Matt Short IPL 2023 Review: Punjab Kings’ Power-Packed Top-Order Asset Australian opener Matt Short burst onto the IPL stage in 2023 with Punjab Kings, turning just 92 balls into 117 runs at a fiery strike rate of 127. Across six innings the right-hander peppered boundaries with 15 fours and four sixes, never letting the run-rate drop below a run-a-ball. His season-best 36 showcased the fearless approach that has made him a sought-after T20 specialist, and his 127 SR ranks among the highest for any debutant facing 90-plus deliveries last year. While primarily deployed as a pinch-hitting batsman, Short also rolled his arm over in three matches, conceding only 25 runs from four tight overs (economy 6.25) and keeping opposition batters guessing with subtle changes of pace. Although he is yet to claim his first IPL wicket, the control he offers gives Punjab Kings an extra bowling option on sluggish Indian tracks. With one season, one franchise and a growing reputation for quick runs, Matt Short has already stamped his identity as a 360-degree match-winner in the making. Expect bigger scores and more fireworks from the Punjab Kings opener when IPL 2024 rolls around.

Gerald Coetzee has stormed through two IPL campaigns (2024 with Mumbai Indians, 2025 with Gujarat Titans) as a pace-bowling match-winner. In 14 bowling innings he has snapped 15 wickets at a strike-rate of 18.2 balls per scalp, twice rattling the opposition with three-wicket bursts. His quickest burst came at a four-wicket haul, sending a clear message to top-orders that he hunts in clusters. Operating at 10.37 runs per over, Coetzee backs aggression with accuracy, hurling 273 balls and conceding 472 runs while constantly asking questions with pace and bounce. With the willow he is a handy lower-order striker: 31 runs off 33 balls, laced with 2 fours and 2 sixes, shows he can clear the ropes when needed. His highest score of 12* has already proved vital in tight chases, and a strike-rate of 93 keeps scoreboard pressure on the fielding side. In 2025, wearing the Gujarat Titans colours, Coetzee looks primed to better his numbers and add more three-wicket shows to his growing IPL highlight reel.

Note: This overview is partially generated using AI and is based on statistical data. Please verify with official sources for complete accuracy.