2023 IPL team of the week: Who joins Mark Wood and Virat Kohli?

The Cricketer picks out the standout performers from the opening week of the 2023 Indian Premier League

The 2023 Indian Premier League got underway on March 31, with defending champions Gujarat Titans defeating Chennai Super Kings by five wickets.

The opening week has seen five-fors, blistering knocks, homecomings and a first taste of the 'impact player' substitution.

But who makes The Cricketer's team of the week?

Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings)

Gaikwad has been incredibly consistent across his three IPL seasons, averaging 39.88, and 2023 seems to be no different. He opened his campaign with 92 off 50 against Gujarat Titans and followed it up with 57 off 31 in Monday's win over Lucknow Super Giants - the 26-year-old from Pune has already struck 13 sixes! He and Devon Conway are a fearsome opening pair.

Kyle Mayers (Lucknow Super Giants)

The West Indies left-hander mixes power with elegance, playing classical cricket shots with brute force. He smacked 73 runs from 57 balls against Delhi Capitals and 53 runs from 22 balls against CSK, making him the first player to hit back-to-back half-centuries in his first two IPL innings. He could well be the signing of the season and the Super Giants may have a selection headache when Quinton de Kock returns.

^{Kyle Mayers}

Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans)

Gujarat Titans' clash with Delhi Capitals was just his seventh IPL match but the 21-year-old showed immense composure. After losing Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya cheaply, Sudharsan built important partnerships with Vijay Shankar and David Miller, bringing a tricky run chase under control. Particularly impressive was Sudharsan's domination of Anrich Nortje, ramping and pulling the South African for two sixes either side of delicately flicking a bouncer over third man for four.

Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Although his 82 not out from 49 came as an opener, Kohli is slotting in at No.4 in this XI. It was vintage Virat at the Chinnaswamy as he and Faf du Plessis made light work of chasing 172, winning with 22 balls to spare. Kohli's head barely moved as he creamed five sixes on the way to his 50th 50-plus knock in the IPL. In that sort of mood, nobody in world cricket comes close.

Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals)

Rajasthan Royals' captain has been a pillar of consistency for a decade now and produced a typical stand and deliver fifty in his side's victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad. With the gloves, he collected his 13th IPL stumping to dismiss Adil Rashid. Leading a well-balanced Rajasthan squad, Samson will fancy his chances at winning the 2023 title.

^{Moeen Ali}

Moeen Ali (Chennai Super Kings)

Moeen recently admitted that he has never viewed himself as more than a part-time spinner but on Monday he took 4 for 26, including the wickets of KL Rahul and Mayers, to derail Lucknow Super Giants' chase. Though he's yet to unleash the beast with the bat, he is striking at 140 in the 2023 IPL.

Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans)

In his opening two matches, the Afghan has taken 2 for 26 against CSK and 3 for 31 against Delhi Capitals - he's the No.1-ranked T20 bowler for a good reason! At times he appears impossible to play and on the odd occasion you do connect with one, he'll probably get you next ball anyway. Oh, and his economy so far is a tidy 7.12.

Dhruv Jurel (Rajasthan Royals)

His team lost last night but 22-year old Dhruv Jurel impressed against Punjab Kings. Introduced as an 'impact player' on his IPL debut, his side needed 78 runs to win from five overs and Jurel's exquisite 32 not out from 15 balls in the company of the big-hitting Shimron Hetmyer nearly saw the Royals over the line. One particular extra cover drive for six was reminiscent of Kohli. "Remember the name" and all that.

^{Mark Wood}

Alzarri Joseph (Gujarat Titans)

The West Indies international is one of world cricket's most rapidly improving talents. A bowler who initially struggled for consistency across formats, Joseph is beginning to hone his craft. Two wickets in two balls against Delhi Capitals got rid of David Warner and Rilee Roussow in lethal fashion and he is showing why Gujarat Titans retained him after paying 2.4 Crore (£240,000) in 2022.

Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants)

He bowls 150kph, is unerringly accurately, rips stumps out of the ground and does it all with a smile on his face. What's not to like? Wood picked up 5 for 14 against Delhi Capitals on his Lucknow debut – the ninth-best figures in IPL history – and added three more wickets against CSK.

Anrich Nortje (Delhi Capitals)

Similar reasons to Wood, minus the smiles. There are few more intimidating opponents than Nortje and the huge South African produced two absolute rip-snorters to bowl Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill - neither batter looked as if they had even seen the ball. Delhi Capitals have lost their first two games and Nortje will be vital to changing their fortunes.