Former Indian opening batter Virender Sehwag, who has now donned the hat of an expert and commentator after his retirement from professional cricket, has backed Indian batter KL Rahul to win the Orange Cap and Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in IPL 2025. Rahul, who topped the run-getters list in IPL 2020, will play for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025. He was signed for Rs 14 crore by the Delhi-based franchise in the IPL 2025 mega auction after being released by Lucknow Super Giants despite scoring most runs for them in the last season of the world’s richest franchise cricket league. Ahead of the start of the IPL 2025, Sehwag, during a Cricbuzz show, was asked to make his predictions for the Orange Cap, Purple Cap, MVP, top four and winners. For the Orange Cap, which is awarded to the leading run scorer, Sehwag backed Rahul’s candidature, and for the Purple Cap, which is won by the leading wicket-taker, he mentioned Varun Chakaravarthy’s name. “KL Rahul jis form mein hai, vo top run getter ho sakte hai (KL Rahul, the kind of form he’s in, he can be the top run getter),” Sehwag said. “Umeed hai ki KL Rahul agar top run getter honge toh vo he Most Valuable Player bhi honge,” he added. “Varun Chakaravarthy hai, vo shayad top wicket-taker ho sakte hai (Varun Chakaravarthy is there; he can be the top wicket-taker),” Sehwag added. Chakaravarthy, who was retained by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of IPL 2025, has been in red-hot form these days. He finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker for India in the Champions Trophy 2025 and also picked up 14 wickets during the five-match T20I series played against England in January-February 2025. The former DC and PBKS captain was also asked to pick his top-four teams of IPL 2025, and he has backed Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants to qualify for the playoffs. When asked to make his prediction for the winners, Sehwag backed LSG to go all the way and win the first-ever IPL title. “Lucknow aur Mumbai mein se koi ek ho sakta hai. Agar mujhe ek pick karna pade toh shayad mein Lucknow ke saath jaaunga kyuki mere saathi Zaheer Khan waha iss baar phauche hai toh kuch magic kar sakte hai.”