IPL 2023: Second week review

The second week of IPL 2023 was full of drama, controversies, heartbreaks, and redemptions. Ahead a much-awaited clash between two Indian legends, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli in the 24^th match of the Indian Premier League, let’s look at the incidents that made the second week worth revisiting.

Incomplete Dhoni Magic

Nowadays, IPL is the only time of the year when we can see MS Dhoni with his trademark cool head and willow in his hand. In recent times the performances have fluctuated and there are new heroes like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, but Dhoni is still the biggest crowd puller, especially with the chance that this could be his last season. Against Rajasthan Royals MS Dhoni almost turned the clock when he hit two back-to-back sixes off Sandeep Sharma in the final over. CSK required 21 to win in the last over and after those two sixes the equation turned into 7 off 3. However, Sharma kept his cool and executed three brilliant yorkers as only three singles were scored, and CSK lost the game by just three runs. However, the two sixes from Dhoni were wonderful hits and it showed he still has it in him to deliver when required.

Story of two centuries

This week saw the first two centuries of IPL 2023. Both the centuries involved Kolkata Knight Riders as Harry Brook of Sunrisers Hyderabad scored a century against them and Venkatesh Iyer scored a century for them against Mumbai Indians. However, both the centuries had two different outcomes, and the batters were not to be blamed. Brook is a sensation in world cricket and after initial failure he finally announced himself in the IPL. However during his innings there was a phase when he was not comfortable against the spinners of KKR and this was when his captain Aiden Markram and later Abhishek Sharma took control and thanks to their outstanding support, SRH could post a 200 plus total. On the other hand, Iyer hardly got any support from his fellow batters as RahmatullahGurbaz, Nitish Rana and Shardul Thakur all failed to deliver. As a result, KKR posted an underwhelming total which Mumbai Indians chased easily and Iyer’s century when in vain. But Iyer’s century definitely made into the record books as it was just the second IPL century by any KKR batter since Brendon McCullam’s 158 in IPL 2008.

A failed ‘mankad’ and last-over drama

IPL 2019 started with a long-standing debate of cricket world, mankad. Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler at the non-striker’s end (first Mankad of IPL) that made a section of cricket fans, experts, and Buttler furious as it was according to them ‘unfair’ and against the ‘spirit of game’. Interestingly the next auction saw the two getting purchased by same franchise and the new revised cricket rule also acknowledged it as a fair dismissal. Still the controversy doesn’t seem to stop. When Harshal Patel from Royal Challengers Bangalore attempted the same this year, he couldn’t succeed but yet again started the controversy. Patel fumbled against Lucknow Super Giants batter Ravi Bishnoi and proved that ‘mankad’ does need talent along with instinctiveness. The common argument against ‘mankad’ has been that it requires no skill. Seeing Bishnoi out of the crease while Patel was still in his runup, the bowler tried to run the batter out, but Bishnoi survived. In the following delivery, the batters stole a bye and won the match dramatically for LSG.

Redemption of Mohit Sharma

Mohit Sharma was erased from the memory of cricket fans after being out of Indian cricket team for over seven years. He was the IPL Purple Cap holder in 2014, he played the 2015 World Cup for India, and then he was gone. During IPL 2020, he could feature in just one game for Delhi Capitals before flying back to home following his father’s demise. He didn’t give up. He was not featured in IPL 2021 and then went unsold in next season. He didn’t have the match fitness but he still has the passion. Last year when former India wicketkeeper Vijay Yadav asked him whether coaching would be his next step, Sharma reportedly denied saying, “Nahi sir, ek saal aur try karunga (will try for one more year).” The fact that Sharma knew of his shortcomings and decided to work on his fitness following IPL 2020 speak of his undying enthusiasm and eagerness to work hard. Cut to IPL 2023, he has already won a Player of the Match award. Sharma shared what happened in between and how a call from the legend, Ashish Nehra gave new meaning to his life. “I got a call from Ashu pa to stay with the team (Gujarat Titans, as a net bowler), and if someone gets injured I’d get a chance,” Sharma would share after the game on Thursday. “I felt, what am I going to do sitting at home? I was here and doing competitive practice instead.” And that’s how he made a comeback on his debut for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023.

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