IPL 2023: One player each who could be ‘match winners’ for their respective teams

Virat Kohli (Photo Source: IPL)

IPL 2023 is all set to commence from the 31st of March, 2023 when defending champions Gujarat Giants will lock horns with Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

As has been the case with this marquee tournament, each year, the IPL witnesses some breathtaking performances that end up being the difference between the two teams. Over the years, we have witnessed a number of crucial knocks being played alongside some deadly bowling spells which have single-handedly managed to decide the course of a game. Individual match-winning heroics in IPL aren’t a rarity.

In this article, we take a look at those players who could be capable of pulling off such heroics in the upcoming tournament. These players could be the key for their teams if all goes well for them. While enumerating these players, we not only consider their past performances but also take into account their current form, which may give them an edge over other teammates in the upcoming season.

Here are the ten players who could be match-winners for their respective teams:

1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo Source: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

One of the most consistent teams of the IPL history is going to embark on the journey of IPL 2023 with a well balanced side. With MS Dhoni leading them once again, CSK is all set to take on Gujarat Titans in the opening match of the season.

One player who could be a match winner for CSK is Ravindra Jadeja. The prolific left arm-spinner has had a long run for CSK, coming into the 16th season of the IPL. Playing as an all-rounder for the team, it is nearly unimaginable for CSK to structure a playing-11 without including Jadeja. All of us are well aware of the fact that he is a terrific fielder and someone who can bowl economically, when in a crunch situation. Apart from being economical, Jadeja can also put the opposition in spot by picking up a few crucial wickets.

He didn’t have the best of the IPL in 2022 but did deliver a few much-needed cameos, both with bat and ball. However, his form in the recently concluded Border- Gavaskar trophy has given him a great boost after returning from an injury. He is looking good and should do well in the upcoming IPL season as well.

2. Delhi Capitals (DC) – David Warner

David Warner. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Delhi Capitals had a decent season in the 2022 edition where they won and lost an equal number of matches. They eventually finished 5th on the points table, paving way for RCB to qualify. Ahead of IPL 2023, they were hit by skipper Rishabh Pant’s absence following which, reins of the team were handed over to David Warner.

The team also include Axar Patel who is in red-hot form, as could be seen in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy. Patel will also act as the vice-captain of the team.

But it would be crucial to see how things pan out for David Warner who has been one of the greatest IPL players of all time. He can definitely be a match-winner for Delhi Capitals if he gets going. Barring the 2021 edition, Warner has scored 400+ runs in every edition of the IPL since 2013. Hence, all eyes would be on Warner when Delhi kickstart their campaign in the upcoming IPL, as his form would largely determine Delhi’s fortunes in the tournament. On his day, Warner could definitely end up being a match-winner for Delhi.

3. Gujarat Titans (GT) – Shubman Gill

There was nothing that went wrong in Gujarat Titans’ conduct last year, resulting in the Hardik Pandya-led side lifting the trophy in their very first season of the tournament. The team boast of a perfect mix of young talent and T20 stalwarts who have gathered experience from all around the world.

Titans’ opener Shubman Gill had one of the best IPL seasons of his career last year as he finished the league as the fifth-highest run-scorer of the tournament. He has been in some serious form lately which is manifesting in the type of performances he has delivered in recent matches. His recent exploits include an ODI double-hundred against New Zealand, century in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy and his maiden T20I century against New Zealand.

He should be looking to carry the same intent going into the IPL which may make him one of Gujarat’s biggest match-winners.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – Andre Russell

Andre Russell. (Photo Source: Zee 5)

Kolkata Knight Riders have a lot of star players and one among them is Andre Russell. Andre Russel is one of those players who had a reasonably good season with the bat in 2022 and would look to carry that forward to the 2023 season as well.

Even in terms of his bowling contributions, he played an important role for KKR, picking up 17 scalps in the 2022 edition. He is someone who could walk-in at any stage of the innings and pull it off for the KKR when it is his day.

Be it his batting strike-rate or balls per boundary, Russell has proved his mettle across all parameters and whenever an explosive T20 innings is talked about, it is not possible to do so without mentioning Andre Russell. When at his best, Russell may turn into a perfect match-winner for KKR, as has been the case many a times before.

5. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Lucknow Super Giants managed to make it to the playoffs effortlessly, eventually finishing at no.3 in the 2022 edition of the IPL. The team possess a balanced set-up, with a perfect mix of players capable of taking on any team and emerging victorious.

Recently. the team signed in explosive Carribean batter Nicholas Pooran who could prove to be a match-winner for the KL Rahul-led side in the upcoming tournament. Nicholas Pooran is one of those players who had a very good season with the bat in IPL 2022. In 13 innings, the left-hander scored 306 runs at an average of 38.25, with a blistering strike rate of 144.34. Playing for SRH, he also hit two half-centuries last year.

Pooran is known for his absolute power-hitting capabilities and will definitely strengthen the LSG batting line-up. Given he continues his form from the last edition, he can be banked upon for winning matches for LSG.

6. Mumbai Indians (MI) – Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer (Photo Source: MI Cape Town)

The most successful franchise of IPL is known for its smart and clever picks at the auctions. Mumbai Indians have always focused on the impact players and that was precisely the case when they went for Jofra Archer.

Jofra Archer, as we all know, is one of the best bowlers in world cricket who can clock speeds of 150 Kmph at regular Intervals. He is also a clean and hard striker of the ball and can play impactful innings coming in the lower order.

The impact that he had in just 3 seasons of playing the IPL was huge as he got almost every big player of the league out, thus making a statement. His best season with the ball was in 2020 when he picked 20 scalps with Rajasthan Royals. In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer can win matches for Mumbai with his ferocious bowling.

7. Punjab Kings (PBKS) – Sam Curran

<p>Sam Curran (Photo Source: Twitter)</p>

Sam Curran became the most expensive player in the history of IPL when his services were procured by Punjab Kings at the 2022 IPL auctions. PBKS spent a huge amount on him hoping that he would be an impact player for them, specially so with the ball, along with Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada.

He was also a part of the England squad that won the ICC WT20I Men’s World Cup in 2022. In the tournament, he was stupendous with the ball and picked up 13 wickets, the highest for any England bowler in the World Cup. For his exploits, Curran was also adjudged the ‘Player of the Tournament’.

Punjab Kings would expect him to team up with Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep Singh to add more firepower to their bowling unit whereas in the batting unit too, Curran can come handy with his brisk and powerful knocks. Overall, Sam Curran could turn into a match-winner for PBKS in the upcoming season.

8. Rajasthan Royals (RR) – Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The classic wicket-keeper batter from England who guided his team to victory in the Men’s ICC T20 World Cup in 2022, is one of the key players in the Rajasthan Royals set-up. He was phenomenal last year and played, perhaps, the biggest role in steering Rajasthan Royals to their second ever IPL final. He scored a whopping 863 runs last season and rightfully earned the Orange Cap.

He carried the same form to the World Cup and scored the most runs for England to help them win their second T20 World Cup.

In the upcoming IPL too, Rajasthan’s fortunes would be largely dependent on Jos Buttler‘s game and the English captain would not want to disappoint the fans. Once he gets going, there would be no bigger match-winner than him in the RR squad.

9. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) – Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli (Photo Source: IPL)

Virat Kohli has been the pillar of RCB on whom largely depends the team’s fortunes. Ever since the beginning of his IPL career in 2008, Virat Kohli has played a pivotal role for Royal Challengers Bangalore in terms of adding stability to the batting as well as with his captaincy earlier.

He has been the man behind a lot of RCB’s crucial victories over the years and would look to do nothing different in the upcoming tournament as well. Since his splendid batting performance in 2016, he has managed to score 300+ runs in every season of the IPL.

Playing for the national team, Virat has been in excellent form of late and also played a key role in India’s campaign in the T20 World Cup. Scoring 296 runs, Virat registered himself as the highest run-scorer of the tournament. Royal Challengers Bangalore have always depended on Virat Kohli for their fortunes and this season would be no different either. Translating his current form while playing for the Men in Red, it’s a no-brainer that Kohli could prove to be the biggest match-winner for RCB.

10. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – Umran Malik

Umran Malik. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

The young Indian pacer from Jammu and Kashmir has been in limelight ever since he made his IPL debut in 2021. He grabbed attention with some serious pace and tight lines that he bowled. He even bowled the fastest bowl of the IPL 2021 while he played just 3 games in that season. In the very next season in 2022, he got the opportunity to play all the games for SRH and scalped 22 wickets.

Umran Malik will start the proceedings in the 2023 IPL as a much more experienced bowler as he is also backed by international experience. Having played in 2 different formats for Team India (ODI’s and T20I’s) with a decent bowling average, Umran would be keen to make his experience count for SRH.

He will play a crucial role for SRH in the powerplay and death overs, alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar and would look to win matches for SRH with his ferocious speed.