The IPL 2023 will kick-start on March 31 with Chennai Super Kings meeting Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. The 10-team tournament will run for 2 months with the final slated for May 28.
It will be interesting to see whether one of the three most successful IPL teams – MI, CSK, KKR – reclaim the trophy, or the defending champions – Gujarat – are able to defend their title, or do we get a new winner this time – RCB or PBKS?
Teams will want their X-factor players to make game-changing impacts to help them win matches and the trophy.
Here is the X-factor of each team in IPL 2023:
Chennai Super Kings – Ben Stokes
They don’t come bigger clutch players than Ben Stokes, who CSK roped in for INR 16.25 Crore to fill the shoes of the IPL-retired Dwayne Bravo.
Stokes, who hit a match-winning fifty in the finals of the ODI and T20 World Cup, will have to be a big contributor if CSK have to win their 5th IPL trophy in what is all but certain to be the last IPL season of MS Dhoni.
Stokes played alongside Dhoni in his debut IPL season, in 2017, for Rising Pune Supergiant, helping Pune reach the final and was named the Player of the Tournament.
Mumbai Indians – Jofra Archer
If CSK have the 2017 Man of the Tournament, Mumbai Indians welcome the MVP of IPL 2020, Jofra Archer, who they had bought in IPL 2022 mega-auction for INR 8 crore. Archer, who missed last season due to injury, will straightaway take the bowling spearhead duties from Bumrah, who will miss the IPL 2023.
Archer is coming off a good return to high-level cricket, having been amongst wickets during the SA20 and for England against South Africa and Bangladesh.
Gujarat Titans – Rahul Tewatia
GT’s big-money signing from IPL 2022 mega-auction, all-rounder Rahul Tewatia, who was bought for 9 crore, made difference in Gujarat’s campaign last year with his impressive lower-order hitting, including hitting 2 sixes to Odean Smith when 12 runs were needed off the last 2 balls.
Tewatia’s temperament has shone through brightly in his highly entertaining IPL career so far. GT will be hoping for the all-rounder to once again prove to be their X-factor in IPL 2023.
Rajasthan Royals – Riyan Parag
Last year’s runner-ups, Rajasthan Royals, would have been feeling satisfied, and even vindicated, that Riyan Parag has made tremendous strides in his career and had a successful domestic season across formats after last season, where it felt he went under-utilized when RR struggled for a balanced combination.
Now with Holder in the side, Parag is likely to get better batting opportunities than last season and make more impact in the finisher’s role.
Royal Challengers Bangalore – Wanindu Hasaranga
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been one of the best spinners in T20 cricket in the past three years and attained success in different conditions around the world for franchises and Sri Lanka.
Hasaranga, who was the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2022, will be itching to take the field in front of a passionate RCB-supporting crowd at the Chinnaswamy, despite the ground’s reputation of being a batting-friendly venue. Good performances here will add to Hasaranga’s threat.
Lucknow Super Giants – Nicholas Pooran
LSG spent 16 crore on Nicholas Pooran, who is one of the most destructive T20 batters in the world but has failed to be consistent. Pooran had a good IPL 2022 – average of 38, strike rate of 144 – but was still released by SRH.
LSG, who feels Pooran is of great value, splashed INR 16 crore on the former West Indies captain. The left-hander boasts of a T20 strike rate of 141, which goes to 185 in the death overs.
Delhi Capitals – Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw is a proper intent merchant – not too many in Indian cricket at the highest level currently – a fearless, imposing opener who has been one of the most attacking openers in the IPL.
His powerplay strike rate in the last two IPL seasons is 162 and overall 156. Shaw will be the perfect opening partner for David Warner, who, in Pant’s absence, might want to bat through the innings.
Punjab Kings – Sam Curran
The most-expensive IPL player ever, Sam Curran’s price tag of INR 18.5 crore tells it all. The 24-year-old England all-rounder will be key if Punjab Kings are to make their first IPL playoffs since 2014.
In the T20 World Cup in Australia, Curran was the Man of the Tournament and the Man of the Match in the Final, as he shocked most with his death-bowling.
Kolkata Knight Riders – Shardul Thakur
Effective with the ball, effective with the bat – ‘Lord’ Shardul Thakur will have a significant role to play for KKR, not just as a pace-bowling all-rounder, but also as a senior Indian player.
Coming on as a trade from DC, Shardul Thakur is as X-factor as any X-factor could get: his ability to turn the momentum of the game, in any format, with bat or ball, has been unfathomable.
Sunrisers Hyderabad – Umran Malik
Last season, India’s fastest bowler Umran Malik came of age taking 22 wickets in the IPL 2022 and later on making his India debuts in T20Is and ODIs.
While keeping his extreme pace intact, Umran Malik will now have to get better at his accuracy and bring SRH into the playoff contention.
