IPL 2023: Final review and team of the tournament

The end of the 2023 Indian Premier League could not have been much more dramatic. With a rain delay that meant utilising the reserve day, it was no straightforward Final. 

Despite posting the highest ever IPL Final score, 2022 champions Gujarat Titans were ultimately unable to defend their title after some thrilling drama saw Chennai Super Kings emerge with their fifth trophy.

IPL 2023 Final review: Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans

Star man Shubman Gill was put down on three at backward square leg by Deepak Chahar after flicking a full ball from Tushar Deshpande. After just eight came off the first two overs, 30 was scored off the following two. Chahar then put down another catch, albeit a tough one to his left hand off his own bowling. 

Titans got to 62-0 after the powerplay which was in turn a record in a Final, with Gill 36 from 17. After a couple of near run outs, Ravindra Jadeja got one to sneak past Gill and MS Dhoni whipped the bails off brilliantly to dismiss the Orange Cap holder for 39 from 20. 

Wriddhiman Saha and Sai Sudharsan began to rebuild and Gujarat were soon 86-1 at halfway. The hundred was up off the first ball of the 12th over, before Saha got to fifty in 36 balls. The fifty partnership was up next ball in the same amount of deliveries, before Saha's innings ended on 54 from 39 on the final ball of the 14th after he skied Chahar to Dhoni to leave Gujarat 131-2. 

There was then a half-century for Sudharsan in 33 balls, before the young left-hander helped take 20 off the 17th with a six and three fours off Deshpande. The fifty partnership between Sudharsan and skipper Hardik Pandya was brought up in just 23 balls, with the latter having scored just seven of them. 

Sai Sudharsan produced the innings of a lifetime to lift Gujarat Titans to a record-breaking total [CREDIT: IPLT20]

Sudharsan then smoked two sixes to start the final over before Matheesha Pathirana nailed him with a yorker as his stunning innings ended on 96 from just 47, having been just six from nine. Rashid Khan skied the final ball to long-on as Pathirana came back very well at the end. Despite that, Titans still posted 214-4 which was indeed the highest score in IPL Final history.

The rain arrived again and reduced the target to 171 in 15 overs. Chennai started brightly, though, as the fifty up after four as they scorched their way to 52-0 after the reduced powerplay. Josh Little bowled a good first five balls for just eight, but Devon Conway got hold of the last delivery and deposited it over midwicket for six to leave CSK 72-0 after six. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad miscued the impressive Noor Ahmad to his compatriot Rashid at backward point for 26 off 16 to leave Chennai needing 97 from 51. Noor then got his second with the final ball of what was another brilliant over as Conway holed out to long-off for 47 from 25. 

As they did on many occasions in IPL 2023, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway got CSK off to a strong start [CREDIT: IPLT20]

The hundred came up on the first ball of the tenth, before two poor leg-side deliveries from Rashid to end the over were put away for four by Ajinkya Rahane to leave 59 needed from the final five. Rahane then could only pick out deep point for 27 from 13 as Mohit Sharma got him with a slower ball. 

After many attempts, Shivam Dube finally managed to get the ball away as he crucially struck the last two balls of Rashid's final over for six to bring the equation down to 38 off three. Incredibly, the next three deliveries went for 16 to sensationally bring the equation down from 50 needed off 20 to just 22 required from 15. 

That was before Ambati Rayudu clothed the next ball straight back to Mohit to go for a vital 19 off eight in his final IPL innings, before Dhoni then struck his first ball straight to David Miller at extra cover as the Final took yet another twist. Jadeja skied the last ball of the penultimate over to square leg but Noor couldn't get there running in to leave the equation at 13 from six with Dube on strike against Mohit. 

Three brilliant yorkers yielded just two and they were followed by a low full toss that Dube could only chip down to long-on for another single, leavving ten required from the last two balls. Mohit then slightly missed his length and Jadeja heaved him down the ground for six to leave four needed off the final ball. 

Having been so excellent at the death throughout the tournament and four the first four balls of the last over in the Final, Mohit's radar shut off completely as he sprayed the final delivery down the leg-side for Jadeja to flick away to fine leg for four and win what was a spellbinding Final.

Chennai Super Kings equalled Mumbai Indians' record five IPL titles with the most dramatic of victories against 2022 IPL champions Gujarat Titans [CREDIT: IPLT20]

IPL 2023 team of the tournament

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals)

Innings: 14; Runs: 625; Strike rate: 163.6; 50s/100s: 5/1; HS: 124

The young left-hander had previously shown enormous talent in the IPL, but nothing like the season he produced in 2023. He scored his first hundred in the competition at the Wankhede in what was the 1000th IPL match. Jaiswal then followed that up shortly after by breaking a coveted record - the fastest fifty. He brought up the landmark in just 13 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders.

The 21-year-old outshone Jos Buttler at the top of the order and was a constant danger in the powerplay. That stunning hundred put to bed the notion that he was unable to go on to get big scores. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal produced a brilliant season for Rajasthan, breaking the record for the fastest IPL fifty in the process [CREDIT: IPLT20]

2. Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans)

Innings: 17; Runs: 890; Strike rate: 157.8; 50s/100s: 4/3; HS: 129

Arguably the player of the tournament, Gill started superbly and was consistent in his scoring, something that has come to be expected of him. However, he exploded towards the end of the league stage, scoring his first IPL century. He followed that up with another two in his next three innings. Each hundred, naturally, was sublime and full of some special shots. 

He came into the tournament in some sensational form, having been scoring freely for India with a highlight being a double century against New Zealand. He showed why Titans were so keen to secure his services ahead of their debut season and it is very likely that they will not seek to lose him anytime soon.

3. Faf du Plessis (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Innings: 14; Runs: 730; Strike rate: 153.7; 50s/100s: 0/8; HS: 84

Once again, the South African rolled back the years and led from the front with his remarkable consistency. He went past fifty more often than he didn't and he formed a formidable opening partnership with Virat Kohli. He also provided a number of memorable moments during partnerships with Glenn Maxwell.

He was often the Impact player, or substituted for the Impact player, due to the management of a niggling injury. It was the second successive tournament in which he has starred for his side, having been in brilliant form for Johannesburg Super Kings in the SA20 earlier in the year.

4. Virat Kohli (RCB) 

Innings: 14; Runs: 639; Strike rate: 139.8; 50s/100s: 2/6; HS: 101*

Having gone through a couple of relatively lean seasons by his standards, Kohli returned to close to his peak form in 2023. While he didn't always score as quickly as he and RCB maybe would have liked, he was still a consistent figure at the top of the order and brought calm to proceedings during the numerous fifty-plus stands with du Plessis.

Like Gill, Kohli found a spectacular increase in form in the latter stage of the league stage as he struck consecutive hundreds, the first being his first since 2019.

Virat Kohli ended his IPL 2023 season with back-to-back hundreds in a welcome return to form [CREDIT: IPLT20]

5. Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai Indians)

Innings: 16; Runs: 605; Strike rate: 181.1; 50s/100s: 1/5; HS: 103*

An ever-classy and inventive batter, Suryakumar was once more in the most stunning form in this edition of the IPL. His ability to score all around the ground makes him one of the most fascinating and aesthetic players to watch, in similar vein to IPL legend AB de Villiers.

Suryakumar also found his way to his maiden IPL hundred this season, among a series of ingenious knocks that were often unorthodox and enthralling. He was the best out of a generally very impressive and aggressive Mumbai lineup.

6. Heinrich Klaasen (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Innings: 11; Runs: 448; Strike rate: 177.1; 50s/100s: 1/2; HS: 104

The big South African came into his debut IPL season off the back of a brilliant SA20 and he picked up right where he left off. Considered to be currently one of the best players of spin in the world thanks to his ability to pick up length quickly, Klaasen was soon into his business with Sunrisers, despite their continual poor form.

An imposing figure at the crease, Klaasen was another man to bring up a first hundred in the IPL and did in typically destructive fashion. The 31-year-old is one of the most in-form players in world cricket currently and was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise poor season for SRH.

7. Rashid Khan (GT)

Innings: 17; Wickets: 27; Average: 20.4; Economy: 8.23
Innings: 9; Runs: 130; Strike rate: 216.7; 50s/100s: 1/0; HS: 79*

There is no surprise to see Rashid here, having had yet another successful season in the IPL. He was considerably more expensive with the ball, but he traded that off with his best wicket tally to date. The Afghanistan star bowled well in tandem with compatriot Noor and often picked up vital wickets at vital times, something that is almost expected at this point.

Rashid also had his most successful season with the bat, the highlight being an astonishing unbeaten 32-ball 79 against Mumbai Indians in which he almost dragged Titans from 103-8 to chase a total well in excess of 200, ultimately falling 26 short. The majority of the ten sixes he hit in that innings were incredibly clean and reminded many of his lower order threat.

8. Piyush Chawla (MI)

Innings: 16; Wickets: 22; Average: 22.5; Economy: 8.11

One of two comeback kings in this IPL 2023 team of the tournament, Chawla had a superb impact for Mumbai this season. Going into the season without main man Jasprit Bumrah and concerns over the fitness of Jofra Archer, there was not a whole load of expectations that the bowling unit would fire. 

Chawla was brought in, having played sporadically in the last few years after a number of solid seasons, to provide experience to what was a young lineup. He instead delivered his most productive season of his IPL career and was by far the best Mumbai bowler with his canny leg-spin.

Piyush Chawla had a tremendous IPL 2023 en route to his highest ever wicket tally in the competition [CREDIT: IPLT20]

9. Mohit Sharma (GT)

Innings: 14; Wickets: 27; Average: 13.4; Economy: 8.17

The second of the comeback kings, Mohit was brought in in similar circumstances and expectations to Chawla. Shivam Mavi, the India international, was the big money domestic signing and was expected to join up with Shami in the pace department alongside the overseas contingent.

Instead, he produced some exceptional performances, particularly at the death. He picked up a brilliant five-for in Qualifier 2 to send Titans to the Final and was generally on point with his slower balls. It was almost a perfect end to what was a memorable comeback tournament for Mohit, but the final two balls he bowled this season should not be held against the previous 263. 

10. Mohammad Shami (GT)

Innings: 17; Wickets: 28; Average: 18.6; Economy: 8.03

Always known to be dangerous with the new ball, Shami was particularly potent this season inside the powerplay. He often struck in the first over which naturally helped set Gujarat up to release their trump cards in Rashid and Noor.

Only Trent Boult bowled more maidens than Shami, underlining the control and threat he posed within the powerplay. The early scalps were coupled with a number at the death as the 32-year-old helped himself to the Purple Cap for the first time.

11. Matheesha Pathirana

Innings: 11; Wickets: 17; Average: 19.2; Economy: 7.72

There had to be a Chennai Super Kings player in the team of the tournament and Pathirana is the one to have made it. Just 20, the Sri Lankan is very inexperienced at this level but he performed admirably during the death overs throughout the competition. Entrusted by Dhoni, Pathirana has, quite incredibly considering he is an overseas player, now played more for CSK than he has for Sri Lanka.

That, of course, is likely to change quite quickly and he has already been called up to the Sri Lankan squad to face Afghanistan in an ODI series in June. The comparisons to IPL legend Lasith Malinga are going to be obvious but the similarities are clear - the slingy action is one thing, but the accuracy of the yorkers, pace and temperament at the death are all things that made Malinga a great and are all things that Pathirana seemingly has in abundance.

Matheesha Pathirana looks set to seal the death over holes left by Dwayne Bravo and Lasith Malinga for CSK and Sri Lanka respectively [CREDIT: IPLT20]

Substitutes

12. Devon Conway (CSK)

Innings: 14; Runs: 625; Strike rate: 137.1; 50s/100s: 0/6; HS: 92*

Despite the quality of the overseas players available to Chennai, Conway made one of the four slots very much his own thanks to his supreme consistency. The New Zealand international dovetailed superbly with Gaikwad at the top of the order and provided solid platforms for the deep Super Kings batting lineup on many occasions.

13. Shivam Dube (CSK)

Innings: 13; Runs: 386; Strike rate: 158.8; 50s/100s: 0/3; HS: 52

Known to be a big hitter but unable to perform consistently, Dube proved that theory wrong this season as he was shown to be an integral part of the CSK winning effort. He was second only to du Plessis (36) in the six-hitting category, striking 35 maximums in total. The big left-hander played a crucial role in the Final, a fitting finale to what was a very solid season for the 29-year-old.

14. Jitesh Sharma (Punjab Kings)

Innings: 14; Runs: 309; Strike rate: 156.1; 50s/100s: 0/0; HS: 49*

Having rather burst onto the scene last year with Punjab Kings, Jitesh proved it was no fluke with a stellar sophomore season. His intent is consistent, often looking to score quickly without fear of losing his wicket. That does not mean he throws his wicket away, but rather takes risks in order to score at a pace that has become a key part of the Kings' strategy.

15. Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals)

Innings: 13; Wickets: 11; Average: 30.7; Economy: 7.19
Innings: 13; Runs: 283; Strike rate: 139.4; 50s/100s: 1/0; HS: 54

There may be stronger candidates for a place in the reserve list for the IPL 2023 team of the tournament, such as Deshpande or Yuzvendra Chahal, but Axar was the highlight of a hit and miss Delhi Capitals side. He was typcially tidy with the ball and often provided strong contributions with the bat.

16. Mohammed Siraj (RCB)

Innings: 14; Wickets: 19; Average: 19.7; Economy: 7.50

The RCB pacer had a poor season in 2022, leaking runs for fun and not picking up the wickets to offset such a high economy rate. This season, though, Siraj was at his absolute best. He bowled quickly and was a nightmare in the powerplay and gave away considerably fewer runs this time around.