IPL 2023: Second week review

The second week of IPL 2023 was full of drama, controversies, heartbreaks, and redemptions. Ahead a much-awaited clash between two Indian legends, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli in the 24^{the th} match of the Indian Premier League, let’s look at the incidents that made the second week worth revisiting.

Incomplete Dhoni Magic

Nowadays, IPL is the only time of the year when we can see MS Dhoni with his trademark cool head and willow in his hand. In recent times the performances have fluctuated and there are new heroes like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, but Dhoni is still the biggest crowd puller, especially with the chance that this could be his last season . Against Rajasthan Royals MS Dhoni almost turned the clock when he hit two back-to-back sixes off Sandeep Sharma in the final over. CSK required 21 to win in the last over and after those two sixes the equation turned into 7 off 3. However, Sharma kept his cool and executed three brilliant yorkers as only three singles were scored, and CSK lost the game by just three runs. However, the two sixes from Dhoni were wonderful hits and it showed he still has it in him to deliver when required.

Story of two centuries

This week saw the first two centuries of IPL 2023. Both the centuries involved Kolkata Knight Riders as Harry Brook of Sunrisers Hyderabad scored a century against them and Venkatesh Iyer scored a century for them against Mumbai Indians. However, both the centuries had two different outcomes, and the batters were not to be blamed. Brook is a sensation in world cricket and After initial failure he finally announced himself in the IPL. However during his innings there was a phase when he was not comfortable against the spinners of KKR and this was when his captain Aiden Markram and later Abhishek Sharma took control and thanks to their outstanding support SRH could post a 200 plus total. On the other hand, Iyer hardly got any support from his fellow batters as RahmatullahGurbaz, Nitish Rana and Shardul Thakur all failed to deliver. As a result, KKR posted an suffering total which Mumbai Indians and lysed ease Iyer’s century when in vain. But Iyer’s century definitely made into the record books as it was just the second IPL century by any KKR batter since Brendon McCullam’s 158 in IPL 2008.