𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 - 𝗧𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗜𝗣𝗟 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

1. 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱 : There's this quote in my college that stuck with me. It goes on something like "no matter how many resources you have, if you don't know to use them, it will be of no use". SRH season cannot be summed up any better. Started the season with lots of hope with a good enough but nothing clicked and the team even became an absolute joke off the field as well for many many reasons. A forgetful season even worser than 2021.

Best player: Klassen
Worst player: Harry Brook
Best Match: SRH vs RR where Philips and Samad gave the gut punch to the royals.

𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲: 𝟮/𝟭𝟬

2. 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗵𝗶 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀: The Pant-less capitals lacked a punch as a unit in the entire season. There were moments of brilliance like the win against GT or SRH but on the whole they didn't click as a unit. With too many mistakes on batting order or on basic tactics and an unsuccessful campaign for the indian players, they kept wanting.At half way stage, they were destined for the wooden spoon, thanks to the existence of an even brainless franchise, they escaped the wooden spoon by a whisker. But, the hope is still on. They have a good bunch and with hopefully Pant returning next season, they sure can produce better results or even clinch the gold.

Best player: Axar Patel
Worst player: Manish Pandey
Match to remember: GT vs DC where Ishant Sharma showcased his experience to the world.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟮/𝟭𝟬

3. 𝗣𝘂𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗯 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Kings XI Punjab in their 16 years existence in the IPL have made it to playoffs only twice. That's a pretty shabby record to hold and they did nothing better this season that they even sunk to 8th position from their usual 6th place finish. Like Delhi Capitals, they also lacked the punch as a unit but they did better in grabbing crucial moments that helped them get two more wins than the capitals. The foreign players except for Livingston or Raza in a couple of games, ghosted them entirely and the Indian players were made to pull the weight. If one thing they can be proud of is, their local boys in Prabhsimran, Atharva Taide and Harpreet Brar rising to the occasion. No other team has these many performing local players in the team like Punjab has. As much as I love Dhawan, I have to accept, he was a shitty captain who looked very clueless when things don't go in his way. Sam Curran, in comparison did better as the captain and the team should really consider switching the position.

Best player: Jitesh Sharma
Worst player: Rajapaksa
Best match to remember: PBKS vs MI where Arshdeep broke the stumps in halves, twice.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟰/𝟭𝟬

4. 𝗞𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: If you had said to me that Kolkata Knight Riders would finish at 7th in table after the auction, I would have laughed to your face. They had their poorest auction with very mediocre of players yet they have punched above their weight to give a fight for the playoffs till the final day. Wonder how would their team be if they had better players. Credit where it's due, Nitish Rana truly owned up the position as captain in the absence of Shreyas Iyer and he was hardly missed in any department. The most lacking thing this season that costed them was the pace attack. With good prospects in Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora and Shardul Thakur, they hardly came to the party which allowed the teams to capitalise on them. This performance shouldn't blind the management that they had a poor auction. They should look for good alternative players for next season. A year or two back, some twitter folks used to hype Rinku Singh, I thought it was sarcastic but this season made me realise, they were genuine. Rinku Singh had his season yet with the bat. The calm composed demeanor is next to none and he's going to be the face and backbone of KKR for years to come.

Best Player: Rinku Singh
Worst Player: Narine and Thakur
Best Match to remember: GT vs KKR where Rinku did the unthinkable of hitting 5 consecutive sixes to complete the chase.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟱/𝟭𝟬

5. 𝗥𝗮𝗷𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘀: The most pitiful team of the season is Rajasthan Royals. Their season is so similar to 2018's Ashwin lead Punjab who had a roaring first half only to fall short in the second half and lose out on the playoff spots. They won 4 out of their first 5 but they could win only 3 out of their next nine. They made proper use of the resources available. To be honest, they had one of the weakest pace attack but think tank cleverly turned Chahal to the death bowler to hide the chinks in their armour. Looking back at the season, they would be bitching themselves for failing to finish quite a few games that left them lacking in the end. While Yashaswi Jaiswal played his skins out to have his best season, the proven performers in Sanju, Buttler and Hetmyer sunk in the latter half thus becoming another reason for the loss.

Best Player: Jaiswal
Worst Player: Riyan Parag
Best Match to remember: GT vs RR where Hetmyer and Sanju coasted through the toughest bowling attack to win from improbable position.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟲/𝟭𝟬

6. 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 : Lucknow when first assembled the team, they had a superb coaching staffs that includes Gambhir, Andy Flower. While Gambhir is seen as the face of the team, it's Andy Flower who has made sure his team reaches atleast playoffs in leagues across the world. 2023 was no different than their maiden season. They were the silent warriors who wrecked havoc whenever they could with an explosive batting line-up. They lost their captain in the midway but I am still not sure if it's boon or bane. While there are valid opinions that he hasn't performed to the expectations with the bat, it's tough to wonder would it be the same had he played in crunch games like the eliminator vs MI. Irrespective of his presence, the bowling department sure felt lacking on occasions that I would even term it toothless. This is a good season for them, to finish top 4 among the 10 is always a good season. The on and off the field drama with Naveen ul haq Kohli did generate interest in Lucknow games. Pooran after traveling across 3-4 teams have found his home at LSG which is good thing while Stoinis continues to be the force to reckon for them. Good years ahead.

Best Player: Pooran
Worst Player: Hooda
Best Match: LSG vs RCB where Pooran played an innings that left the fans in tears, literally.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟳/𝟭𝟬

7. 𝗥𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲: Another year, another high hopes, another close finish, another heartbreak. RCB may not have made the playoffs this year but they have got more consistent in the recent past under Mike Hesson and this is another good year for them. With Faf at the helm, ably supported by Kohli, Maxi and Siraj, they just need to find reliable middle order batters. Even the ones they have aren't bad, Lomror, Prabhudesai are able batters who just needs backing. As with bowling, Siraj spew fire in certain matches to win them games while there has been assistance from Bracewell, Vyshak and Karn Sharma. However, they would have liked if the experienced overseas campaigners like Hazlewood and Hasaranga to have give better returns. DK and Harshal have been the worst of the players, don't see both surviving next season at RCB.

Best Player - Faf Du Plessis
Worst Player - DK
Best Match: RCB vs RR where they pummelled RR to a total of just 59 runs.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟳/𝟭𝟬

8. 𝗠𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗶 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀: The narrative set by MI fans this season is they have exceeded their expectations by reaching qualifer 2. I agree with them to an extent as it's truly a good achievement for a team to get wooden spoon previous year and fight to reach Q2 in the next year. Mumbai Indians have the best scouting in the country. 23 was just another season to showcase that in the form of Nehal Wadhera, Tilak Varma and Akash Madhwal. Vishnu Vinod is an experienced domestic player already, so that doesn't count. This season MI understood their bowling is a weak link and that they only have hope if they chase the target. Unsurprisingly, they have conceded 200+ scores 6 times and chases 200+ scores 6 times this year. While SKY, Tilak, Ishan and 17.5cr Green played really well this season, it's the captain Rohit Sharma who went missing with the bat. He hasn't been in great form for quite a few years now and it's fair to say, the team's victory has submerged his subpar returns with the bat. This season it came under radar but still not to the level how Virat was scrutinized last year. With Bumrah returning next year and with good bunch of youngsters who put up their hand to perform, the 6th is coming soon for the paltans.

Best Player: SKY
Worst Player: Rohit
Best Match: PBKS vs MI where paltans made a mockery of PBKS bowling to chase down 214 in under 19 overs.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟳/𝟭𝟬

9. 𝗚𝘂𝗷𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘀: Re-quoting my own line that I made about them, GT is like machine. They have a set rules and the machine runs without any problem if the flow is not disrupted. But the disruption of the flow is very tough. Like last year, this year as well GT was underestimated by cricket pundits that they wouldn't make the playoffs and just like last year GT have proved them wrong to reach second consecutive final in as many years. CSK and MI teams are what they are today coz of the environment they provide to the players, GT is slowly catching up in that aspect. Players seemed to be relaxed and understand their roles and thus provide results for the team. With Gill in the form of his life, it's the players like Sai Sudharshan, Vijay Shankar and Mohit Sharma performing very well has been the surprise factor. I never really believed in Vijay Shankar but by the way he has gone this season, he is proving why he was regarded so highly and why he was given the cap. Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed and Mohd. Shami have been impressive this season with the ball that has transformed in as the results. GT would be more likeable if and only if Hardik let's out his fakeness behind.

Best Player: Gill
Worst Player: Tewatia
Best Match: GT vs RCB where Gill provided the knockout blow to RCB.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟵/𝟭𝟬

10. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗶 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Chennai Super Kings is MS Dhoni and MS Dhoni is Chennai Super Kings. Never there has been a player as synonymous as MS is with Chennai. This season has been the same showcasing the Chennai's adopted son's mettle in all aspects of the game. While Ruturaj has come good in certain occasions, it has been Devon Conway who has been the reliable ally be it first batting or second batting. MS behind the stumps may not have been the sharpest but his captaincy has aged just like fine wine. His rotation of spin choke on home games is an art. Jadeja has compensated the lack of runs with the bat with the ball while Dube has made sure he punishes any spinner who dares to bowl him. If MS is adopted son of Chennai, Pathirana is adopted son of MS who seems to be adored so much by the numero uno. While everything may seem to be nice and shiny for CSK, it's not really the case. The failing middle order batting has been a cause of concern while the unreliable Tushar Deshpande in death has been a headache for MS. Theekshana has not performed to his potential in this season yet and the calls to replace with the kiwi spinner Santner has got deafening with match after match.

Best Player: Dube
Worst Player: Theekshana
Best Match: Qualifer 1 vs GT where MS showcased his captaincy skill to choke the best team of the tournament.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟴/𝟭𝟬

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