IPL 2023 Best Playing XI

The IPL 2023 ended on a high note with the Chennai Super Kings winning the trophy for a record 5th time. MS Dhoni and his yellow brigade once again showcased their domination in the cash-rich league as they defeated the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans in a thrilling final. 

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been a stage for exhilarating cricket, showcasing the finest talent from around the world. As we delve into the action-packed season of 2023, a star-studded Best XI emerges, boasting an amalgamation of explosive power hitters, crafty spinners, and lightning-fast pacers. This formidable lineup combines the brilliance of established legends with the flair of young prodigies, promising a thrilling spectacle for fans worldwide. So, let’s dive into the realm of IPL’s Best XI in 2023, a team that epitomizes the spirit of cricketing excellence and captivates audiences with its unwavering passion and skill.

Shubman Gill

With close to 900 runs in the season, the Orange Cap winner Shubman Gill was the obvious choice for the first opener in the Best XI of IPL 2023. Opening the batting for the Gujarat Titans in all of their games, Gill scored 890 runs in 17 games at an average of 59.33. Apart from receiving the Orange Cap for the most number of runs in IPL 2023, Shubman Gill also hit 85 fours, the most in the season. Gill was pivotal in taking GT to the final with 3 centuries in the season. His best score of 129 came in the Eliminator against the Mumbai Indians. 

Faf du Plessis (captain) 

Faf du Plessis was the highest run-getter during the league stage of the IPL 2023 before Shubman Gill snatched away the Orange Cap from him. Faf’s staggering form saw him scoring 730 runs in the season at an average of 56.15. However, his stellar performances could not propel RCB to the playoffs as RCB got knocked out in the league stage itself. However, Faf did receive consolation prizes in the form of the ‘Most Number of Sixes’ in IPL 2023 (36) and the ‘Longest Six’ in IPL 2023 (115m). 

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav was Mumbai’s best batter this season. After having a shaky start to the season and registering a string of low scores, Suryakumar picked up his pace in the second half of the season and even scored a century. The stylish right-handed batter finished 6th in the Orange Cap list with 605 runs in 16 games with 5 fifties and a century. What made Surya’s run fest even more impressive was his strike rate of 180+. He is the most definitive choice for the number 3 spot in the Best XI of IPL 2023. 

Cameron Green

Mumbai played a huge gamble on Cameron Green when they bought him for a whopping sum of Rs. 17.50 crores at the auction. However, the Aussie all-rounder justified his price point by scoring 452 runs at an average of 50.22 and also picking up 6 wickets. The highlight of Green’s debut season in the IPL was his hundred in MI’s last league game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. MI desperately needed a win at all costs and that’s when Green delivered by scoring 100 not-out off just 47 balls and steering MI’s campaign into the playoffs. 

Heinrich Klaasen (wk)

Heinrich Klaasen emerged as the best wicketkeeper batter of this season. Even though his franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad, failed to make any mark in the IPL 2023 season, Klaasem emerged as a standout performer for them. With 448 runs from 12 games, Klaasen was the second-highest run-getting wicketkeeper in the season, just 6 runs behind Ishan Kishan. However, he played a lesser number of games, and since he bats in the middle order, he has become our preference for the wicketkeeping option in the Best Playing XI of IPL 2023. 

Rinku Singh 

Rinku Singh was probably the best finisher of the season. Despite KKR failing to make it into the playoffs, Rinku Singh captivated everyone with his finishing skills and steered KKR home on multiple occasions. His standout performance came against Gujarat Titans when he smashed Yash Dayal for 5 sixes to chase down 29 runs in the final over. Rinku finished the season with 474 runs at an average of 59.25. He was the 9th highest run-getter in the season and was the only batter in the top 10 who batted at number 5 or below. What exemplifies Rinku’s record in the IPL 2023 season was his strike rate of 149.52. 

Ravindra Jadeja 

Ravindra Jadeja was the standout spinner for the Chennai Super Kings this season, picking up 20 wickets in 16 games. However, Jadeja’s prowess was not limited to just his bowling. The Southpaw played some crucial innings lower down the order and was pivotal in steering CSK home in the final. When CSK needed 10 runs to win off the last 2 balls in the final, Jadeja hit Mohit Sharma for a six and a four to get CSK over the winning line. Jadeja eventually finished the season with 175 runs and 20 wickets, making him the 11th Most Valuable Player in the IPL 2023. 

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan continued his excellent run in the IPL in the 2023 season as well and emerged as the best spinner in the season. Leading the spin attack for the Gujarat Titans, Rashid had a whopping 27 wickets from 17 games and finished 3rd on the Purple Cap list. This includes a stellar hat-trick against Kolkata Knight Riders and a best figure of 4/30 against Mumbai Indians. 

Mohammed Shami 

If you were to create the Best Playing XI of IPL 2023, leaving Mohammed Shami’s name out of the list would be a mistake. The stellar Indian pacer picked up 28 wickets for the Gujarat Titans in the season and emerged as the Purple Cap winner in the season. However, he got almost equal support from his teammates Mohit Sharma and Rashid Khan, both of whom finished the season with 27 wickets. The trio was pivotal in taking Gujarat Titans to the final. However, even their collective effort could not pivot them to win the final against Chennai Super Kings. 

Mohit Sharma 

Beginning the season a little late, Mohit Sharma actually redeemed himself this season. Mohit Sharma was coming into this season after an almost 3-year gap but he impressed everyone with his performances as he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2023. With 27 wickets in just 14 games, Mohit Sharma finished with the second-best figures of the season, picking up 5 wickets for just 10 runs against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Qualifier 2. 

Mohammed Siraj 

Even though Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowling unit struggled miserably this season,  Mohammed Siraj emerged as the single standout performer for the men in red. With 19 wickets in 14 games, Siraj showcased why he is one of the best white-ball bowlers in the world at the moment. These wickets came at an impressive economy rate of just 7.52 runs per over with a 4-wicket haul as well. 

Impact Substitute 1: Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal bamboozled a lot of batters with his leg spin this season. Chahal picked up 21 wickets in 14 games and was Rajasthan Royals’ most successful bowler in IPL 2023. In the Best Playing XI of IPL 2023, Chahal could serve as a good impact substitute on pitches that offered help to the spinners. 

Impact Substitute 2: Virat Kohli

If our Best Playing XI of IPL 2023 was in need of an extra batter, Virat Kohli would have been the best option for that. The former RCB captain could have batted in the top 3, thus giving the team a great start. Opening the season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kohli smashed 639 runs in 14 games with 2 centuries and 6 fifties. Coupled with an average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 139.82, Kohli would have served as the best impact substitute in the team. 

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