The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most popular and exciting sports leagues in the world. It is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India contested annually by ten teams (for the time being) representing ten different cities in the country. The league was established in 2008 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is the most-attended cricket league in the world.
The 2023 Indian Premier League (also known as TATA IPL 2023 for sponsorship reasons and sometimes referred as IPL 2023 or IPL 16) is the ongoing 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a franchise Twenty20 cricket league in India. It is owned and operated by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
This IPL Season is started from 31st march and runs until 28th of May. In this IPL 2023, Teams are divided in two groups (A and B). Each team will play 7 home and away games, facing the opposite group's teams twice. Teams within the same group will play against each other once. A total of seventy games will be organized throughout the country in 12 stadiums.
The league stage will be played across 12 venues in India, while the playoffs phase of the schedule is yet to be announced. Guwahati will be making its IPL debut and will be hosting the first two home games of Rajasthan Royals before they play their remaining five home games at Jaipur, while Dharamsala will be making its return to IPL after a 10-year hiatus and will be hosting the final 2 home games of Punjab Kings after they play their first five home games at Mohali. The other eight teams will be playing all their home games at their traditional home grounds.
The IPL has become one of the most popular cricket leagues in the world and is credited for revolutionizing the sport in India. It has also become a platform for international players to showcase their talent, in addition to Indian players. IPL has also provided an opportunity for some of India’s most promising young players to get vital exposure at the international level.
The IPL has also become a massive commercial success. It has attracted some of the biggest sponsors in the world, and the league’s broadcasting rights have been sold to broadcasting companies for a whopping sum. It has been estimated that the IPL generates approximately Rs. 5000 crore ($700 million) in revenue every year.
A number of new laws have been introduced for the season.
- There will be a penalty of five runs if an unfair movement by a fielder or wicketkeeper occurs as a ball being delivered and before it is received by the batsman, and the ball will be declared as dead ball.
- A new "Impact Player" rule allows sides to substitute a player among the four named substitutes, and they have the liberty to provide the list to the match referee before or after the toss.
- Teams now can declare their playing XI after the toss, contrary to a T20I, where teams must submit their playing XI to the match referee before the toss.
- If a team fails to bowl their 20 overs in the allocated time, only 4 fielders will be allowed outside of the 30-yard circle for the remainder of the innings.
- Teams can appeal for a review of potential wides and no-balls using the Decision Review System (DRS). This system was used during the 2023 Women's Premier League.
The IPL has become a source of immense joy and excitement for cricket fans all over the world. It has been a source of inspiration for many aspiring cricketers, and has brought the country together in celebration of the sport. The IPL is truly a league like no other.