IPL 2023: The IPL has been widely regarded for its entertaining gameplay and for providing an incredibly vivid platform for national and international players. Many great batsmen have ruled the shorter format, especially those who can accelerate at any phase of the game.
In the game of the biggest batters, the most consistent and dominant set of players is mostly placed in the middle of the batting order. It is the middle overs who are often the rescuers for a team; they are responsible for keeping the scoreboard ticking in tough situations and often accelerating to take complete advantage of the middle overs.
Most bowling strategies include only power plays and death overs, but a good middle order can generate an effective build-up throughout the middle overs. It is also noted that these collaborations frequently lead to large scores.
Let’s take a look at the 10 teams and their best possible middle order (rating 10 is best and 5 is minimum) in IPL 2023. Below the 10 pages, you can browse to see your favorite team’s rating and the reason why.
10. Lucknow Supergiants (LSG) – Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Nicolas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis
Rating: 6.5/10
The Supergiants have one of the most formidable opening slots of the tournament. LSG lacks a proper middle order that can act as pillars to the LSG innings after a tremendous performance from the opening batsmen. Deepak Hooda was their star performer in 2022; he was the only hope for LSG in the middle order, but he has faced a severe setback since then, and his lack of form is a matter of concern for the Supergiants.
LSG would pin all their hopes on the heavily paid Pooran, who is likely to play the role of a finishing middle-order batter due to the continuous disappointment from Stoinis on the international stage and Krunal on the domestic platform.
9. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Shivam Dube and Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Rating: 6.5/10
A team with the most worthy middle-order players in history, like Suresh Raina and MSD, is now compromising with their middle-order stand as they lack proper players to fit in the role. Comprising mostly all-rounders like Ali, Dube, and the heavily paid Stokes, the CSK middle order is talented, but they have certain drawbacks like lack of form, lack of game time on Indian pitches, and inconsistency in the shorter format of the game.
Consisting of the highly experienced Ali and Stokes and led by MSD, they are capable of launching assaults on their opposition but have lost bits of their proficiency due to age.
8. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh and Narayan Jagadeesan
Rating: 7/10
The Kolkata Knight Riders have an extremely compromising set-up as they lack proper openers, a middle order, and an outfielder. Their middle order is anchored by Shreyas Iyer, as the skipper was found laying the foundation of the KKR batting innings in 2022.
The skipper is acutely supported by a decent group of players like Nitish Rana, KKR wonder man Rinku Singh, and the immensely talented rising star Jagadeesan in IPL 2023. What KKR lacks is not form or talent; they lack balance and experience to match the international caliber and tackle different situations.
7. Gujarat Titans (GT) – Sai Sudarshan, David Miller, KS.Bharat, Hardik Pandya and M.Wade
Rating: 7/10
The Titans made their debut in 2022 and gained instant recognition with their title win in their debut season, competing with long-time rivals. The Titans’ middle order is unadorned, with the exception of Sai Sudarshan, a uniquely talented domestic Indian player who recently excelled in domestic limited-overs cricket in India.
The majority of the hope would be pinned on IPL veterans David Miller and Hardik Pandya, as they often switch roles as finishers too. Other newly drafted important players include KS Bharat, who even secured Indian team spots recently and is expected to do immensely well for the Titans too.
6. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) – Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, DK, Mahipal Lomror and Suyash Prabhudesai
Rating: 7/10
The Challengers are known for their convincing middle order, as players like Rajat Patidar have shown their prolific form since the IPL in 2022 and continued to perform equally well in the domestic tournaments later. Their middle order also comprises T20 veteran Glenn Maxwell, who has dominated the shortest format with all-around brilliance.
Other players who might play a supporting role include Shahbaz Ahmed, the highly experienced IPL veteran Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudesai, and Mahipal Lomror, who often pose as replacements for their main players.
5. Delhi Capitals (DC) – Manish Pandey, Yash Dhull, Rilee Rossouw, Rovman Powell and Phill Salt
Rating: 7.5/10
The Delhi Capitals are often said to be the most dominant team on both team sheets and the field. The Capitals are often applauded for their fierce opening stands, but they can play in a carefree manner due to their reliable middle-order setup that is yet to come.
In the absence of skipper Pant, Warner will lead the Capitals, and their middle order will be freshly constructed with young and prolific Yash Dhull, experienced Manish Pandey, informed Sarfaraz, and severely talented overseas spearheads Rilee Rossouw, Rovman Powell, and the only optional wk in their squad, Phil Salt. All of them combined form a formidable middle-order batting setup for DC in IPL 2023.
4. Rajasthan Royals (RR) – Devdutt Padikkal, Riyan Parag, Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer
Rating: 8/10
The Rajasthan Royals had a prolific run in the last season of the IPL in 2022, but one of the prime causes of their ultimate success in the brilliant run was the presence of a great bunch of batters in the middle order. The Royals’ middle order comprises the immensely talented Devdutt Padikkal, who often switches into the role of an opener, and the informed Riyan Parag, who excelled in domestic tournaments playing for Assam.
Another main inclusion in the RR middle order is the IPL veteran Sanju Samson, as the skipper is often found shepherding the Royals’ batting innings. Hetmyer often plays the role of a finishing middle-order batter as he provides the cherry on the cake of the Royals’ batting innings.
3. Punjab Kings (PBKS) – Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma and Shahrukh Khan
Rating: 8/10
Punjab Kings have not many times proved to be a convincing team for all these years in the IPL, but this year their team has balanced to the utmost limit, as they have an excellent opening pair, a challenging set of all-rounders, stunning bowlers, and now their much-discussed middle order, which not only comprises of fierce Lankan striker Rajapaksa or English power hitter Liam Livingstone, who is a clean striker of the cricket ball.
Many other talents in the PBKS lineup mainly include this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy sensation, Prabhsimran Singh, and other players like Jitesh Sharma and Shahrukh Khan often play the role of finishers. They together form one of the most formidable squads in IPL 2023.
2. Mumbai Indians (MI) – Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Tim David, Tristian Stubbs and Dewald Brevis
Rating: 9/10
Mumbai Indians have always been comprehensive with their brilliance in the middle overs, having featured the greatest of IPL players like Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, and Kieron Pollard. They are having an even more convincing middle order with the world’s best T20I batter, SKY, leading from the front, along with the talented Tilak Verma, who is one of the most promising young prospects of Indian cricket. They also restored their power-hitting backline with a new bunch of players like Tim David, heavily invested Cam Green, and spirited replacements Brevis and Tristan Stubbs. This uniquely constructed lineup of MI is expected to have a blast this year too.
1. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Glenn Philips, Harry Brook and Heinrich Klaasen
Rating: 10/10
The Sunrisers from Hyderabad were one of the most active teams in the mini-auction of 2023, as they included severe world-class talents like Mayank in the opening role and players like Harry Brook for a blistering 13.25 crores and Heinrich Klaasen for a decent 5.25 crores.
Alongside their already star-studded lineup consisting of Markram, Rahul Tripathi, and Glenn Philips, who recently gained widespread recognition across international platforms, these players form the most intriguing set-up in the shortest format of the game. This extensively talented lineup forms the most uncompromising squad possible for the shortest format in recent memory.
Also Read:- IPL 2023: Who will captain Kolkata Knight Riders in the absence of Shreyas Iyer?