Best IPL 2023 XI of phase 2 (Matches 14-28)

Today we pick the best eleven players who performed well in the second phase of IPL 2023 between matches 14 and 28.

The 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2023) has lived up to its hype, with the edition now 28 matches old and has produced some thrilling cricket. The new rules, notably that of impact player has divided the fans and experts, and it has worked both against and in favour of the teams and it's been interesting to see how the franchises utilize it.

As for the standard of cricket, the race for top four has intensified in the second phase and all franchises have become battle-hardened ahead of the playoffs. There have been several standout performances and a few have carried their brilliant form from the first phase of the tournament to the second . Hence, the phrase 'talent meets opportunity' keeps taking new shapes in IPL 2023 in the form of overseas and domestic superstars.

We take a look at the best XI from the second out of the five phases of IPL 2023:

1) Kyle Mayers

Lucknow Super Giants opener Kyle Mayers has been a revelation for the franchise in IPL 2023 and has made the most of his chances after not playing in IPL 2022. With Quinton de Kock on national duty, the Super Giants tried the West Indian at the top of the order.

The left-hander did not disappoint and set the tournament alight with blistering knocks in the first half of the tournament, starting with a 38-ball 73 against the Delhi Capitals. He was the only batter to score fifty on a tough Jaipur wicket against the Rajasthan Royals to help his side prevail by ten runs after posting a modest 154.

2) Faf du Plessis

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis has been ageing like a fine wine and has formed a fearsome opening partnership alongside Virat Kohli. With 343 runs in six innings at 68.60, the right-hander is the highest run-getter in the tournament. The former South African captain has registered three fifties in his last four innings.

Du Plessis' 84 off 56 deliveries against the Punjab Kings in Mohali was highly attracitve as it came on a slow pitch. The veteran cricketer also struggled with an injury, prompting Kohli to take charge as captain. Nevertheless, the Proteas cricketer's injury did not deter his batting and is likely to do even well moving forward.

3) Virat Kohli

While Virat Kohli has tasted success as an opener, he has been placed at number three on this list. The former RCB captain is currently third on the run-scoring list with 279 runs in six innings at 55.80. The right-hander has been in sparkling in IPL 2023 and is one of the strongest contenders to take the Orange cap.

Kohli has accumulated three half-centuries in his last five games with a best of 61 against the Lucknow Super Giants. However, he has slowed down considerably during the middle overs, impacting RCB's chances of amassing healthy totals. Despite that, he remains the franchise's most indespensible player.

4) Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer sizzled for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the second half of the 2021 edition in the UAE; however, he had a quite season last year. Nevertheless, the left-handed batter seems to have found his mojo in IPL 2023. The seam-bowling all-rounder also briefly held the Orange cap this year.

Iyer earned a spot in this list on the back of his maiden IPL century (104) against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede. However, the glorious knock wasn't enough for a win as the Knight Riders failed to defend 185. After winning the Player of the Match award, the 28-year-old felt a victory would have been an icing on the cake.

5) Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma has been a highly consistent performer for the Mumbai Indians since IPL 2022 and has been an imposing presence in their middle-order. The 20-year-old finished the last season with 397 runs in 14 matches at 36.09 and was the second-highest for the Mumbai Indians.

The left-handed batter has continued his form this year, starting with an unbeaten 84 to catapult the Mumbai Indians to a respectable total against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He has had a massive role to play in the three wins for the five-time champions in IPL 2023, hitting 41, 30, and 37 in no time.

6) Marcus Stoinis

Lucknow Super Giants all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been an influential player for his side, contributing massively to the team's balance. The Aussie all-rounder hit a counter-attacking 65 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore to help chase them 213 despite losing three early wickets.

Stoinis' all-round show was also critical in helping the Super Giants beat the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. The 33-year-old managed 21 runs and took two wickets as the visitors defended 154 on a slow track against an in-form batting line-up.

7) Rashid Khan

Gujarat Titans' Rashid Khan is arguably the best spinner in IPL 2023, with a penchant of taking crucial wickets at regular intervals. The last five matches has seen the Afghan leg-spinner take 11 wickets, including a hat-trick against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Ahmedabad. 

While Rashid took a couple of crucial scalps against the Rajasthan Royals, he went expensive, leaking 46 in four overs. The 22-year-old is yet to show his batting range in IPL 2023 after striking at an enormous 206.82.

8) Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has had an interesting last two seasons as the Rajasthan Royals have tried to get the best out of the off-spinner with the bat. The Royals have promoted Ashwin up the batting order on a few occasions and he has played some valuable innings.

He was promoted ahead of the likes of Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel against the Chennai Super Kings and shared a stand of 47 runs with Jos Buttler. Later, Ashwin returned with figures of 4-0-25-2 to help the Royals eke out a three-run win. The 36-year-old hit ten runs off three deliveries to help his side ace the chase against the Gujarat Titans and was the most economical bowler against the Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur.

9) Mohammed Siraj

Royal Challengers Bangalore seamer Mohammed Siraj is currently the purple cap holder, having taken 12 scalps in six innings at 13.41. Siraj, who has had a sensational last 12-18 months in limited-overs cricket, has been very incisive with the new ball, giving his side breakthroughs in the powerplay. His economy rate is also a miserly 6.70.

10) Ravi Bishnoi

Lucknow Super Giants leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi is the second-highest wicket-taker for his side this year with eight wickets in six games at 19.62. The youngster flummoxed batters with his clever variations in the middle overs and has a healthy economy rate of 6.97.

Bishnoi's late introduction in the game against the Punjab Kings baffled plenty of experts as he came on to bowl in the 15th over. Despite that, the 22-year-old took two wickets, but bowled the last over where he only had seven to defend.

11) Sandeep Sharma

Sandeep Sharma has been one of the best new-ball bowlers in IPL for a long time, capable of producing extravagant swing. Roped in as Prasidh Krishna's replacement, the right-arm seamer has done a commendable job. In four matches in IPL 2023, the 29-year-old has snared five wickets.

Sharma's bowling was impressive against the Chennai Super Kings at the Chidambaram Stadium when he executed his yorkers perfectly against a rampaging MS Dhoni. Despite going for two sixes early in the over, the Punjab-born seamer bounced back to give the Rajasthan Royals a three-run win.