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IPL 2023 FAQs: What’s new, what’s old, what’s good

By Mumbai Indians

The stage is set. The super-talented ensemble cast is ready. Oooof!!! You can pinch yourself if you don’t believe the Indian Premier League (IPL) is finally here. A new class of heroes have been assembled at the Mumbai Indians camp as the tournament prepares to be played in a familiar setting. What’s that? We’ll get right to that shortly.

Every new edition of the IPL comes boxed with some surprises. Sometimes it is performances, on-field drama or even some innovative rules to play with. Let us look at what IPL 2023 offers us this year without further ado.

Our first IPL 2023 challenge - away and home

In our first challenge of IPL 2023, Ro-hit and the boys travel to Bengaluru to face the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Hitman vs King Kohli. ARE YOU READY?

What: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians

When: Sunday, April 1

Where: M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

What to expect: Firework displays of sixes and fours, the roars of #MumbaiMeriJaan and Sachinnnn Sachinnnn in the den of the RCB fans, Jofra vs Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli and much more….

That being said, who are our first opponents at the Wankhede Stadium? MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings. The ‘Thala’ and his gang, four-time IPL champions, visit Mumbai for the latest edition of the IPL’s El Clasico on Saturday, April 8. So, ensure your refreshments, MI jerseys, office leave, TV sets and internet connections are arranged in time. 

What’s new at Mumbai Indians?

The seasons change, and so does the dressing room. But hey! It’s not just the players. There are some newcomers in our team's ‘think tank’ unit, with legendary South African cricketer Mark Boucher in the hot seat and ‘The LLord’ Kieron Pollard switching roles from a player to a coach.

Among the players, Cameron Green is our most high-profile signing, and he has some Australian company in Jason Behrendorff (pre-auction trade) and Tim David (retained). However, the limelight will be drawn towards Jofra Archer as the Paltan can finally see him bowl in the Blue and Gold of Mumbai. If anything, the man who loves wearing gold will surely fork out some golden performances with the ball. है की नहीं पलटन?

While we miss Boom Boom Bumrah, we will see how the ambitious Sandeep Warrier can take up the mighty challenge of filling in for him.

Impact Player Rule

With the idea of making team selections situation based and not simply form-based, the IPL has introduced the ‘Impact Player’ rule.

What does it mean? A 15-player list will be handed by either captain after the toss, 11 taking the field and four substitutes. From those, one will don the ‘Impact Player’ cape. This player can be one with any role: batter, bowler, or fielder.

When can they be introduced? The impact player can be brought on in a game keeping in mind these four scenarios: (a) start of an innings, (b) at the end of an over, (c) at the fall of a wicket, (d) when a batter retires (e) during an over.

The nationality limitations? An overseas player can be an Impact Player if only three or fewer foreign talents are in the starting XI. Should a team name four overseas players in their XI, they can only bring in an Indian as the Impact Player.

How to introduce the Impact Player? Well, it is not any step to a dance routine. Umpires will clench both fists and cross their hands above their hands. That’s for sure.

Let us put it this way. Here are a couple of examples for us to use the ‘Impact Player’ rule.

  • It’s a high-scoring start, and MI are bowling first. Our opponents have scored 70-80 runs in the powerplay, and Rohit Sharma can bring in an extra bowler for a batter
  • Okay, MI are chasing. Given the equation in the chase is 50 runs needed from 45 balls, Rohit will have the power to send in a more conventional batter from the squad over a big-hitter in the XI.

Playing XI introduced after the toss

A game-changer even before a ball is bowled or a shot is hit. Unlike previous seasons, captains in IPL 2023 will carry two sheets with player names. The result of the toss will help them decide who will field their best XI. Paltan, how excited are you to see this rule implemented? Tell us in the comments.

The power to review wides and no-balls 

No balls and wides often disrupt teams' blueprint to win a particular game. And, well, fast bowlers can tell you how troublesome that is. But now, no more, as players - including bowlers - will receive a power of attorney to challenge the calls made by on-field umpires.

Unfair movement penalty

Being at the receiving end of some harsh run-scoring can often cause frustration to on-field players, so much so that they might try to taunt the batter by deliberately moving in between shots or the wicketkeeper shifting positions before the batter plays a shot. As per the new rule, the result of this will mean the delivery bowled by his team’s bowler will be deemed a dead ball, and a penalty of five runs will be awarded to the batting side.

There’s a lot for you to take in. So come on Paltan, let’s keep our heads on thinking mode, and let’s bring out the calculators, the strategies, the ideations.