The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 has gotten off to a flying start. Several top-notch performances have been on display and box-office entertainment of cricketing action is back.
Every day at 3:30 PM (IST) or 7:30 PM (IST), we tune in to our television sets or mobile sets and we remain glued to the screens. We have witnessed some heart-throbbing matches, that have gone right down to the wire.
At the present moment, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) are ruling the roost as they are in the 2nd and the 1st positions in the points table, respectively.
In this article, we take a look at the top 5 performances and records set in the phase 1 of the IPL 2023:
1. Rinku Singh going berserk vs Gujarat Titans
Unarguably, the greatest ever heist in an IPL game was Rinku Singh’s implosion on Yash Dayal. KKR needed 29 runs off the last over and everybody thought it was just a mere formality as Gujarat had their control over this game.
Umesh Yadav took a single off the first ball of the last over and gave Rinku the strike. And he simply activated his beast mode. The talented southpaw smashed 5 sixes off 5 balls and took KKR home. The game still feels very raw and it is yet to sink in.
2. Shikhar Dhawan’s one-man show vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
One of the most consistent performers in the IPL, Shikhar Dhawan scored one of the best knocks in Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) game versus Sunrisers Hyderabad. He received no support from the opposition and scored an unbeaten knock of 99* runs in just 66 balls.
It was an innings of the highest order and exuded class and maturity at the same time.
3. Rashid Khan’s hat-trick against Kolkata Knight Riders
In the very same game where Rinku Singh did the unthinkable, Rashid Khan produced a majestic spell of his own in the 1st innings. The wily leg-spinner took a hat-trick and it was the first hat-trick of IPL 2023.
Khan took the wickets of heavyweights in the form of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur in that game.
4. Virat Kohli scored 6500 runs as a captain in the game versus Punjab Kings
Even though Virat Kohli had retired from captaincy from all formats of the game, he had to return as Faf Du Plessis wasn’t fit to field. He scored a beautiful knock of 59 runs in just 47 balls.
In this process, the talismanic right-handed batter become the first batter in the IPL to score 6500 runs as a captain.
5. MS Dhoni led CSK for a record 200th time
The name MS Dhoni has been ubiquitous in the IPL. He has been a stalwart of the game and has been playing right since 2008. Dhoni has led CSK to 4 IPL titles and has also won a title as a player while playing for the now-defunct Rising Pune Super Giants (RPSG).
In the game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2023, MS Dhoni led CSK for the 200th time and set this record.
Also read: IPL 2023: 3 Talking Points Of DC vs KKR Game
