IPL 2016 Winner, Runner-Up, Orange Cap, Purple Cap & Prize Money

IPL 2016 was one of the most memorable seasons in the tournament’s history — not primarily because of the title winner, but because of the most extraordinary individual batting performance the IPL has ever witnessed. The ninth edition ran from 9 April 2016 to 29 May 2016 — featuring eight teams across 60 matches, and delivering a season that will forever be associated with Virat Kohli’s incredible run-scoring — a performance that rewrote every IPL batting record and set benchmarks that remain unmatched years later.

IPL 2016 — Complete Season Overview

IPL 2016 Winner — Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad won their first IPL title in 2016 — a triumph built on the most disciplined bowling attack in the tournament and a batting lineup that was effective without being extravagant. Under the captaincy of David Warner — the Australian left-hander who was SRH’s engine at the top of the batting order — Hyderabad played efficient, professional cricket throughout the season.

SRH’s bowling attack was the defining factor in their title campaign. Bhuvneshwar Kumar — who won the Purple Cap with 23 wickets — was immaculate with his seam movement and control. Mustafizur Rahman — the Bangladeshi left-arm seamer who won the Emerging Player award — brought something entirely new to IPL with his devastating “cutter” deliveries that bamboozled even the best T20 batsmen. Ashish Nehra’s experience and accuracy provided another quality option.

SRH’s strength was in their bowling consistency — they were extraordinarily difficult to score against in the powerplay and death overs, which compensated for a batting lineup that relied heavily on Warner and Shikhar Dhawan for runs. Their team discipline and bowling-led approach proved just good enough to beat a Royal Challengers Bangalore side who had batted magnificently all season in the final.

IPL 2016 Runner-Up — Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore reached the final for the third time — and their 2016 campaign was the most brilliantly constructed batting season any IPL team had produced. With Virat Kohli making history with his bat, AB de Villiers playing some of the most spectacular T20 innings ever seen, and the batting lineup supporting them with consistent contributions, RCB were the most entertaining team to watch that season.

Their inability to win the title despite having the tournament’s greatest individual batting performance underlined a fundamental truth about T20 cricket — bowling wins championships, and RCB’s bowling attack could not consistently defend or restrict opponents despite their batting magnificence.

IPL 2016 Final — SRH vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

The final was played on 29 May 2016 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru — RCB’s home ground, creating an extraordinary atmosphere as Bengaluru’s passionate fans hoped to witness their team’s first IPL title on their own turf.

RCB batted first and were restricted to 200/7 — a large total that would have been sufficient against most teams. But SRH’s batsmen chased brilliantly — David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan providing the platform and the middle order finishing the job with aggression. SRH won by 8 runs — heartbreak for RCB and their fans — in one of the closest IPL final finishes. The victory confirmed SRH’s quality as a genuine title-winning outfit.

IPL 2016 Orange Cap — Virat Kohli (973 Runs)

The Orange Cap in IPL 2016 was won by Virat Kohli with 973 runs — the highest run tally in a single IPL season in history, a record that still stands as of 2026. Kohli was in a category of his own throughout the tournament — scoring four centuries and seven half-centuries in 16 innings. His combination of technical perfection, mental strength, and physical fitness allowed him to perform at an extraordinary level across every match of the season.

Kohli came within 27 runs of becoming the first batsman to score 1000 runs in a single IPL season — a near-miss that reflected his exceptional contribution. His Player of the Tournament award was unanimous — no other individual performance in IPL history comes close to what he produced in 2016.

IPL 2016 Purple Cap — Bhuvneshwar Kumar (23 Wickets)

The Purple Cap in IPL 2016 was won by Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Sunrisers Hyderabad — the Indian right-arm seamer whose ability to swing the ball at pace, bowl precise yorkers, and take wickets throughout the innings made him the most complete fast bowler in the tournament. His 23 wickets came at excellent economy — his 5/19 was among the finest T20 bowling performances of the season — and his contribution was central to SRH’s title triumph.

IPL 2016 Prize Money

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who won IPL 2016?

A: Sunrisers Hyderabad won IPL 2016 — defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 8 runs in the final at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

Q: Who was the runner-up in IPL 2016?

A: Royal Challengers Bangalore were the runners-up in IPL 2016.

Q: Who won the Orange Cap in IPL 2016?

A: Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bangalore — scoring 973 runs in 16 innings — the highest run tally in IPL history.

Q: Who won the Purple Cap in IPL 2016?

A: Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Sunrisers Hyderabad — taking 23 wickets in 17 matches.

Q: What is the record for most runs in a single IPL season?

A: Virat Kohli’s 973 runs for RCB in IPL 2016 — including 4 centuries and 7 half-centuries — remains the all-time record.

Q: How much prize money did SRH receive in IPL 2016?

A: Sunrisers Hyderabad received ₹20 crore as IPL 2016 champions.