3 breakout stars of IPL 2023

IPL 2023 has been a platform for not just domestic talents to prove their mettle, but also players from different countries making a mark. When IPL 2023 began, all eyes were on star players who had rocked the auctions: Ben Stokes, Cameron Green and Sam Curran.

However, 8 matches of the tournament have thrown up several such players who have left people amazed with their performance. Interestingly enough, these players were all bagged at nearly their base prices at the auction.

Here are those 3 players:

1. Kyle Mayers (LSG)

The first on the list has to be the Caribbean allrounder Kyle Mayers. In 2022, he was inducted into the team as the alternative to Quinton de Kock but was on the bench for the whole season.

But this time, as Quinton de Kock was unavailable for the first two matches, Mayers was asked to open. In the first match itself, against Delhi Capitals, the left-handed batter smashed 73 runs off 38 balls which included seven sixes and 2 fours. He showed that he was a raw talent and just needed a match to prove himself.

Never before in the history of IPL has any player been so so brutal in his debut game. But Mayers was. And in the second match too, Mayers continued his stupendous performance by scoring a quick 53 run knock of 22 balls.

Mayers was acquired by LSG at his base price of Rs 50 lakh only, but a few more games like this, and his price is bound to go into crores. And who knows, Lucknow might just have found their own ‘Gayle’.

Now that de Kock has returned, the Lucknow franchise will have a hard time choosing from de Kock and Mayers as the opener of the team.

2. Nathan Ellis

The Australian right-arm medium pacer was a star in the match against Rajasthan Royals last night. 

The 29-year-old pacer, who is just seven matches old in the entire tournament, took four wickets dismissing four bigwigs of Rajasthan: Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal and Riyan Parag. 

Ellis even outperformed star pacer Sam Curran and Arshdeep Singh in the match. It was because of the sudden breakthrough performance of Ellis that despite being underdogs in the match, Punjab could defeat Rajasthan.

3. Prabhsimran Singh

If his short but impressive knock of 23 runs in 12 balls in the first match against Knight Riders (which included 2 sixes and 2 fours) wasn’t enough, Prabhsimran Singh did the needful in the second match against Rajasthan.

The right-handed batter was on a hitting spree since the beginning of the innings. Singh scored 60 off just 34 balls, which included 3 sixes and 7 fours. It was because of his hard hitting innings that Punjab started off so well and in 9 overs, Punjab was at 90 runs.

The 23-year-old right-handed batter has played only 8 games in the IPL since 2019 and was roped in at Rs 60 lakh by the Punjab franchise.

Certainly, with his performances in the first two matches, Prabhsimran Singh looks like the next big thing in Punjab.