The much-awaited IPL 2023 mini auction has come to an end, as all ten teams have spent a combined total of ₹167 crores to sign 80 players for the upcoming season. As expected, the all-rounders were in high demand and received massive contracts, with Sam Curran becoming the most expensive player in IPL history after being acquired by his former team, Punjab Kings (PBKS), for ₹18.50 crore. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) also made a record purchase by acquiring England all-rounder Ben Stokes for ₹16.25 crore, while Mumbai Indians (MI) spent a staggering ₹17.50 crore to secure the services of Australian batting all-rounder Cameron Green.
Over the years, the IPL has witnessed some of the finest batting talents, and this season is no different, with all ten franchises boasting of a strong batting unit consisting of world-class players. Therefore, let’s take a look at the ranking of the batting attacks of all ten teams for IPL 2023.
Gujarat Titans – 7.5/10
The Gujarat Titans (GT) clinched their first-ever IPL trophy this year, thanks to their consistent bowling attack. However, their batting unit seems to be their weakest link, and they might have to rely more on their bowlers once again.
GT added Kane Williamson and Srikar Bharat to their batting lineup, who are expected to accompany Shubman Gill in the top three. But the responsibility of consistently scoring runs at a brisk rate will fall on Hardik Pandya and David Miller.
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Although Pandya and Miller had an outstanding IPL 2022, the Gujarat-based franchise will need them to perform at their best to score 160 or more runs in most games. Domestic stars like Sai Sudharshan and Abhinav Manohar could also contribute, but the Titans’ focus will still be on their bowlers.
Adding Odean Smith for just ₹50 lakh was a smart move, but it remains to be seen how GT will fit him into their starting XI.
Royal Challengers Bangalore – 7.8/10
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were once known for their formidable batting lineup, featuring Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers. However, heading into IPL 2023, their batting unit might not be as strong.
While Faf du Plessis and Kohli will form a solid opening pair, their combined age of 72 raises concerns about their consistency. The middle order will rely on youngster Rajat Patidar and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who is recovering from a serious leg injury.
In the finishing department, RCB will again depend on the 37-year-old Dinesh Karthik, who had an excellent IPL 2022. However, his form in the upcoming season remains to be seen.
Rajasthan Royals – 8/10
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have a top-heavy batting line-up, but their middle order lacks depth. Last season, Devdutt Padikkal struggled in that role. However, their purchase of Jason Holder for ₹5.75 crore could help bridge the gap between their specialist batters and bowlers, despite his T20 batting average and strike rate being below ideal standards for a late-order batsman in the IPL. RR will rely heavily on Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson to perform well in IPL 2023.
Kolkata Knight Riders – 8.1/10
KKR was busy in the trading window, adding Lockie Ferguson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Shardul Thakur to their roster. Narayan Jagadeesan was also added as a wicketkeeping option who can provide flexibility in their combinations if Gurbaz underperforms. David Wiese was signed as a backup for Andre Russell. KKR boasts a solid middle order consisting of Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh. However, they lack batting backups, with Mandeep Singh being their only viable Indian option.
Punjab Kings – 8.3/10
Punjab Kings (PBKS) made headlines with the record-breaking bid of ₹18.25 crore for Sam Curran. However, their batting still heavily relies on their overseas players to perform. With Harpreet Singh Bhatia as the only selection from the auction, PBKS hasn’t found a reliable replacement for Mayank Agarwal at the top of the order. Nonetheless, PBKS has several big-hitting batsmen, including Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Shahrukh Khan. Captain Shikhar Dhawan is expected to anchor the innings, while the big-hitters play around him and go for big hits from the start.
Lucknow Super Giants – 8.5/10
In a bold move, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) invested a whopping ₹16 crore to acquire the services of Nicholas Pooran. The team was in dire need of a middle-order batsman and a finisher after releasing Evin Lewis and Manish Pandey, and Pooran fits the bill perfectly. With a top five that includes KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Pooran, and Marcus Stoinis, LSG’s batting lineup looks formidable.
However, LSG’s lower order is a concern, and they will rely on Krunal Pandya, Ayush Badoni, Prerak Mankad, and Daniel Sams to finish the innings.
Delhi Capitals – 8.7/10
The Delhi Capitals have a powerful top order with a combination of Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Rilee Rossouw/Mitchell Marsh, and Rishabh Pant, which can win games on their own. The team also has the likes of Manish Pandey and Phil Salt as backups, both of whom are attacking top-order batsmen.
However, the Capitals have a long tail, and their lower order lacks resources. If Rovman Powell fails to deliver, they will have to rely on Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, and Axar Patel to provide the finishing touches in the death overs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad – 8.8/10
The SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) had the largest purse at the IPL 2023 auction, and they used it to acquire almost every player they raised their paddle for, with the exception of Ben Stokes. They invested ₹13.25 crore in Harry Brook, who has a T20 strike rate of 148.48 in 99 games while batting in the middle order. SRH already has two outstanding overseas middle-order batsmen in Aiden Markram and Glenn Phillips.
SRH made sensible choices for their top order by acquiring Mayank Agarwal for ₹8.25 crore, who will partner with Abhishek Sharma at the top, and Rahul Tripathi as a flamboyant batter at No. 3. They also went big on Jammu & Kashmir’s Vivrant Sharma, a left-handed top-order batsman, and Sanvir Singh, a hard-hitting all-rounder who recently scored a 19-ball 55 for Punjab against Hyderabad in this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The franchise also has Abdul Samad and Washington Sundar, who could be lethal down the order.
Chennai Super Kings – 9/10
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) possess an impressive range of options, making them a formidable batting unit in the upcoming IPL tournament. Unlike other teams who rely heavily on their top order, CSK’s batting prowess extends down to number nine or ten, especially if they opt for Kyle Jamieson over Maheesh Theekshana.
At the top of the order, Ruturaj Gaikwad will be a constant presence. Alongside him, CSK can choose between Devon Conway or the versatile Ben Stokes, who can bat anywhere in the lineup.
In the middle order, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, and Shivam Dube provide a strong foundation before the captain MS Dhoni and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja take charge of finishing duties.
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CSK has several promising youngsters, such as Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu, and Rajvardhan Hangargekar from the Indian U19 team. They have also secured the experienced Ajinkya Rahane at his base price to provide a reliable backup for Rayudu and balance the left-handers in the lineup.
Mumbai Indians – 9.2/10
Mumbai Indians (MI) possess a strong Indian core combined with a group of explosive overseas batsmen, making them a dominant force in the batting department. The lineup boasts star players, including Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan as openers, who have an excellent understanding of each other’s game.
The middle order is stacked with talent, including the recent T20 batting sensation Suryakumar Yadav, who scored an impressive 1164 runs at a strike rate of 187.4 across 31 T20I innings for India.
MI has added Australian prodigy Cameron Green, who they bought for a massive ₹16.25 crore. If the franchise can use him correctly in the middle order, he could form a formidable partnership with Tim David in the death overs.
Tilak Verma is another exciting prospect for MI, having scored 397 runs at an average of over 36 and a strike rate of 131 in IPL 2022. MI also has the option to choose between two of South Africa’s most destructive young batsmen in Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs.
To add to their backup options, MI has Ramandeep Singh and Vishnu Vinod, both capable of operating at a strike rate above 140. Overall, MI’s batting lineup is a force to be reckoned with, making them a top contender for the IPL championship.
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