Sandeep Sharma, Ishant Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo Source : BCCI/IPL)
At the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction held in Kerala, some veterans got acquired at low prices by some franchises. Ahead of the auction, these players were expected to go unsold as they had missed the 2022 edition of the T20 league or had failed to perform up to expectations. Apart from inactive players getting sold at the auction, a few names also returned to the league as replacements for some injured players
After getting picked up by franchises, there was a responsibility on these players to perform efficiently in the season and give a boost to their careers in the league. Taking advantage of the opportunity, these experienced players displayed their best side and delivered fine numbers to their teams.
Here are the five players who made terrific comebacks in IPL 2023
5. Sandeep Sharma
Sandeep Sharma. (Photo source: BCCI/IPL)
Before the start of the 16th edition, Prasidh Krishna got ruled out due to a lumber stress fracture. To fill the void in their pace attack, Rajasthan Royals (RR) signed up Sandeep Sharma, who had played a lot of cricket in the league. At the 2023 auction, no franchise showed interest in Sandeep, which led him fall into the list of unsold players.
However, after getting a contract a few days before the season, it was a perfect chance for the veteran bowler to exhibit his bowling excellence and become an asset for Royals. Along with experienced Trent Boult, Sandeep reinforced RR’s fast-bowling unit perfectly with his tight bowling.
In the 17th match conducted at the Chepuak, he defended seven runs off the last three balls against CSK skipper MS Dhoni and veteran Ravindra Jadeja to clinch an intriguing three-run victory for his team.
After the CSK match, he exuded confidence again in the next match against Gujarat Titans (GT), with his 2/25 spell in four overs. Talking about his overall performance, he wrapped up his journey in the season with 10 wickets in 12 games at an economy of 8.60.
4. Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma (Jio Cinema)
Ishant Sharma put up a decent show with the ball for Delhi Capitals (DC), this season. Featuring in the league after the 2021 edition, he looked completely disciplined with the ball and contributed 10 wickets to his team in just eight contests at an economy of 8.24, with the best figures of 2/19 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 28 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
The game against KKR in Delhi marked a remarkable comeback for the veteran. In his next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), he again played a vital role in DC’s seven-run win with his wicket-taking and miserly spell of 1/18 in three overs. However, his most appreciated bowling display came at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium.
In the 44th match against Gujarat Titans (GT), he led DC’s bowling unit from the front and kept the Hardik Pandya-led side away from victory in the nail-biting contest. Riding on his extraordinary 2/23 spell, Capitals took the game home by five runs.
3. Mohit Sharma
Mohit Sharma. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Mohit Sharma has done his job excellently for Gujarat Titans (GT) throughout the competition. Along with Mohammed Shami, Joshua Little, and Hardik Pandya, the 34-year-old strengthened the pace attack with his disciplined bowling. So far, Mohit has picked up 24 wickets in 13 matches at an economy of 7.89.
In his team’s sensational 62-run victory over MI in Qualifier 2, Mohit played a crucial role with his bowling, taking five wickets and splurging only 10 runs in his 2.2-over spell. Earlier, in the league round as well, he looked fierce with the ball against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) twice.
In the 30th match held at the EKANA stadium, he powered Titans to victory with his 2/17 spell in his three overs. For his exceptional performance, he also bagged the Player of the Match award at the end of the game. In Gujarat’s next meeting with Lucknow at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Mohit again produced fire with the ball with his figures of 4/29.
2. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane (Photo Source: Jio Cinema)
Ahead of the 16th edition, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) got ridiculed for fetching Ajinkya Rahane at the 2023 IPL auction. After a couple of matches, CSK’s most expensive buy, Ben Stokes, got injured which gave Rahane a chance in CSK’s playing XI against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 12th game at the Wankhede Stadium.
Against the arch-rivals, Mumbai Indians (MI), he delivered an impressive knock of 61 off 27 to power his team to a seven-wicket triumph. The innings against five-time IPL champions became special for Rahane’s fans as the batter slammed his fifty in a jiffy. Continuing his form ahead, he delivered decent numbers to his side against Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as well.
In the 33rd match, Super Kings thumped Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 49 runs at the iconic Eden Gardens, and this time too, Rahane stepped up and took KKR’s bowling attack to the cleaners with his remarkable and unbeaten 71-run innings that came in just 29 balls.
1. Piyush Chawla
Piyush Chawla. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
This year, Mumbai Indians’ (MI) dismal bowling performance cost them the entire season. Their premier bowlers Jason Behrendorff and Jofra Archer were not up to the mark but one player that remained effective with the ball throughout the tournament was their leg-spinner, Piyush Chawla.
Spearheading the spin attack from the front, the veteran became the leading wicket-taker for his team with 22 wickets in 16 games, at an economy of 8.11. In MI’s first win of IPL 2023, Chawla played an essential role with his 3/22 bowling figures against Delhi Capitals (DC), at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
His tremendous bowling display against Capitals gave him a lot of confidence and in the next match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium, he became the most economical bowler for his team, grabbing 1/19 figures in his four overs. Earlier, MI reserved his services at IPL 2023 auction in December, for INR 50 lakh only.