Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL) has gained immense popularity and has significantly impacted the way cricket is played over the last decade. And now, there’s even more to look forward to.
This season, the Indian Premier League 2023 is introducing a new innovation called the ‘Impact Player‘ substitute, which will effectively turn T20s into a 12-player game. However, it’s important to note that only Indian players are eligible to come in as substitutes, as the rules state that a maximum of four foreign players are allowed in a match.
If a team has decided to play with less than four foreign players in their initial XI, then a foreign player can only be brought in as a substitute. Additionally, captains can now provide two team sheets at the toss and choose the preferred lineup based on the toss result. Both sheets can include four names as ‘Impact Player‘ substitutes, but only one can be used during the game.
Also Read : Indian premier league 2023 & IPL 2023 Schedule
Indian Premier League 2023 & Golden Rule For Oldies?
For starters, it’s a golden rule for specialists. “Take somebody like Amit Mishra (Delhi Capitals) or Piyush Chawla (Mumbai Indians). They may not be the best movers on the field and may struggle with the bat at this stage of their careers. But they know their main craft — leg-spin — and can come in late and bowl their four overs and go out of the game,” – former India stumper Deep Dasgupta, who analyses the game closely as a commentator, told TOI.
It’s amazing how even a player like Anrich Nortje (DC), a South African pacer who has faced fitness issues, can still make a valuable contribution by bowling in a short burst and then resting for the remainder of the game.
No Allrounder, No Issues
Likewise, teams without top all-rounders may not face as many difficulties as they once did. The ability to have a powerful batsman like Prithvi Shaw from the Delhi Capitals, who can be substituted with a bowler (or vice versa), significantly simplifies matters for teams that lack players such as Ravindra Jadeja or Hardik Pandya.
“This is like having five substitutes in football, and how it changed the dynamic of the sport! Indian Premier League 2023, too, is bound to become more interesting. It will lead to more close finishes just because there will be more quality at the backend,” – L Balaji, who was the bowling coach of CSK till last season, said.
Toss No Longer The Boss
In T20 cricket, the toss has historically played a crucial role. Due to the shorter format, teams that bat second have typically had the upper hand, particularly when the dew becomes a factor.
Read More : Indian Premier League 2023 & TATA IPL 2023 Players List
“But now, the team fielding second can have the extra bowler as a cover, which can negate the massive impact that the toss has had in T20 cricket till now,” – Dasgupta said.
In the early 2000s, a rule change called Super Sub was attempted before the 2007 ODI World Cup. However, this rule was unsuccessful because the substitute had to be selected before the toss, and the team that won the toss typically had the upper hand.
“The fact that the player can be chosen after the toss now should make this rule more balanced than the earlier one,” – Balaji, who was playing his cricket in that phase, said.
Although the unpredictability that is essential to the essence of cricket may be affected, it is undeniable that teams that have lost key players closer to the Indian Premier League 2023 will benefit from this adjustment.
With the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai Indians may consider including three foreign players in their first lineup and opt for a left-arm pacer like Jason Behrendorff instead of an Indian batter in the second half of the innings in Indian Premier League 2023.
“It is difficult to cover for Bumrah, but at least there could be some sort of a relief,” – Dasgupta said.
It is difficult to determine which teams will benefit the most until the tournament starts, and everyone seems to agree on this. The think-tanks will analyze the conditions and make decisions on a game-to-game basis.
“The ball has to roll to know who uses it best. But I just hope the big team think-tanks understand the rule properly. In that chaos of the T20, especially at the back-end, what we don’t need is longer delays due to misinterpretation of the rule,” – Dasgupta said.
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