IPL 2023: From Ajinkya Rahane to Ishant Sharma, Team India veterans make surprise comebacks in IPL, Check how forgotten heroes have performed this season

IPL 2023: This Indian Premier League 2023 season have been full of surprises. From Ajinkya Rahane’s quick turnover that has launched him into the contention for WTC Final to Ishant Sharma’s successful return to IPL after more than 2 years, IPL 2023 season has lived up to it’s expectations. Let’s check out how veteran players have turned back the clock and amazed everyone this season below:

Ajinkya Rahane (Chennai Super Kings)

Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t had the best last couple of years, from the high of leading India to one of the best comeback victory in Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 to being dropped from the Indian national side. Rahane had struggled to keep up with the fast changing T20 cricket, striking at 100-105 in his last three seasons in IPL.

Rahane was bought by CSK this season for just 50 lakhs after a abysmal season for KKR in 2022 that was cut short by an hamstring injury. Rahane managed to make just 133 runs from his seven innings and strike at just 103.91.

Bat’s like Raina
Field’s like Faf
Stays calm like Dhoni

That’s Sir Ajinkya Rahane for you! pic.twitter.com/my0AGf6d5k

— pathirana stan (@icskian) April 18, 2023

Rahane came into the team due to Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali being unavailable and hasn’t looked back since. He currently has a strike rate of 222.22 in the power play which is the highest among those who have scored minimum 100 runs. Rahane is trying to emulate what Robin Uthappa did for CSK in prior seasons before his retirement from cricket.

IPL 2023: Watch Ajinkya Rahane hit the roof of Chinnaswamy Stadium, CSK star lights up with another fiery cameo in RCB vs CSK clash – Watch video

Sandeep Sharma (Rajasthan Royals)

Sandeep Sharma had placed every year in IPL since 2013 but went unsold in the IPL 2023 auction. However, due to Prasidh Krishna being ruled out for the entire season owing to a stress fracture, Sandeep joined Rajasthan Royals as his replacement and has been a bankable option for the power play and death overs.

Sharma had a unforgettable last season, picking only 2 wickets in 5 matches and therefore wasn’t picked by any franchise. Sandeep proved his worth as he defended 7 runs from 3 balls in the last over against Dhoni and Jadeja at the crease. After giving away 13 runs from first 3 balls, Sandeep came back to seal a 3 run victory.

Sandeep had picked up key wickets for the Royals. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill and David Miller are some the scalps he’s picket up so far, to help RR win against CSK and GT.

Piyush Chawla (Mumbai Indians)

Piyush Chawla went unsold at the mega auction in 2022. For IPL 2023 however, the 34-year-old was picked up by Mumbai Indians for his base price of 50 lakh. Chawla is currently MI’s leading wicket-taker this season with seven scalps in five games at an economy rate of 7.15.

Chawla rolled back the years against Delhi Capitals taking 3 wickets from his 3 overs, giving away just 22 runs. Chawla took out the West Indies T20I captain Rovman Powell vs DC tp help MI get their first win of the season. He then went on to spin a web against SRH taking key wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen.

Piyush Chawla was expensive today but that wicket of Klassen was the game changer. Deserves appreciation 💙 pic.twitter.com/hiN7skbUEg

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) April 18, 2023

Amit Mishra (Lucknow Super Giants)

Similar to Chawla, Amit Mishra also went unsold in the IPL 2022 mega auction. Like Chawla, Mishra was boyught for INR 50 Lakhs but has performed well above that price range.

Mishra who is 40, was the oldest player at the auction and was bought by Lucknow Super Giants. Mishra is usually played an impact sub at black-soil turning pitch at the Ekana Stadium. He picked 2 wickets from his four overs and gave away just 23 runs against SRH. Mishra could be a regular at LSG’s home-ground in the coming matches and can be dangerous providing assistance to Bishnoi and Pandya as they become a deadly spin trio.

Mohit Sharma (Gujarat Titans)

His IPL 2022 went as being the new bowler Gujarat Titans paved his way back. Ashish Nehra, GT’s coach persuading the management to buy him for his base price of INR 50 lakh and that has turned his IPL career around.

Yash Dayal unfortunate last over against Rinku Singh made his the first choice over Dayal. He returned to the scene well, bowling his traditional off-cutter and slower ones that had first impressed MS Dhoni. In his 1st match against PBKS, he only conceeded 18 runs from his four overs and picked up the Player-of-the-Match award to the prized wickets of Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma.

Ishant Sharma (Delhi Capitals)

Veteran pacer Ishant Sharma was picked by his home side Delhi Capitals for just for INR 50 Lakh. The veteran fast bowler who is 34 came into the side after a long gap of 717 days between his last game back in 2021. Ishant however did not disappoint. His fantastic spell of 2/19 in 4 overs held KKR at bay as they managed 127 runs from 20 overs. So far, Ishant has played just one game but can be used both as a regular and a impact sub according the pitch and conditions.