Matheesha Pathirana, Andre Russell and Shubman Gill are all included in the sixth team of the week for IPL 2023. Every XI can contain a maximum of four overseas players besides having no more than three players from a single franchise. For this year, there is also an impact player to be chosen every week in addition to the starting XI
Photos: TT archives
Shubman Gill (GT): Gill had been looking poised for a big one, which duly arrived against LSG in Ahmedabad. His unbeaten knock of 94 off just 51 balls was part of a 142-run opening partnership with Wriddhiman Saha, during which both seemed set for centuries. Eventually, it was Gill who batted through the innings, hitting just the two fours but no less than seven maximums
Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR): When athletes talk about being in the zone, they refer to something akin to what Jaiswal experienced at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. During his unbeaten 98 off just 47 balls, Jaiswal not only notched up the fastest half century in IPL history, but toyed with the KKR attack with such ease that he might as well have been playing club cricket. If this is what Jaiswal is capable of at 21, RR, and potentially Team India have a lot to be excited about
Rahul Tripathi (SRH): There were a number of heroes during SRH’s remarkable victory against RR on Sunday. But perhaps the most underrated role was played at number three by Tripathi, whose brisk 47 not only kept SRH’s momentum going, but also gave the platform for the likes of Heinrich Klaasen, Glenn Phillips and Abdul Samad to finish the game off
Suryakumar Yadav (MI): After struggling to get going against CSK over the weekend, SKY was at his bludgeoning best against RCB midweek, conjuring another miraculous innings of 83 off just 35 balls. Coming into bat in the fifth over, SKY stitched two fantastic partnerships, first with Ishan Kishan and then with Nehal Wadhera, to transform the complexion of the match and give MI one of their most crucial victories of the season
Mitchell Marsh (DC): He may not have had the most impactful week with the bat, but Marsh has been the most consistent performer with the ball over the last two games for DC. First, he dismissed Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell against RCB on Saturday to limit Bangalore to 181 in Delhi, Then, he followed that up in Chennai on Wednesday with the scalps of Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja and Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Nehal Wadhera (MI): At 22, Wadhera has had a somewhat yo-yo career so far, but seems to have finally found his groove in Mumbai’s middle order. Two composed half centuries over the past week may not have come at an express rate for the left-hander, but they have been vital runs in the context of the games, something that should help him retain his position in the MI lineup for the rest of the season
Andre Russell (KKR): It no longer happens as frequently as it used to. But when it does, it still takes the breath away. We are, of course, talking about a Russell storm, which hit Kolkata on Monday with PBKS paying the price. Facing 23 balls, Russell hammered the Punjab bowlers for three fours and three sixes en route to a match-winning 42, which meant KKR still have hope for the playoffs
Yuzvendra Chahal (RR): With a four-wicket haul against SRH, Chahal may not have ended up on the winning side, but he did install himself firmly back into contention for this season’s Purple Cap. In a match that saw both teams score in excess of 210, Chahal’s economy rate was only 7.25 runs per over, and saw him send four of Hyderabad’s top five back to the pavilion. Then, against KKR, Chahar took another four-for, which not only sent him atop the Purple Cap standings but also made him the most prolific IPL wicket-taker of all time.
Matheesha Pathirana (CSK): Should Baby Malinga, as this 20-year-old is often called, go on to have the career many predict for him, this past week might be seen as a turning point. A combined six wickets in two matches against Mumbai and Delhi have made the fast bowler with an unconventional action one of the breakout stars of the tournament. To add the cherry on top of the cake, Pathirana has received considerable praise from Dhoni, who would rather the pacer play exclusively as a white-ball bowler for Sri Lanka
Mohit Sharma (GT): Enjoying quite the resurgence to his IPL career with GT, Mohit was on the money against LSG on Sunday, grabbing four wickets for just 29 runs in his four overs. This included the early breakthrough of Kyle Mayers as well as the crucial wickets of Marcus Stoinis, Ayush Badoni and captain Krunal Pandya later on
Impact Player: Abdul Samad (SRH): You have seven balls to face in an uphill chase. You have to find the fence at least a couple of times in those deliveries. You think the match is beyond you after you can only connect for one six in your first six balls. And then, the umpire stretches his hand to show you have a shot at instant redemption. What do you do? You hit the extra ball dead straight into the stands and hold your pose. Your name is Abdul Samad
