IPL 2023 hits and misses from Gill to Curran
The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League will conclude on Monday, with Chennai Super Kings vying for a record-tying fifth title against defending champions Gujarat Titans.
The final was scheduled for Sunday but was moved to the reserve day due to torrential rain and thunderstorms in Ahmedabad.
Here are the highs and lows of the world's richest cricket tournament's 2023 season.
Shubman Gill has transformed himself from being chastised for his slow approach in T20 cricket to being the highest scorer in this IPL with 851 runs – and counting because he is set to play in the final.
The 23-year-old opener has three centuries, including a match-winning 129 off 60 balls that propelled Gujarat past Mumbai and into the title decider.
India legend Kapil Dev tentatively placed him in the same category as Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli.
"However, I'd like to give him another season before making any big claims." "He has the talent, but (I) won't make any big comparisons right now," Dev said.
Baby Malinga
Matheesha Pathirana of Sri Lanka excelled during the tournament, taking 17 wickets for Chennai and bowling yorkers with a slinging action similar to his hero Lasith Malinga.
"Baby Malinga" joined Chennai as an injury replacement for Adam Milne last year and appeared in just two matches.
This season, however, he was the go-to option in the death overs for Chennai captain M.S. Dhoni, who described him as "special."
Chase-master Rinku
Rinku Singh of the Kolkata Knight Riders became an overnight sensation after hitting five sixes off the final five balls of an improbable chase against Gujarat.
His unbeaten 21-ball 48 was no fluke, as the left-handed batsman went on to score four half-centuries and master the art of game-ending.
Despite Rinku's unbeaten 67 off 33 balls in their last match against Lucknow, Kolkata failed to make the playoffs.
His scorching performances fueled speculation about an India call-up.
Curran flops
England's World Cup-winning all-rounder Sam Curran appeared to be weighed down by Punjab Kings' $2.23 million outlay, making him the most expensive buy in IPL history.
With the exception of a few flashes with bat and ball, the left-handed Curran was the season's standout flop, scoring 276 runs and taking 10 wickets.
His poor performance did little to help Punjab, who finished eighth in the table and signaled the start of another year without winning the IPL.
"You paid $2.23 million for Sam Curran; what has he done?" Former India opener Virender Sehwag reacted angrily.
Un-Shaw-
With 106 runs in eight matches, Delhi Capitals opener Prithvi Shaw, who was once compared to Tendulkar, was arguably the biggest flop among Indian players.
Shaw, who had a promising start to his India career with a Test ton on debut, struggled against quality seam bowling in this edition and was dropped midway through.
Coach Ricky Ponting admitted the 23-year-old fell short of expectations, much like Delhi, who started with five losses and finished ninth in the table.
Brook fails
Despite hitting the first century of the season, another exciting England player, batsman Harry Brook, failed to impress.
Brook, who was signed by 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad for $1.6 million, scored 90 runs in 10 matches, including a century not out against Kolkata.
Hyderabad rested the 24-year-old for three games, but the rest of the lineup did little to keep them from finishing last in the 10-team table.
Brook was accused of arrogance after he talked about "shutting up" Indian trolls on social media after his hundred. They were the last to laugh.
