The Fantasy IPL XI 2023

As another season of the Indian Premier League comes to an end it's time to reflect on the individual performances and make a fantasy team consisting of players who have shown their mettle in the coveted league. I will try to create a team keeping the composition of a cricket team in mind which means players suitable for every phase of a T20 match. My team will have 6 batsmen including a wicket keeper, one all rounder and four bowlers. Yes, I will try to keep it simple with focusing on only five bowlers like big teams do (for example CSK). Let's get started then.

1. Faf Du Plesis (RCB)

Faf was the highest run scorer until recently only before he was taken over by Gill in the business end of the tournament. Though RCB could not make it to the playoffs but it is undeniably true that Faf scored bulk of the runs for his team at the top and gave them solid starts almost every time. Along with his batting prowess he is the captain of side as well.

2. Shubhman Gill (GT)

With 3 hundreds and almost 9 hundred runs Gill announced himself at the big stage and how! It is certain that he is going to be the next big thing in Indian Cricket after Virat Kohli and his arrival has been marked this year. He won the orange cup for becoming the highest run getter in this edition along with the Most Valuable Player award.

3. Virat Kohli (RCB)

Though Kohli made bulk of his scoring playing as an opener this year but I think he suits the number three role better than none in my team. He showed immense class and made us remember the 2016 season where he scored a mammoth 973 runs. Definitely Kohli is back in the business and good times are awaiting.

4. Suryakumar Yadav (MI)

SKY started the season with scares of 3 back to back golden ducks against Australia and eventually lost his place in the test squad when the WTC final test squad was announced. But, after that he played the best cricket of his life. Showcasing his 360° skills all around the wicket, he scored a glorious hundred in the tournament along with many impactful innings. It was evident that the scares from the past was gone now and SKY is back again.

5. Heinrich Klassen (SRH)

I know many will not agree with this choice of mine but I think the brand of cricket Klassen has played is simply great. Fearless cricket under so much pressure when none of his teammates contributed much shows the man's class. So, he will be my wicketkeeper as well as lower order big hitter.

6. Rinku Singh (KKR)

No IPL team will be complete this year without Rinku. His last over heroics against Gujarat Titans has become a legend now. Not to forget he played many match winning innings this year and it will be difficult to not include him in the Indian squad in the near future.

7. Ravindra Jadeja (CSK)

After yesterday's match winning there's no stopping Jadeja. His contributions with the bat was questioned earlier in the tournament but he silenced everybody with that gem knock. We know how capable he is with the ball and though he has proved himself as a test batter in the recent past his capability to score quickly was always a question in the white ball format. But, I think everything is answered after this year's IPL.

8. Rashid Khan (GT)

One cannot keep Rashid Khan away from the match for very long. He will either take wickets or score runs with the bat and when he does not do any of this he will take match winning catches. And it is proved after he won the best catch award this year. With 27 wickets in the bag he is the joint second highest wicket taker this year just one wicket short of Mohammed Shami. Who can forget his unbeaten 79 against Mumbai where he almost won the match for his team. He's definitely one of the best overseas players to play in the history of the IPL.

9. Mohammed Shami (GT)

With 28 wickets the purple cap winner Mohammed Shami is the main powerplay bowler of my team. His impeccable length with fierce pace showed his class as a bowler and he had the best season by far of his career this year. He's definitely going to get this form going in the upcoming WTC final as well making the life of the aussie batsmen difficult.

10. Mohammed Siraj (RCB)

Though it may look like a brainless decision to include Siraj in the team but I think nobody as beautifully as Siraj did in the powerplay overs in this year's IPL apart from Shami. But no to forget that he got little to no help from other bowlers of his team. What seemed like a prodigy even two years ago Siraj proved his point and cemented his place in any team he played for. And in Jasprit Bumrah's absence he is going to be the main man in the upcoming matches for India.

11. Mohit Sharma (GT)

Mohit Sharma is definitely the resurgence story of this year's IPL. Having been a net bowler for GT in the previous edition of the IPL he proved his mettle and became the main bowler in the death overs for GT this year. He won atleast 3 matches single handedly for the team this year not to forget his five-for against Mumbai in the qualifier 2.

Notable exclusions:
Devon Conway, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel, Piyush Chawla, Yajuvendra Chahal and Matheesha Pathirana