Gujarat Titans
The Gujarat Titans lifted the IPL trophy in 2022, their debut season in the tournament. With an explosive top order, several excellent all-rounders, and a well-rounded bowling attack, they are the favourites in 2023.
Key batter – Hardik Pandya: The all-rounders will take the burden off Pandya, who can bowl only when needed. Capable of deploying himself as an anchor or a hitter depending on requirement, Pandya is the most dangerous batter in the GT unit.
Key bowler – Rashid Khan: Rashid has been playing for only eight years, but his 528 wickets are the most in T20 history. He also concedes a mere 6.37 an over.
Mumbai Indians
With five titles (including 2019 and 2020), Mumbai Indians are the most successful team in IPL history. They finished last in 2022, but Cam Green’s acquisition, Suryakumar Yadav’s T20I form, and Jofra Archer’s return have given their unit a formidable look.
They may finish in the top five.
Key batter – Rohit Sharma: Rohit had led Mumbai in each of their five triumphant IPL campaigns. He is also the second-highest run scorer in T20 Internationals and the fourth-highest in IPL history.
Key bowler – Jofra Archer: The IPL MVP of 2020, Archer is one of the most-feared fast bowlers in the world. Now back from his injury, he is raring to spearhead the Mumbai attack in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
After missing out on a Playoffs berth in three consecutive editions, the Royal Challengers Bangalore made it to the top four in 2020, 2021, and 2022. This may be the season when the defeated finalists of 2009, 2011, and 2016 will finally win an IPL trophy.
Key batter – Virat Kohli: Kohli has the most runs in T20 Internationals, the IPL, and even in a single IPL season. His return to hundreds in international cricket is an ominous sign for bowlers around the world.
Key bowler – Wanindu Hasaranga: In 2022, Hasaranga missed out on the Purple Cap by a solitary wicket. In T20 Internationals, only Lasith Malinga has more wickets than Hasaranga among Sri Lankans.
Rajasthan Royals
In 2008, Rajasthan Royals became the first team to win the IPL. Their long wait for another appearance in the final ended last year. They lost to the Gujarat Titans, but they will set out to avenge that. They are set for a top three finish.
Key batter – Jos Buttler: Not only did Buttler win the Orange Cap last year, but he also equalled Virat Kohli’s record of four hundreds in a single IPL season. Since then, he won the T20 World Cup as captain of England.
Key bowler – Yuzvendra Chahal: The winner of last year’s Purple Cap, Chahal is also the highest wicket-taker for India in T20 Internationals. In tandem with R Ashwin, he will be key to Rajasthan’s success yet again.
Chennai Super Kings
Despite featuring in 13 of the 15 editions of the IPL, the Chennai Super Kings have won four titles, finished runners-up five times, and made it to the top four twice more. Back to Chepauk for the first time since 2019, they will eye an encore of their 2021 triumph. They may miss out on a top five spot.
Key batter – Ruturaj Gaikwad: In 2021, Gaikwad became only the second member of a winning team to win the Orange Cap. In 2022, he made another 368 runs, and did well in Indian domestic cricket since then.
Key bowler – Deepak Chahar: Key to Chennai’s success in Chepauk in the past, Chahar had missed the last season to an injury. Now fit, he will be a major threat for the opposition in 2023.
Lucknow Super Giants
In their first season, in 2022, the Lucknow Super Giants finished third in the group stage before losing in the Eliminator. Lucknow’s strength lies in their assortment of all-rounders, any of whom can be utilised in either role. They are likely to qualify for the Playoffs.
Key batter – KL Rahul: Rahul won the Orange Cap in IPL 2020 and hit the most sixes in 2021. The Lucknow captain has crossed fifty at least six times in each of the last five seasons – and that includes four hundreds.
Key bowler – Avesh Khan: Avesh finished with the second-most wickets in IPL 2021 to win an India cap shortly afterwards. Reasonably fast, he takes a wicket every 16.9 balls in all T20 cricket.
Delhi Capitals
The Delhi Capitals made it to the Playoffs in three consecutive seasons (including a spot in the final in 2020), and finished fifth last year. They have one of the most explosive batting units in the tournament, and the opposition bowlers may be in for a shock. However, they are unlikely to make it to the top five.
Key batter – David Warner: The only cricketer to have won the Orange Cap thrice, Warner rediscovered form after a switch to Delhi last year. Now captain of the franchise, he will form the fulcrum of the batting unit.
Key bowler – Kuldeep Yadav: In 2022, Kuldeep finished with 21 wickets, five more than any of his teammates. Quality left-arm wrist-spin is always a threat in the format, and Kuldeep is the best India has produced of that kind.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Following some smart releases and a reasonable auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad seem to have assembled their strongest unit since 2016. This time, they boast of both batting firepower and bowling depth. There are not as many big names as some other sides, but they are the dark horses of the season, and may make it to the Playoffs.
Key batter – Harry Brook: Brook has taken international cricket by storm since the last IPL. 2022 Among this year’s most expensive acquisitions, he is now set to take the league by storm.
Key bowler – Umran Malik: Umran uses his extra pace to provide vital breakthroughs in the middle overs, thereby hampering the opposition’s inevitable death-over onslaught.
Kolkata Knight Riders
The Kolkata Knight Riders won the IPL in 2012 and 2014, and more recently, finished runners-up in 2021. Slightly plagued by injuries, they will be able to field a strong side once their entire squad is available at their disposal. However, at this point, they seem set for a bottom three place.
Key batter – Nitish Rana: Rana will start 2023 as the captain of the franchise. A valuable asset for the Knight Riders, he has scored at least 300 in each of the last six editions of the IPL.
Key bowler – Andre Russell: Russell’s ability to take key wickets, particularly at the death, is often overshadowed by his batting. In 2022, Russell took 17 wickets at a strike rate of under 10. In 2021, his 11 wickets included an IPL career-best haul of 5-15.
Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings have not reached the Playoffs since they finished runners-up in 2014, but their aggressive, uninhibited strokeplay captured the imagination of many in 2022. If their batting line-up fires, they can be one of the most devastating sides. At the same time, they are inconsistent, and may not make it to the top five.
Key batter – Shikhar Dhawan: The second-highest run-scorer in IPL history, Punjab’s new captain is the only Indian to have scored two consecutive hundreds in the tournament. He is likely to bat deep into the innings as the big hitters go after the bowling.
Key bowler – Kagiso Rabada: Rabada’s 23 wickets were the most for a fast bowler in 2022. Already bracketed with the all-time greats, he is set to have yet another successful season.
