New Delhi: Apart from the impact player and DRS for wides and no balls, IPL 2023 has another change in the rules. The team captains will be allowed to have two different team sheets to hand over the final playing XI after the toss. This has been done so that franchises can pick their best XI according to the decision of the toss with the impact player included.
Currently, the playing XI is announced at the toss as the captains exchange the team sheets there. This change in the rule will allow slightly better decision-making and adds another dimension for the captains and team management to think about. They will be allowed to decide the playing XI according to the fact that they are batting or fielding first.
Major changes in IPL 2023: (Source – Espn Cricinfo)
– Teams will name their 11 after the toss.
– Unfair movement by Keeper or fielders will result in dead ball & 5 penalty runs.
– Only 4 fielders will be allowed outside 30 yard for every over not completed within time.— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 22, 2023
However, IPL is not the first league to do so. This rule was first introduced in SA20, where the teams put 13 names on the team sheet and announced their final XI after the toss. In SA20, this was done to reduce the impact of the toss in deciding games as fans and experts have usually complained at certain venues, the team winning the toss, ends up winning the game.
Indian venues are highly affected by dew and the decision of announcing the playing XI after the toss will help to reduce the impact of the toss and dew in the game.
Apart from the above-mentioned changes, here are some more tweaks in the rules done by BCCI for IPL 2023:
- Over rate penalty: Only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle for every over not completed on time.
- Unfair movement of the wicketkeeper or a fielder: It will result in a dead ball and 5 penalty runs to the batting side.
The tournament will begin on March 31, with defending champions Gujarat Titans taking on Chennai Super Kings.