The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been the best platform especially for young cricketers to showcase their talent, and the 2023 season has been no different. The first two weeks of the tournament have witnessed some incredible batting performances that have left fans in awe.
The two weeks of the IPL 2023 tournament have come to a close, with nineteen games played. During this time, there have been several impressive innings that have ignited the tournament.
As teams now ramp up their efforts to secure one of the top four spots in the IPL 2023 points table, the competition is sure to heat up even more. Let’s take a look at some of the top mind-boggling batting performances from the first two weeks of the IPL season:
8. Harry Brook – 100 off 55 deliveries against Kolkata Knight Riders
Harry Brook, the English batsman, had an outstanding performance for SRH in their fourth IPL 2023 match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata against Kolkata Knight Riders. He achieved the distinction of scoring the first century of the season, remaining unbeaten on 100 runs after facing 55 deliveries.
At just 24 years of age, Brook displayed his exceptional batting skills and became only the third player in SRH history to achieve this feat.
SRH ex-captain David Warner was the first player for SRH to score a hundred in the IPL, which he accomplished against KKR in 2017. Later, England’s dazzling opening batter Johny Bairstow also smashed a century off just 56 deliveries against RCB in 2019 at Hyderabad.
7. Nicholas Pooran – 62 off 19 deliveries against Royal Challengers Bangalore
Lucknow Super Giants won their third match of the season against Royal Challengers Bangalore by chasing down a target of 213 runs.
Nicholas Pooran played a crucial role in the victory, hitting 62 runs off just 19 balls, while Marcus Stoinis contributed with 65 runs off 30 balls. Pooran’s half-century came in just 15 balls, which is tied for the second-fastest in the history of the Indian Premier League.
The match was a high-scoring thriller, with LSG ultimately winning by one wicket in the final over of the game, after Harshal Patel’s unsuccessful attempt to “Mankad” Ravi Bishnoi.
6. Rinku Singh – 48* off 21 deliveries against Gujarat Titans
In a remarkable display of power-hitting, Rinku Singh delivered an outstanding performance for the Kolkata Knight Riders in their match against the Gujarat Titans.
With the team needing 28 runs off the final five balls, Rinku hit five consecutive sixes off the bowling of Yash Dayal. The defending champions were left stunned as Kolkata Knight Riders secured an incredible three-wicket win in Ahmedabad.
5. Tilak Varma – 84* runs off 46 deliveries against Royal Challengers Bangalore
In the fifth match of the ongoing T20 carnival, the Mumbai Indians faced off against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by Faf du Plessis. Mumbai’s top order struggled early on when they came in to bat first, putting them under pressure.
However, Tilak Varma played a brilliant and determined innings, remaining unbeaten on 84 runs, which proved to be crucial for the five-time champions. Thanks to Varma’s outstanding performance, Mumbai managed to post a total of 171 runs on the scoreboard.
The 20-year-old’s impressive knock was one of the highlights of the first week of the competition.
4. Kyle Mayers – 73 runs off 38 deliveries against Delhi Capitals
In the third match of IPL 2023, Lucknow Super Giant led by KL Rahul faced Delhi Capitals.
DC won the toss and chose to field first.
Kyle Mayers, aged 30, attacked the opposition from the beginning and scored 73 runs off just 38 deliveries, making up for his skipper’s early dismissal.
LSG’s left-handed opening batter’s performance helped Lucknow achieve a respectable total of 193 runs, leading to a 50-run victory.
3. Shardul Thakur – 68 runs off 29 deliveries against Royal Challengers Bangalore
In the ninth match of the tournament, Kolkata Knight Riders played their first game at the Eden Gardens against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Shardul Thakur’s brilliance helped Kolkata achieve a total of 204 runs as the 31-year-old scored 68 runs off just 29 deliveries, hitting nine fours and three sixes. Thakur’s knock led Kolkata to a victory.
2. Ruturaj Gaikwad – 92 runs off 50 deliveries against Gujarat Titans
The IPL 2023 season opener between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans saw Ruturaj Gaikwad’s knock of 92 runs off 50 deliveries, although it was in a losing cause.
Chennai Super Kings were forced to bat first after losing the toss, and Gaikwad’s performance set the stage on fire and it was a great way to kick start the new IPL season. Gaikwad’s heroics went in vain as Gujarat Titans won the game comfortably in the end.
1. Virat Kohli 82* runs off 49 deliveries against Mumbai Indians
In a game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians, Virat Kohli played an unbeaten knock of 82 runs off just 49 deliveries.
Mumbai Indians had set a target of 171 runs, thanks to Tilak Varma’s sizzling performance in the first innings.
Virat Kohli aka run-machine attacked the Mumbai bowlers from the beginning and his knock helped Bangalore secure a brilliant win.
These were just a few examples of some of the incredible batting performances we have seen in the first two weeks of the IPL season. It will be exciting to see what new records and performances will be set in the upcoming matches.
