The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is alive and kicking. A total of 12 matches have been played in IPL 2023 and the franchises involved have provided immense entertainment to their loyal supporters. After nine days of action in the cash-rich tournament, all teams have played at least two matches while a few franchises have played three games. Gujarat Titans (GT) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) are the only two teams that are unbeaten in the completion so far.
Four-time champions Chennai Super Kings stormed into the top 4 after a convincing seven-wicket win over the five-time title winners Mumbai Indians on April 8 (Saturday). While it's still early days in this edition of the cash-rich league, each franchise would have analysed its strengths and weaknesses depending on the performances. Let's take a closer look at the points table.
1. Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson's side is sitting pretty at the top of the points table with two wins and one defeat in three matches played thus far. The Royals have earned four points with a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 2.067.
2. Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul's men began their season on the right note as they trounced Delhi Capitals but lost their second game against the Super Kings. It was a just blip though, as they won their third game against Sunrisers Hyderabad in dominant fashion. The Super Giants have four points with an NRR of 1.358.
3. Gujarat Titans: The defending champions registered back-to-back wins to begin their season and are currently in first place with 4 points and an NRR of 0.700.
4. Chennai Super Kings: The Men in Yellow are in fourth place in the standings after losing one and winning two matches to begin their season. They have an NRR of 0.356.
5. Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan's side is in the fifth place on the points table with two wins in as many games played. The franchise has four points after two matches played and an NRR of 0.333.
6. Kolkata Knight Riders: The two-time champions secured an 81-run victory to bounce back from their defeat against Punjab. They are in the sixth spot with an NRR of 2.056.
7. Royal Challengers Bangalore: The Red Army followed up their win over the Mumbai Indians with a disappointing eight-wicket loss. Faf du Plessis' side have now dropped to seventh place on the points table with an NRR of -1.256.
8. Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma's men have started their campaign with successive defeats. They have an NRR of -1.394.
9. Delhi Capitals: David Warner's team is in ninth place in the standings with three losses in as many games. They have an NRR of -2.092.
10: Sunrisers Hyderabad: The Orange Army is stationed at the bottom of the points table with an NRR of -2.867. They have lost both their matches to begin IPL 2023.
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