IPL 2023: From Faf du Plessis to Rinku Singh - Top Five Batters from Group Stage

The IPL 2023 will be entering the business period next week. It has been an enthralling season so far as we are yet to confirm all of our playoff teams.

Three teams Gujarat Titans, Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants have already qualified for the playoffs, whereas three teams - Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals are still in the hunt for the last four.

This season has been a terrific one for the batters. We have seen some amazing batting displays from batters across all the teams. With the season already seeing more average runs than any other, we have witnessed some gigantic totals, fuelled by some outstanding batting.

In this article, we will look into the five best batters who have dazzled the group stage of IPL 2023. Here are the names-

Faf du Plessis (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

RCB skipper Faf du Plessis has been by far the best batter so far this season. The veteran is in prime form and has amassed 702 runs this season. He has been a massive pillar for RCB at the top of the order, and together with Kohli, the pair have been pivotal for RCB.

Du Plessis has batted at an average of 58.5, with a superb strike rate of 154. He has also scored 8 fifties this season, the most by a player this season.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals)

RR opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been a stellar performer thus far. The young batter has scored 625 runs this season and batted in sublime fashion. With a fantastic average of 48, Jaiswal has been a pillar for them at the top, and his stormy starts have handed Royals a strong platform in the majority of the matches.

He also notched up his maiden IPL century against Mumbai Indians, where he scored 124 runs off just 62 balls. Jaiswal also has 5 fifties to his name. It is to be seen if RR can make the playoffs, but irrespective of that, Jaiswal has been magnificent.

Devon Conway (Chennai Super Kings)

Devon Conway's batting has been one of the pivotal parts of CSK's upsurge this year. After a poor IPL 2022 campaign, CSK are in the playoffs this season and Conway has played a big role in their stellar comeback.

The Blackcaps opener has scored 585 runs so far in 14 matches, at an average of 53 and a strike rate of 139. Conway has notched up 6 fifties already and looks set to add to his tally in the coming playoff matches.

Rinku Singh (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Rinku Singh's inclusion in the list is solely because of the impact that he has made this season. The KKR middle-order batter has been the sole saviour for them. With 474 runs, Rinku sits 9th in the Orange Cap list, but his performance has been magnanimous for KKR.

Batting at no. 5 and below, Rinku is by far the highest scorer among all middle-order batters this season. The 25-year-old has batted at an average of 59 and his five sixes in five balls will remain in IPL folklore forever. Despite KKR's dismal campaign, Rinku has been a bright spot and the southpaw will be aiming for greater heights next season.

Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans)

Shubman Gill has been the calm but assured force of Gujarat Titans this entire season. Since his opening-day blitz against CSK, Gill has kicked on and has surpassed all of his previous records this year.

The Titans opener has amassed 576 runs this season, at an average of 48 and a strike rate of around 146. Gill's been the anchor for GT this season and has scored 4 fifties and one century this year. His maiden IPL ton came against SRH as the batter scored 101 runs off 58 balls.

Gill also became the first-ever GT batter to score 1000+ runs for the franchise. GT will be banking a lot on him in their upcoming Qualifer 1 against CSK and beyond.