The first week of the IPL 2023 has been entertaining with fans witnessing a number of high-scoring fixtures. The talking point of the tournament so far has been the new rules: Impact Player has hogged plenty of limelight; captains finalizing playing XIs after the toss, and the DRS used for wides and no-balls.
At the time of writing this piece, 8 matches have concluded in IPL 2023, and, surprisingly, 5 matches have been won by the time batting first – going against the tradition of the initial matches over the past IPL seasons where the chasing teams used to win more games at the start of the tournament.
This anamoly in this season – of teams batting first winning 5 games and losing 3 – seems to be because of the new rules- teams batting first go with an extra batter, thus emboldening the top-order to play attacking cricket, and then a bowler would come in to replace a batter as Impact Player.
Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings have won both of their matches, while Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Chennai Super Kings won 1 each out of their 2 matches. Royal Challengers Bangalore emerged victorious in their only match, whereas Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, and Sunrisers Hyderabad all lost their first match. Delhi Capitals is the side to lose both of their games so far.
Last night Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 81 runs at their home ground Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Here is the updated points table of IPL 2023:
Ruturaj Gaikwad wears the Orange Cap
Talking about the Orange Cap holder, it is CSK opener Ruturaj who is the leading run-scorer currently after 8 matches. Gaikwad smashed fifties in both of his outings, amassing 149 runs in 2 knocks at a splendid strike rate of 183.
Gaikwad’s 92 in the tournament opener vs GT is the highest individual score of the tournament so far.
Following Gaikwad are PBKS opener Shikhar Dhawan, whose best of 86* came vs RR, and Kyle Mayers, who became the first player in the history of the IPL to hit two fifties in his first two matches, both have scored 126 runs each.
Mark Wood wears the Purple Cap
Talking about the Purple Cap holder, it is the fiery LSG fast bowler Mark Wood, who has snapped 8 wickets in 2 matches, including a best of 5/14 vs DC, which is the best bowling figures in the tournament so far.
6 other bowlers – Ellis, Rashid Khan, Bishnoi, Arshdeep, Chahal, and Shami – have taken 5 wickets each.