The IPL 2023 is into its business end of the tournament as it has entered the last week of the league phase stage. So far, only one team – Gujarat Titans – has secured a playoff spot while two teams at the bottom of the points table – Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad – have been eliminated from the playoff race. Rest 7 teams are still in contention for the remaining 3 playoffs spots.
There have been a number of outstanding individual performances and performers in the Indian Premier League 2023, both Indian and overseas. So today we thought of making an XI of best performing players in the Indian Premier League 2023. We have adhered to the IPL rule of keeping a maximum of 4 overseas players in the XI.
Here is the best XI of IPL 2023:
Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis has been at his consistent best in Indian Premier League 2023. The RCB captain and opener is currently the leading run-scorer of the season, holding the Orange Cap, and became the first batsman to breach 600 runs in Indian Premier League 2023. After 12 games, Faf is averages 57 with a strike rate of 154 having notched up 7 half-centuries – the most this season by a batter so far.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
It was a tough call between Yashasvi Jasiwal and Shubman Gill. Both have been outstanding in the Indian Premier League 2023 and have similar numbers at the time of writing: 13 matches each, 4 half-centuries and 1 hundred for both, and just 1 run difference. But it is because of Jaiswal’s higher strike rate of 166 to Gill’s 144, and Jaiswal’s left-handedness we have gone with the RR opener over GT opener.
Suryakumar Yadav
After a blip earlier, Suryakumar Yadav is back to his belligerent best and recently smoked his maiden IPL century. SKY is the leading scorer among the non-openers with 479 runs at a strike rate of 190!
Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell has been arguably the best number 4 batsman this season so far – most runs at that position in the tournament. He’s come in at number 3 as well in a few matches. Overall, Maxwell has clattered 384 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 182 with 5 half-centuries to his name.
Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh has perhaps been the best finisher in the Indian Premier League 2023 season. Rinku is having a breakthrough season: 407 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 143 and average of 50. He has a death overs strike rate of 180 in 2023 season, amongst the best in the tournament.
Axar Patel
Axar Patel is turning into a proper all-rounder. And this season it’s been his batting that shone through, with fans claming Axar as even a better all-rounder in T20 cricket than Ravidra Jadeja. While DC have struggled this season, Axar has been their brightest spot: with the bat, he’s averaging 29 and strike rate of 137; with the ball, he’s taken 10 wickets and kept a tidy economy of 6.8.
MS Dhoni (C,wk)
Who better a captain and keeper than Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has also turned the clock back to some of his powerful finishes. In 9 innings, Dhoni has remained not out 7 times. He’s walloped 10 sixes and 3 fours, giving the fans some of their most memorable moments for life. He has a death overs strike rate of 204 this season!
Piyush Chawla
After not getting a team last season, veteran spinner Chawla has been performing superbly this season in Indian Premier League 2023. The Mumbai Indians leg-spinner has taken 19 wickets in 12 matches and kept a terrific economy of 7.59.
Matheesha Pathirana
The Sri Lankan youngster has been a crucial part of CSK’s success so far in the tournament, and without whom CSK perhaps wouldn’t have been in the second position in the points table that they are now.
Pathirana has taken 12 wickets in the death overs, at an average of 11.33 and a brilliant economy of 8.32. He’s bowled 37 dot balls in the death overs – the most by any bowler in the tournament.
Rashid Khan
A serial T20 match-winner, even though Rashid hasn’t been at this best in the Indian Premier League 2023, the Afghanistan cricketer has made significant contributions to GT’s run at the top of the table. Including a hat-trick, Rashid has taken 23 wickets in 13 games.
Mohammed Shami
Shami is the current Purple Cap holder with 23 wickets. He’s been once again scintillating with the new ball and has done well at the back end of the innings as well.
