As the dust settles on the third week of high-octane 2023 Indian Premier League action, who makes The Cricketer's team of the week?
As we approach the halfway mark of the 2023 IPL group stage, it's very much all to play for, with just two points separating first-placed Rajasthan Royals from seventh-placed Punjab Kings.
It was a big week for Mumbai Indians, who are now unbeaten in three matches, and Delhi Capitals, who are finally off the mark in 2023, but KKR's season is spiralling out of control.
Who makes The Cricketer's team of the week?
A very welcome continuation of form sees Kohli make the cut this week. A quickfire 50 from 34 against Delhi Capitals and a well-made 59 from 47 were pivotal in RCB's wins, and more than make up for his uncharacteristically low score of 6 in their loss against Chennai Super Kings.
Without Warner, Delhi Capitals would still be winless in this year's competition. That fact alone secures him his spot in this week's line-up. A fourth fifty of the competition, combined with a considered and effective showing as captain, guided the Capitals to their maiden victory as they chased down 128 against KKR.
Player of the match in Chennai's victory over RCB, Conway scored a 45-ball 85 against a potent attack featuring Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel. Conway's only regret, after bringing up back-to-back half-centuries with this showing, will be failing to kick on to secure his maiden IPL century. Mind you, there are worse problems to have.
David Warner scored his fourth half-century of the competition [Arun Sankar/AFP via Getty Images]
A consummate victory for Mumbai Indians may have overshadowed his performance on the day, but Iyer can rest easy knowing The Cricketer will give him the credit he deserves. In a display of attacking intent, exquisite timing, and a great deal of good fortune to boot, Iyer returned a 51-ball 104, featuring six fours and nine sixes. It was in vain, but Iyer is nevertheless the first Knight Rider to reach three figures since Brendon McCullum's 158 not out 15 years ago.
The Australian is finally starting to find his mojo in a Mumbai Indians shirt, scoring his first IPL fifty. A rapid and unbeaten 40-ball 64, which saw him smoke impact player T Natarajan for three consecutive fours and a six over long-off, lifted Mumbai to a welcome victory over Sunrisers. Green also chipped in with 1 for 29 with the ball.
He started the tournament poorly but has experienced a renaissance over the past week, reminding everyone of why he warranted an IPL contract in the first place. A player of the match performance was vital in Punjab handing Lucknow Super Giants their first home defeat of the year. After playing himself in and scoring his first 20 at nearly a run a ball, Raza went after Krunal Pandya, bringing up his maiden IPL half-century off just 34 deliveries. He also chipped in with useful figures of 1 for 19 with the ball.
Venkatesh Iyer scored a century for KKR [Punit Paranjpe/AFP via Getty Images]
A destructive, counterattacking innings, consolidating a run of average-boosting not outs, sees Hetmyer make the team this week. Just as Rinku Singh has proven, there's always time for a comeback in Ahmedabad. Arriving at the crease with 123 runs to score with just 57 balls remaining, Hetmyer brought up his half-century off just 25 balls, ably supported by Sanju Samson. With five needed off the last five balls, Hetmyer slapped Noor Ahmed for six to secure the victory, and his place in this week's team.
An exhibition of white-ball bowling from Mohammed Siraj saw RCB return to winning ways against Punjab Kings. Game-defining figures of 4 for 21, including conceding just four runs and taking two wickets in the pivotal eighteenth over, helped his side leap up to fifth in the points table. The statistics may be impressive, but it is the consistency of performance across both the powerplay and death overs that makes him stand out.
With Sharma's large frame pumping his way to the crease once more, all seems right with IPL cricket - and not just because Delhi are finally off the mark. Making his first appearance in the competition since 2019, Sharma returned in emphatic fashion, taking 2 for 19 in four overs in what would become a player of the match performance. He dismissed Sunil Narine and Nitesh Rana cheaply as KKR were all out for 127.
Mohammed Siraj picked up 4 for 21 for RCB against Punjab Kings [Sajjad Hussain/Getty Images]
Avesh Khan starred in a low-scoring clash against Rajasthan Royals, leading Lucknow Super Giants to an unlikely defence of 154. He made scoring difficult by persisting on a good length on a pitch that did enough, returning match figures of 3 for 25 against the league leaders.
Existing, or rather thriving, in the shadows of his more notorious colleagues, Vijaykumar Vyshak takes his place in this week's lineup thanks to a match-defining performance against the Capitals, picking up the slack when RCB's superstar core failed to fire. Figures of 3 for 20 proved decisive in a low-scoring affair, with the key wicket of Warner among his haul.
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