The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league founded in 2008. Since its inception, the IPL has become one of the most lucrative, popular, and entertaining cricket events worldwide, featuring some of the best teams and talents from around the globe.
The 16th season of the Indian Premier League kicked off on March 31. And again, millions of fans in India and worldwide are being treated to some of the most astonishing cricket moments, featuring fast-paced action, star-studded lineups, and thrilling comebacks. As expected, the season has also garnered massive betting action, with tons of bettors placing wagers on their favorite teams and players online.
This season, which will finish May 28, is contested between 10 teams in a round-robin format of 74 matches. As the season nears its end, some players are on their way to being the best with their exceptional performances. From already-popular names to upcoming stars, this article will explore the best players of IPL 2023 so far. Let’s dive right in!
Faf Du Plessis
Faf du Plessis is a former South African cricketer who played in all three game formats for the South African national team. He made his international debut for South Africa in 2011 and quickly established himself as a reliable middle-order batsman. He was particularly successful in Test cricket, where he scored over 4,000 runs at an average of 40.02.
After making his IPL debut in 2012 playing Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Du Plessis has played for several teams in the league. He joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) from CSK in 2022 and presently captains the team, taking over from Virat Kholi.
Du Plessis is presently at the top of the player rankings in the ongoing season. After ten matches, Gill has 511 Runs, a 56.78 Batting Average, a 157.71 Strike Rate, and 84 Hs. Score and 5/0 50s/100s, a remarkable performance, to say the least.
Shubman Gill
Born on September 8, 1999, in Fazilka, Punjab, Shubman Gill is a right-handed top-order batsman who debuted for the Indian cricket team in January 2019. Gill’s early career was marked by impressive performances in age-group cricket, and he was soon picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL.
Gill’s breakthrough performance came in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, where he was the leading run-scorer for India and played a crucial role in their title win. He scored 372 runs in six innings, including an unbeaten century in the final against Australia.
Gill joined the Gujarat Titans in 2022 from KKR and is one of the best players in the ongoing IPL season. In fact, many people are already predicting him to be the best batsman in the IPL after Virat Kholi. After ten matches of the IPL 2023 season, Gill has recorded 469 Runs, a 46.90 Batting Average, a 143.42 Strike Rate, and 94 Hs. Score and 4/0 50s/100s.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Born in 2001, Yashasvi Jaiswal is a young Indian left-handed opening batsman who debuted for the Indian national team in 2021. His breakthrough came in the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he became the youngest player to score a double century in List A cricket, helping Mumbai win the title. Jaiswal was then picked by Rajasthan Royals in the 2020 IPL auction for INR 2.4 crore.
Despite being an emerging star, the 23-year-old is one of the most promising young talents in Indian cricket. His contribution to his team in the ongoing season has been significant, and he is currently number 2 on the player rankings.
Virat Kholi
Virat Kohli is an Indian cricketer and former captain of the Indian national cricket team. He is regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world and is known for his aggressive and flamboyant style of play. Kohli has broken numerous international and domestic cricket records and won several awards for his performances.
Kholi is the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise, having been with the team since the inception of the IPL in 2008. Under his leadership, RCB has been a strong contender in the IPL, reaching the playoffs several times. He also owns several records in the league, including the most runs at 6,613 in 199 matches, the most centuries, the most runs in a single season, etc.
Despite his age, Virat Kholi remains a strong contender in the ongoing 2023 and is among the top five in the player rankings. 10 matches into the season, Kholi has recorded 419 Runs, a 46.56 Batting Average, a 135.16 Strike Rate, and 82 Hs. Score, and 6/0 50s/100s.
Jos Buttler
Born in 1990, Jos Buttler is a professional England right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper. Buttler rose to prominence during the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL). The Mumbai Indians picked him up, and his aggressive batting and exceptional wicketkeeping skills made him one of the most valuable players in the tournament. Since his IPL debut, Buttler has played in the IPL for several seasons, mainly in the Rajasthan Royals team, where he has been since 2018.
Jos Buttler is among the best players in the ongoing IPL 2023, ranked among the top 10 in the player rankings. 11 matches into the season, he has recorded 392 Runs, 35.64 Batting Average, 143.58 Strike Rate, 95 Hs. Score, and 4/0 50s/100s.
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad is an Indian cricketer who plays as a top-order batsman. In 2019, he was bought by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and debuted in the 2020 season. He had a slow start to his IPL career, but he impressed everyone with his performances in the latter half of the season. In the last three matches of the season, Gaikwad scored three consecutive half-centuries, helping CSK win all three games.
Ruturaj has consistently delivered exceptional performances in the ongoing IPL 2023 season and is currently in the top 10 on the player rankings. 11 games into the season, he has recorded 384 Runs, 42.67 Batting Average, 148.26 Strike Rate, and 92 Hs. Score, and 2/0 50s/100s.
Conclusion
The IPL 2023 season is another thrilling edition of the globally-renowned cricket tournament, with some of the world’s best cricketing talent on display. With around 50 of 74 matches played, fans have already witnessed some unforgettable performances. And it will be interesting to see which players rise to the occasion and lead their teams to glory in what is another exciting and fiercely contested season of the league.
check more details on the IPL official site IPL T20
