3 of SA’s best in IPL
Miller, Jansen and Du Plessis make their mark in IPL.
Ranking the 3 Best South African Players at IPL 2023
The Indian Premier League is now edging towards the playoff stages of the competition, with plenty of action still to come in the most exciting domestic cricket competition in the world.
As with any great cricketing competition, the best players in the game are always looking to make a name for themselves there with bat and ball.
Not to be outdone, there have been some supreme performances by South African players at IPL 2023, but who have been the top performers so far?
Below, Bets.co.za have listed out top three South African stars at the IPL this year.
- David Miller
With 249 runs scored in 11 innings, David Miller is continuing to add an explosive edge with the bat whenever the Gujarat Titans need him to. His strike rate of 150.90 shows he is scoring quickly, although it will frustrate him that he is yet to notch a 50 at the competition this term.
Despite this, Miller has been good when in the middle. He comes in and plays the game his team need him to. Whether this is slapping the ball around and looking for boundaries or trying to take the momentum away from the opposition, Miller has been able to do this with aplomb.
The Titans currently look very well placed to make the playoffs having won nine of their opening 13 games, and Miller will more than likely play a major role in their battle to win IPL 2023.
- Marco Jansen
Despite the struggles of the Sunrisers Hyderabad this season, Marco Jansen has been enjoying a strong campaign with the ball in hand.
Jansen has knocked out 10 opponents at 26.70 with best figures of 16/2, with the fast bowler adding pace and bounce to the SRH attack. While Jansen is some way behind Mohammad Shami and Rashid Khan at the top with 23 wickets, he has been able to show his quality for a struggling side.
An area he will want to work on is his economy rate. Jansen has leaked 9.88 runs per over according to his economy rate. While this is fairly standard in a competition in which runs are plenty, the quick will want to ensure that if he is not taking wickets regularly, then he is applying pressure by keeping runs scored to a minimum.
At just 23-years-old, this has been an excellent campaign and learning experience for Jansen, and we expect him to keep improving with each game that passes.
- Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis has been the best batsman at IPL 2023 as the 38-year-old continues to roll back the years. The Royal Challengers Bangalore star has notched a supreme 631 runs from 12 innings at an average of 57.36, which is the best average of any player to have scored 200 runs or more this season.
With the Orange Cap firmly in his grip, Du Plessis has captained RCB towards the playoffs, although the tense battle that is currently being played out means they may still miss out on an off-season berth.
Despite this, Du Plessis has continued to score runs and captain intelligently. His ability to make the right bowling change, add energy in the field or smash the ball into the stands makes him a superb all-round talent that has become an icon for his teammates and the other players in the IPL.
At 38, it’s anyone’s guess how much longer he will play. However, in this kind of form, it is unlikely the South African legend will have many people at RCB telling him it’s time to retire.
