IPL 2023: Chahal, Rashid hogs limelight as leg spinners steal the show at the start of season

Yuzvendra Chahal cheered by teammates after picking a wicket in ongoing IPL 2023 season. Image Courtesy: BCCI/IPL

Xtra Time Web Desk: Leg-spinners have been key in the resurgence of bowlers in T20 cricket. They are a huge attraction in the T20 format for they bring a certain mystery element – being able to turn the ball both ways. The IPL has seen some of the best leg-spinners of the past 15 editions. The ongoing IPL 2023 season has already seen the leggies making a difference in bowling attacks of the teams. There are four leg spinners in the top 10 wicket-takers list and 8 in top 20 so far in IPL 2023 season.

Yuzvendra Chahal, who was the Purple Cap winner of IPL 2022 with 27 wickets is back again leading the spinners in action in this edition. The Rajasthan Royals leggie is second in the list of wicket-takers after Lucknow Super Giants pacer Mark Wood. Chahal started the IPL 2023 season with a four-wicket haul against Sunrisers Hyderabad. So far, the skinny leg spinner has picked 8 wickets at an economy rate of 7.83.

Rashid Khan has continued to mesmerize the batters with his variations. The wily leg spinner from Afghanistan and Gujarat Titans is third in the list of wicket-takers with 8 wickets. Rashid has a similar economy rate as Chahal.

Lucknow Super Giants Ravi Bishnoi has also impressed with his smart bowling. Apart from picking 6 wickets in 4 matches he scored that important single to give LSG a thrilling win over RCB. The young leg spinner has an impressive economy rate of 7.12. The youngster has also shown a big heart when it comes to bowling under pressure.

Kolkata Knight Riders Varun Chakravarthy is at No. 9. The leg spinner from Tamil Nadu has picked 5 wickets in 3 matches with an economy rate of 7.02 and played crucial roles in KKR winning their last two matches against RCB and Gujarat Titans. His trademark googlies and carrom ball is already creating trouble for the opposition batters.

Karn Sharma has made the most of his chances in Wanindu Hasaranga’s absence for RCB. The leggie has picked 5 wickets from 3 matches but he also went for a lot of runs as well with an economy rate 10.60.

Mayank Markande of Sunrisers Hyderabad has done well in the only match he played. He took four wickets for 15 runs against Punjab Kings, paving the way for the first win for Orange Army.

Kolkata Knight Riders young leg spinner Suyash Sharma has been a revelation in his maiden IPL season. On debut, Suyash, nerveless and confident for a 19-year-old, made a splash after coming in as an Impact Player. He has grabbed the opportunity with both hands after being left out in the season opener against Punjab Kings. Suyash has picked 4 wickets at an economy rate of 8.12 with the best bowling (3/30) against RCB on debut at Eden Gardens. 

Veterans Piyush Chawla and Amit Mishra has both made marks in the cash rich league so far. Piyush has picked 4 wickets for Mumbai Indians in 3 matches while Amit Mishra has 2 wickets under his belt in 3 matches at an economy rate under seven. One of the top five wicket-takers in the history of the IPL, Mishra is already showing his experience.

Overall, leg-spinners have had the most impact in the first ten games of a season over the past three years. They have picked up 33 wickets at an average of 14.4 and an economy of 7.00.