IPL 2023 Week 1 wrap: Best Batter, Best Bowler, Best Strike Rate, Most Sixes By A Player

IPL 2023: The first week of the IPL 2023 saw ten matches being played between March 31 and April 7 with defending Champions (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) winning each of their two matches.

The players from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Gujarat Titans (GT) have been the biggest gainers in the first week of IPL 2023. Let's have a look at the list of players with the most runs, most wickets, most sixes and best strike rate after week one of the IPL 2023.

Most runs after week 1 of IPL 2023

Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK): 149 runs in two matches at an average of 74.50

Kyle Mayers (LSG): 139 runs in three matches at an average of 46.33

Shikhar Dhawan (PBKS): 126 runs in two matches at an average of 126

Virat Kohli (RCB): 103 runs in two matches at an average of 103

Sanju Samson (RR): 97 runs in two matches at an average of 48.50

Most wickets after week 1 of IPL 2023

Mark Wood (LSG): 8 wickets in two matches at an average of 7.87 and an economy rate of 7.87

Ravi Bishnoi (LSG): 6 wickets in three matches at an average of 12.50 and an economy rate of 6.25

Varun Chakravarthy (KKR): 5 wickets in two matches at an average of 8.20 and an economy rate of 5.34

Nathan Ellis (PBKS): 5 wickets in two matches at an average of 11.40 and an economy rate of 8.14

Rashid Khan (GT): 5 wickets in two matches at an average of 11.40 and an economy rate of 7.12

Most sixes after week 1 of IPL 2023

Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK): 13

Kyle Mayer (LSG): 9

Faf du Plessis (RCB): 8

Nicholas Pooran (LSG): 7

Virat Kohli (RCB): 5

Best Strike Rate after week 1 of IPL 2023 (With more than 90 runs)

Kyle Mayer: 187.83

Ruturaj Gaikwad: 183.95

Faf du Plessis: 174.54

Sanju Samson: 170.17

Virat Kohli: 153.73

IPL 2023: LSG GT and PBKS take early lead

LSG have their tone set for the IPL 2023 with two wins in three matches. In the absence of Quinton de Kock Kyle Mayers have beautifully taken up the responsibility of opening. KL Rahul is slowly getting back his mojo, while the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi have started to deliver for the team already. Veteran spinner Amit Mishra also chipped in with two wickets for 23 runs against SRH on Friday. Pacer Mark Wood has also emerged as a major threat to the opposition.

GT maintained a clean slate by comprehensively winning their first two matches against CSK and Delhi Capitals (DC) respectively. The side has carried from where they left each other. Players have taken responsibility and they look clear in their heads about their roles. The Hardik Pandya-led side most importantly looks very relaxed in all three departments.

The same is the case with PBKS. Their new captain Shikhar Dhawan has led them to two wins in two matches. The captain is firing and has got a 22-year-old aggressive opening partner in Prabhsimran Singh. Bhanuka Rajapaksa has also taken the onus of the batting department on his. The bowling unit looks well covered as Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis and Rahul Chahar have risen to the occasion.

IPL 2023: RCB and RR mark themselves as favourites

All is good for RCB in the batting department. They did collapse against CSK but those things don't happen quite usually. However, the concern for the team is the injuries of their players. Josh Hazlewood is yet to join, Reece Topley has departed after injury and Rajat Patidar is out. Harshal Patel has leaked runs in both matches.

However, David Willey and Mohammed Siraj are very likely to take over the responsibilities of the pace unit. Left-arm pacer Wayne Parnell is also set to join the squad as Topley's replacement. Some top performances can be expected from the Faf du Plessis' team in the second week.

Rajasthan Royals will be one team to watch out for. Once they solve their middle-order problem, they will rise as top contenders for the title. The top-order of Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson has scored runs. Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag have been fearless in the end moments of the match and the bowling unit consisting of Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult and Jason Holder looks well set.

IPL 2023: Tough times ahead for CSK and KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders flunked big time in their first match before Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh lifted their spirits against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with a 103-run partnership off 47 balls for the sixth wicket. Spinners Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and Suyash Sharma wreaked havoc later to hand KKR an 81-run win.

However. the top-order failure remains a big concern for the team. The journey ahead would not be easy for them if they don't fix it.

Chennai Super Kings managed to win their second match against LSG but the win wasn't comprehensive. A 12-run win after posting 217 raises serious bowling concerns. There is no overseas pacer to add to the X-factor, and Ben Stokes is hardly bowling.

Ravindra Jadeja is also yet to delivery with the ball and bat. The batting unit has ridden on the brilliance of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway but once they fail, the side will be in trouble.

IPL 2023: Trouble, trouble and trouble for DC, MI and SRH

Two loses in two matches for both Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad speak volumes about their devastating start to the tournament. DC's David Warner has scored runs as captain but have got no support from other top-order batters. Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh and Rilee Rossouw have failed in both their Tests.

SRH's batting unit was also in shambles in week one. After the failure of first match, a lot was expected from newly-appointed captain Aiden Markram in the second match but he was dismissed for a first ball duck. The hype around Harry Brook has also fallen flat. They have a talented bowling unit but the team would benefit only with runs on the board.

Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom last year and the first week of IPL 2023 hasn't been different for them. They are occupying the ninth spot after losing their first match. The brilliance of Tilak Varma was the only positive for them in their first match.

Rohit Sharma failed, Ishan Kishan's and Suryakumar Yadav's bad run continued, Cameron Green did not bring his international form to the IPL. Jofra Archer and Jason Behrendorff were taken to the cleaners by the Bangalore batters. Though just one match, it was only trouble for Mumbai in the first week.