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.

Joshua “JB” Little has quietly emerged as one of IPL 2024’s most reliable death-over operators for the Gujarat Titans. Across his two-season stay with GT (2023-24) the Irish left-arm quick has featured in 11 matches and bowled every one of them, sending down 38 overs of high-pressure seam. The numbers tell the story: 11 wickets at a strike-rate of 20.7 balls, including a scorching 4 for 28 that remains his personal best. Little’s economy of 8.9 an over is even more impressive when you consider 65 percent of his overs arrive either in the powerplay or the final five, where margins are razor-thin. He is yet to concede a six in the 20th over this season, a testament to his pinpoint yorkers and clever change of pace. While he hasn’t breached the five-wicket mark, his lone three-wicket burst against Lucknow at the Ekana Stadium swung a tight chase GT’s way and underlined why the franchise retained him for a second straight year. With the bat, Little is yet to get a hit in the IPL—zero runs, zero balls faced—but that is by design rather than omission. His real currency is wickets in clutch moments, and on current evidence the Titans have every reason to keep trusting JB Little when the game is on the line.

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