap Race Tells Us About WPL Batting
The Orange Cap WPL race gives you a window into how batting has changed since 2023. Look at the numbers closely and a few things stand out.
- Run totals keep climbing. Lanning’s 345 was outstanding in 2023. By 2025, Sciver-Brunt needed 523 to win. Pitches have stayed competitive, so this isn’t just about easy scoring. Batters are simply getting better at reading T20 conditions in the WPL.
- Openers dominate. All four Orange Cap winners batted at the top of the order. Opening the batting in T20 means more balls faced, which directly translates to more runs. But it also means handling the new ball and the pressure of setting the tone.
- Form in the knockout rounds decides everything. Mandhana’s final heroics in 2026, Perry’s title-winning run in 2024, and Sciver-Brunt’s consistency through Mumbai’s 2025 playoffs all show the same thing. You need to deliver when the stakes are highest.
- International experience matters. Every winner has deep experience playing at the highest level internationally. The WPL moves fast. Players without that background struggle to adjust.
WPL 2026 Orange Cap Leaderboard: Key Takeaways
- Mandhana’s 377 runs placed her well clear at the top of the WPL 2026 Orange Cap leaderboard
- She maintained momentum across both the group stage and knockouts
- RCB’s batting lineup supported her, but she carried the run chase in the final single-handedly
- Her strike rate of 153.25 was the highest among the top 5 run-scorers in 2026
Comparing All Four Orange Cap Winners
| Player | Season | Runs | Matches | Average | Strike Rate | Team Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meg Lanning | 2023 | 345 | 9 | 43.12 | 131.67 | Runner-up |
| Ellyse Perry | 2024 | 347 | 9 | 49.57 | 138.95 | Champions |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | 2025 | 523 | 10 | 65.37 | 149.71 | Champions |
| Smriti Mandhana | 2026 | 377 | 9 | 53.86 | 153.25 | Champions |
Three of the four Orange Cap winners lifted the WPL trophy in the same season. Lanning was the exception, but her Delhi Capitals side came closer to the title than that stat might suggest.
Conclusion: The Orange Cap Keeps Getting More Competitive
The WPL Orange Cap is a mark of sustained excellence, not just a hot streak. You can’t win it with two big innings. You need to deliver across nine or ten matches, through different conditions, against different bowling attacks.
Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Smriti Mandhana have each proved they belong at the very top of women’s T20 cricket. Each one left a different mark on the tournament.
Mandhana’s 2026 win was especially significant. She carried a championship team, broke a barrier for Indian batters, and delivered her best performance when it mattered most. That’s what the Orange Cap is really about.
The WPL Orange Cap list keeps growing, and every new season adds another name to cricket history.
FAQs
- Who has won the WPL Orange Cap the most times?
No player has won the WPL Orange Cap more than once. Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Smriti Mandhana have each won it once across the four seasons played so far.
- What is the highest run tally ever in a WPL season?
Nat Sciver-Brunt holds the record with 523 runs in the 2025 WPL season. She played 10 matches and scored at an average of 65.37 for Mumbai Indians.
- Who won the WPL Purple Cap in 2026?
The WPL Purple Cap 2026 was contested among the top wicket-takers of the season. For the full WPL Purple Cap Winners list, including season-by-season data, check the dedicated Purple Cap article.
- Has any Indian player ever won the WPL Orange Cap?
Yes. Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian player to win the WPL Orange Cap in 2026, scoring 377 runs in 9 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- Which team has produced the most Orange Cap winners?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru leads with two Orange Cap winners: Ellyse Perry in 2024 and Smriti Mandhana in 2026. Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians have one winner each.
