SI Cricket Talks
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E2zrIMyZ_ZTYTgdkZRh4R_UPd6yU9i1HuZ1tr-ILakQ/edit?usp=sharing
SI Cricket Talks
Sri Lankans in IPL 2023
Lions in IPL: A Lookback and Breakdown
Four Lankan Lions in IPL 2023!
This season of Tata IPL will feature four Sri Lankans! The players that will be part are Wanindu Hasaranga for RCB, Bhanuka Rajapakse for PBKS, and Maheesh Theekshana with Matheesha Pathirana for CSK. However, last season, Sri Lanka had six representatives in the tournament. With that said, let’s have a quick look at how the six Lions did in Tata IPL 2022 and see what to expect from the four taking part this year.
To begin with, it is important to note that Chamika Karunaratne didn’t get a single game with KKR and also won’t be part of this year’s IPL hence we will not be reviewing him. With that said, let’s begin the review with the only specialist batsman that represented Sri Lanka in the IPL last year in that of Bhanuka Rajapakse! Bhanuka had a decent tournament last year, he scored 206 runs in nine games at a strike rate of 159.68 for the Punjab Kings. However, this year, Bhanuka will look to score more runs but the big question is will he get enough games? As he is entering the tournament out of form.
Now, let’s move on to the bowlers, starting off with the quicks. Sri Lanka’s bowling leader, Dushmantha Chameera had a forgettable IPL as he took nine wickets in 12 games with an average of 42.66 for the Lucknow Super Giants and he, unfortunately, won’t get an opportunity to improve his record this year as LSG let him go. Matheesha Pathirana AKA baby Malinga would he happy with his performance despite playing only two games he was able to take two wickets and played for one of IPL’s most successful teams in Chennai Super Kings before making his Sri Lankan debut. Matheesha will be hoping to get more games and take more wickets this season.
Lastly, let’s look at how Sri Lanka’s spin twins went about their IPL season 2022 starting with Maheesh Theekshane. The mystery spinner played nine games for Chennai Super Kings and took 12 wickets at an average of 21.75 with a best-match figure of 4/33. As a result, Maheesh would be pleased with his performance and will look to do the same this year as well. Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan superstar had an incredible IPL for the Royal Challenger Bangalore! He took 26 wickets in 16 games at an average of 16.53 and with a best-match figure of 5/18. He surely avenged his poor performance in IPL 2021 as he finished as the second-highest wickets taker in IPL 2022 and will look to do nothing less in IPL 2023.
Overall, if we are to rank the performance of the Sri Lankans who got game time in IPL 2022, the order would be Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshan, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Dushmantha Chameera, and Matheesha Pathirana. So, there you have it, a review of the six Sri Lankans who played in IPL 2022 and a breakdown of the four Sri Lankans who’ll take part in IPL 2023.
Moreover, now let’s look at how the support staff representative of Sri Lanka did in IPL 2022. Straight off the bat, the Sri Lankan coaches in Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga arguably did the best as their team reached the finals but finished as runner-ups. Coming in second will be Muttiah Muralitharan, the spin bowling coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad as his team finished eight out of ten teams. Unfortunately, last place goes to arguably the best coach in IPL history, Mahela Jayawardene as his team had an unusual season and finished last in the table. However, each of the Sri Lanka coaching staff will be looking to win the title with their team this year but who will do it? Will Kumar and Lasith go one better this time? Or will Muttiah repeat 2016? Or will Mahela claim his fourth title as a coach? Let’s wait and find out!
Now that you’ve understood how the Sri Lankan players and coach did in IPL 2022, do you agree with my ranking? If not comment below your ranking and who you think will be the best player and coach among the Sri Lankans taking part this year!