IPL 2023: Mid Tournament Outstanding Best 11 Players Revealed
Faf du Plessis and Shubman Gill to open as we look at the combined best players playing 11 at the halfway stage for IPL 2023.
It’s been 35 matches in IPL 2023, and it has been one of the most competitive tournaments so far. You can’t point out a single team that has dominated the tournament single-handedly so far. Of the 10 teams that are playing in the tournament, 7 teams are going great with Mumbai Indians at six points at rank 8.
From the players’ standpoint, we have at least 2-3 players from each team that are doing well. As of match 35, Faf du Plessis is the orange cap holder with 405 runs and Devon Conway follows him with 314 runs. Whereas Rashid Khan is the Purple cap holder with 14 wickets and Mohammed Siraj follows him at 13 wickets.
But wouldn’t it be interesting to look at the combined best 11 players from each category to have played so far in IPL 2023? Well, let’s look at the combined best 11 players for IPL 2023 at the halfway stage. Before that, let’s look at the key methodology that would help us arrive at those players.
Stats Wizard Methodology:
Batting: As always, we have analyzed the batting performances basis the batting rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game. This includes runs scored, consistency, the number of match-winning & good knocks, acceleration bonus, and power-hitting bonus.
Bowling: We have analyzed the bowling performances basis the bowling rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game. This includes wickets taken, consistency, the number of match-winning and good spells, the number of maidens bowled, and the economy rate bonus.
Overall, the IPL 2023 Combined Best Playing 11 is selected basis of the performance rating. Only players who played at least 5 matches are given the preference. Also, the team is selected keeping a maximum of 4 overseas players, at least 3 pacers, 1 spinner, and 1 wicket-keeper.
Openers:
#1: Faf du Plessis [RCB]
Inns: 7 // Runs: 405 // Avg: 67.5 // SR: 165.3 // HS: 84 // Rating: 10
The first player of the tournament and also the Orange cap holder, Faf du Plessis has been the best batter so far in the tournament. With 405 runs to his name so far, he is miles ahead of second-placed Devon Conway. What’s superb about Faf has been the consistency of 71.4% and a strike rate of 165.3, which is a deadly combination to find.
#2: Shubman Gill [GT]
Inns: 7 // Runs: 284 // Avg: 40.6 // SR: 142.7 // HS: 67 // Rating: 8.7
The second opener of the team is the man-in-form, Shubman Gill. Be it playing Tests, ODIs, or IPL, Shubman has been amazing in every format that he has played in the last 2 years. This year, Shubman has already amassed 284 runs from 7 innings at a good average of 142.7 and a strike rate of 142.7. What’s more, Shubman has also been consistent at 71.4%.
Important to note, other than these two openers, we have seen some amazing performances from other openers like Devon Conway, David Warner, Kyle Mayers, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Virat Kohli. But owing to overseas players’ restrictions, Conway or Warner couldn’t get a nod ahead. Whereas Shubman has been slightly better than Ruturaj and Kohli.
Middle-order:
#3: Ajinkya Rahane [CSK]
Inns: 5 // Runs: 209 // Avg: 52.3 // SR: 199 // HS: 71* // Rating: 10
At one down, there is no other choice than Ajinkya Rahane, who has been the most free-flowing batter so far. Whenever the ball touched the bat of Rahane, the sound coming off the bat, and the placement looked sublime. It has been an extraordinary display of batting from Rahane. Credit should also be given to MS Dhoni and Stephen Flemming for the revival of Rahane.
#4: Glenn Maxwell [RCB]
Inns: 7 // Runs: 253 // Avg: 42.2 // SR: 188.8 // HS: 77 // Rating: 10
The G of KGF of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Glenn Maxwell has continued his golden run for RCB in IPL. Maxi has already scored 253 runs from just 7 innings at an outstanding strike rate of 188.8. Maxi’s consistency of 50% isn’t bad, but it is the hitting ability and a strike rate of 188.8 that has been the notable point of his performance.
Finishers:
#5: Rinku Singh [KKR]
Inns: 7 // Runs: 233 // Avg: 58.3 // SR: 157.3 // HS: 58* // Rating: 7.7
The underrated batter and finisher so far, Rinku has been the most impressive uncapped player so far in IPL. Been so many occasions in IPL this year where Rinku has saved KKR from a humiliating defeat to a competitive face-off. Batting at 5 or below, Rinku has amassed 233 runs already from 7 innings at a good average of 58.3 and a superb strike rate of 157.3.
#6: Nicholas Pooran [LSG] [WK]
Inns: 7 // Runs: 171 // Avg: 28.5 // SR: 185.9 // HS: 62 // Rating: 7
Nicholas Pooran’s name in this list may surprise a few, but with a need for a wicket-keeper finisher in the squad, there is no other name than Nicholas Pooran. Not that Pooran hasn’t been good. With a consistency of 50% and a belligerent strike rate of 185.9, Pooran has scored 171 runs already from 7 innings. His knock of 62 off 19 balls remains the most aggressive knock of the year so far.
#7: Axar Patel [DC]
Mat: 7 // Runs: 182 // Wkts: 6 // BA. Avg: 30.3 // ER: 7
At number 7, we have All-rounder Axar Patel, who just like Rinku Singh has been a blessing finisher for the fragile Delhi Capitals batting. Axar did well in 3 of the 7 innings he has played with scores of 34, 36, and his maiden IPL fifty at 54. In addition, Axar has been decent in the bowling taking 6 wickets at a good economy rate of 7.
Bowlers:
#8: Rashid Khan [GT]
Inns: 7 // Wkts: 14 // Avg: 16.1 // ER: 8.1 // BBI: 3/31 // Rating: 8.5
Coming to the bowlers, we have the current Purple cap holder, and undoubtedly the best bowler of the tournament, Rashid Khan. The wicket-taker that Rashid is, he has already taken 2 wickets on average with 14 wickets to his name from 7 innings. Even as Rashid has been relatively expensive at an economy rate of 8.1, his consistency of 71.4% kind of covers that up.
#9: Tushar Deshpande [CSK]
Inns: 7 // Wkts: 12 // Avg: 23.2 // ER: 10.9 // BBI: 3/45 // Rating: 7.3
The uncapped bowler of the tournament so far, Tushar has found a new life under the leadership of MS Dhoni. After a slur in the first match, Tushar has been impressive in the rest six matches with 12 wickets already to his name. However, all is not rosy for Tushar, who needs to control his economy rate, which is way high at 10.9.
#10: Arshdeep Singh [PBKS]
Inns: 7 // Wkts: 13 // Avg: 15.7 // ER: 8.2 // BBI: 4/29 // Rating: 7.2
Wicket-taker and stump-breaker, Arshdeep Singh has been the best bower in the Punjab Kings’ bowling attack. Continuing his form from the last IPL, he has been impressive with his consistent wicket-taking ability and a decent economy of 8.2. He has already delivered some match-winning spells with the best one of 4/29 coming against Mumbai Indians.
#11: Mohammed Siraj [RCB]
Inns: 7 // Wkts: 13 // Avg: 15.4 // ER: 7.1 // BBI: 4/21 // Rating: 8.2
Finally, the best pacer of the lot, Mohammed Siraj has continued his golden touch from ODIs to IPL this year. He is the leading wicket-taker among pacers with 13 wickets to his name from 7 innings. His continuous wicket-taking ability in the powerplay has been his forte, and he has also done decently this year in the death overs.
Combined Best Players Playing 11 at Halfway Stage for IPL 2023:
Shubman Gill, Faf du Plessis [c], Ajinkya Rahane, Glenn Maxwell, Rinku Singh, Nicholas Pooran [wk], Axar Patel, Rashid Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
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ALSO READ: IPL 2023: All 10 Teams New and Latest Squad and Players List
Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.
Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
