The 2023 Indian Premier League has a few early contenders for top batsman, top bowler and most valuable all-rounder.
Top batsman: Shikhar Dhawan (Punjab Kings)
Dhawan had surged to the top of the 2023 Indian Premier League run-scoring charts at the time of writing – and for good reason. He hasn’t let the added responsibility of the Kings’ captaincy negatively affect his primary role with the bat – and could be key to their pursuit of a maiden IPL title.
Dhawan’s 99 not out against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, although in defeat, was arguably the best knock of the 2023 IPL season so far. His near century accounted for almost 70% of his side’s total.
That standalone innings was preceded by 86 not out against the Rajasthan Royals and 40 versus the Kolkata Knight Riders for an inflated tournament average of 220-plus.
Longest six in IPL 2023. 115 meter by Captain FAF DU PLESSIS. 🤯#RCBvsLSGpic.twitter.com/DgeXDz9MHC
— Sexy Cricket Shots (@sexycricketshot) April 10, 2023
Top bowler: Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants)
England fast bowler Wood is loving his maiden stint in the IPL. He’s one of the main reasons the Super Giants have started the 2023 tournament so successfully. They headed into week three of this season’s IPL at the top of the 10-team standing, having lost just one of four matches.
Wood set an early precedent with a five-wicket haul against the Delhi Capitals. He then took three against the Super Kings and one versus Bangalore. He has bowled with consistent pace and accuracy in Lucknow, Bengaluru and Chennai conditions that haven’t traditionally suited out-and-out fast bowlers.
Mark Wood taking 5 in the IPL yesterday 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/SeHVswhp9l
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) April 2, 2023
Top all-rounder: Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans)
Khan has been characteristically busy, jetting around the world to various domestic T20 leagues. From the BBL in Australia, SA20 in South Africa, then others, and now the IPL, the Afghanistan all-rounder captained the defending champions in the absence of the ill Hardik Pandya recently.
He put in a characteristic cameo with the bat against the Super Kings and took a hat-rick against the Knight Riders. The 2023 IPL has yet to yield a genuine best all-rounder, but Khan is an early contender.
𝐇𝐀𝐓-𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐝 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧! 👏 👏
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 9, 2023
Andre Russell ✅
Sunil Narine ✅
Shardul Thakur ✅
We have our first hat-trick of the #TATAIPL 2023 & it's that man - @rashidkhan_19! 🙌 🙌
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/G8bESXjTyh#TATAIPL | #GTvKKR | @gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/fJTg0yuVwu
