Last Updated on 1 year by Charbel Coorey
IPL 2023 Predictions: Who will make the playoffs & win the IPL? | IPL 2023 Predictions: Who will win the 2023 Indian Premier League?
It’s that time of year once again. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is upon us, with the 16th edition marking a return to a full home and away season for the first time since 2019.
As always, the IPL is difficult to predict. Every team is capable of beating another on a given day. Also, all ten are capable of finishing in the top four, and all ten have cases to lift the IPL trophy in May. Last season, many believed Gujarat Titans weren’t title contenders in their first season, but they went on to win in grand style. So, anything is possible.
CricBlog’s IPL 2023 Predictions
What does IPL 2023 have in store? In this article, we will use both logic and gut feel in attempting to pick the top four teams and title winner, whilst also touching on the Orange and Purple Cap winners.
Orange Cap winner: Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans)
Shubman Gill is in magnificent form. He recently joined a select few to score a century in all three formats for India, and he is just getting started.
In IPL 2022, Gill enjoyed his most prolific season to date. The Gujarat Titans opener hit the fifth-most runs in the tournament (483) at an average of 34.50 and strike rate of 132.32. He now has the form and pedigree to take that to another level.
- Other leading contenders: KL Rahul (LSG), Jos Buttler (RR) & Virat Kohli (RCB).
- Dark horses: Abhishek Sharma (SRH), Devon Conway (CSK), Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR).
Purple Cap winner: Jofra Archer (MI)
Archer is now the leader of the MI attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He will be vital upfront and also in the death overs. Importantly, Archer seemed to have found his rhythm and top pace in England’s recent tour of Bangladesh. He took nine wickets in five white-ball matches in that tour, after picking up 6/40 in an ODI against South Africa and ten wickets in six matches in SA20 2023.
However, there is the question of whether Archer will play every game due to fitness and management. Even then, his wicket-taking ability makes him very difficult to ignore for the Purple Cap.
- Other leading contenders: Mohammed Shami (GT), Yuzvendra Chahal (RR), Kagiso Rabada (PBKS).
- Dark horses: Maheesh Theekshana (CSK), Arshdeep Singh (PBKS), Umran Malik (SRH).
Playoffs (no particular order): SRH, RCB, RR, GT
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
SRH have put together an outstanding squad. Their likely top three of Mayank Agarwal, Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi has a mix of intent and technical ability that will help SRH get off to strong starts more often than not.
Then, it gets really exciting. New skipper Aiden Markram, who led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to glory in the inaugural SA20 earlier this year, is set for a massive season. Last year, he scored 381 runs at an average of 47.62 and strike rate of 139.05, and that is even after SRH were hampered by slow starts. Alongside him in the middle order is the incredible Harry Brook, with either Glenn Phillips or Heinrich Klaasen also slotting in. That’s some top six.
On the bowling front, SRH are well equipped to cover all three phases of an innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Washington Sundar are powerplay specialists. Umran Malik’s fire and Adil Rashid’s wile in the middle overs is something to look forward to, and T Natarajan’s exploits at the death will hold SRH in good stead.
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
RCB have qualified for the playoffs in each season since the start of 2020. They will enter this campaign with a very settled squad; an attribute we don’t often associate with the franchise.
Rajat Patidar finished IPL 2022 as one of RCB’s crucial players. He has plenty of experience around him, including Virat Kohli who has found form in recent months, including notching off that much-awaited 71st international century.
A key question for RCB is how their bowling will fare in their return to the batting-friendly Chinnaswamy Stadium. But, their attack is far superior now to what it was pre-2020. Even with Josh Hazlewood in doubt for some games due to injury, Reece Topley is an apt replacement along with the excellent Wanindu Hasaranga as the key overseas bowling options. Also, back Mohammed Siraj to have an improved season, with his powerplay exploits key to RCB’s fortunes.
Rajasthan Royals:
A team filled with cricketing smarts and know-how. This season, they have added Jason Holder to fill that bowling all-rounder gap at number seven which was a bit of an issue for them last campaign. Also, the addition of Joe Root, who is a better T20 player that people give him credit for, can serve the franchise well throughout a lengthy campaign.
Of course, it is unfair to expect Jos Buttler to emulate his 2022 campaign. But, if he even comes close, it will hold the team in good stead. It could be a big season for Yashasvi Jaiswal, while leadership brings the best out of Sanju Samson.
However, the finishing department and sixth bowling option will be under the spotlight, especially with Prasidh Krishna out of the tournament. But, we can expect RR to nail the Impact Player rule, as their team has been built perfectly for it.
Gujarat Titans:
Wll organised, well planned. The defending champions will be tough to beat once again, with a few strong additions to their squad.
The purchase of Kane Williamson can prove to be a stroke of genius. Expect Hardik Pandya to encourage Williamson to play with freedom, which can see the New Zealander show glimpses of his 2018 form. Also, the addition of Josh Little gives an already potent GT attack an extra dimension.
However, it must be remembered that GT pulled off some improbable wins in 2022. Whether they can achieve those kinds of wins again remains to be seen, but in David Miller, Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan, they have a middle-lower order that means GT is never out of the running.
Who misses out?
LSG was arguably the most difficult team to leave out. They have an excellent squad, but the absence of Mohsin Khan could prove vital. Also, a lot may depend on the form of Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis, who can both blow hot and cold. However, no one can be surprised if the franchise does indeed qualify for the playoffs.
CSK is another that was difficult to leave out. The return to Chepauk is a major boost, but questions around the depth of their pace stocks are sure to arise throughout the season. This is especially the case with Mukesh Chowdhury a chance to miss the bulk of the campaign due to injury. Also, given they are without an experienced wristspin option, how they perform on good batting pitches away from home remains to be seen.
DC are also a great chance, but how will they fare without Rishabh Pant? Also, will they be relying on the top three too much as a lot seems to depend on Rovman Powell in the finishing department?
MI can make massive totals, but they can concede them too. Jofra Archer’s return to bowling can offset Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, but can he play all games? Also, does he have enough support?
PBKS could have a similar season to 2022, where they went on a win-loss pattern right the way through. They lack a strong core, with questions as to how their stars will gel together as a unit. They are the kind of team to score 220 one day, but get bundled out cheaply the next.
The absence of Shreyas Iyer for a decent chunk of IPL 2023 can also be pivotal for KKR. However, there is still great talent in the franchise, including Rinku Singh who is a player to watch this season. But, as great as they are, how much more can Andre Russell and Sunil Narine deliver? There are more questions than answers for KKR in IPL 2023, so we’ll see how they fare.
Winner: Sunrisers Hyderabad
It’s the year of the orange. SRH have what it takes to go all the way, with a mix of explosive talent and reliable experience. They were good for the first two-thirds of IPL 2022, before falling away late. This season, they have the squad, depth and quality to go the distance.
Do you agree with our picks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter @cric_blog. Here’s to a great IPL.
