Champions Gujarat Titans clash with heavyweights Chennai Super Kings in opener as IPL returns to home-and-away format | Cricket News – Act Daily News

NEW DELHI: Title holders Gujarat Titans will probably be keen to start the brand new season from the place they completed off the final one as they tackle four-time champions Chennai Super Kings within the Indian Premier League opener in Ahmedabad on Friday.
After a spot of 4 years, the cricketing extravaganza returns to acquainted home-and-away format and 12 cities will probably be internet hosting a complete of 70 league section matches.
The 2020 version of the money-spinning league and the second half of the 2021 event befell within the United Arab Emirates as India battled the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last yr’s expanded 10-team occasion was held largely in Mumbai and Pune.
Ahmedabad aspect Gujarat, one of many two enlargement groups together with Lucknow, capped a fairytale debut season by defeating inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals in entrance of round 100,000 followers within the last at residence.
Hardik Pandya‘s aspect are the bookmakers’ favourites to retain the trophy however five-times champions Mumbai Indians – probably the most profitable IPL outfit – and Chennai will purpose to reclaim the crown within the sixteenth version of the occasion.

Home assist might play a serious position and Chennai’s followers served up a reminder of what groups have missed with a thunderous spherical of applause for Mahendra Singh Dhoni throughout a current follow session amid media hypothesis it may very well be his final IPL.
While a return to acquainted settings will probably be a fine addition for groups, they might want to rapidly grasp a brand new rule that provides one other strategic dimension to the sport.
For the primary time IPL sides will probably be allowed to make a tactical substitution with an “Impact Player” coming in to bat or bowl as wanted.

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting mentioned the transfer would virtually negate the necessity for all-rounders.
“Unless they’re absolutely world class and getting picked either as a batsman or as a bowler … I don’t think you’ll see many teams use the guy that might bat at seven and maybe bowl an over or two,” Ponting mentioned.
“You don’t need those guys anymore.”
Hoping to show the previous Australian captain flawed will probably be Sam Curran. The England all-rounder grew to become the most costly ever purchase within the gamers’ public sale in December by returning to Punjab Kings for 185 million Indian rupees ($2.25 million).
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green will even look to reside as much as his paycheck after becoming a member of Mumbai for 175 million rupees.

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It’s MS Dhoni vs Hardik Pandya in blockbuster IPL 2023 opener

The IPL will even current Green and different abroad gamers with the prospect to get used to circumstances in India, the place the 50-overs World Cup will probably be held in October and November.
With one eye on that event, India captain Rohit Sharma has prompt his nationwide staff gamers ought to think about skipping some IPL video games to handle their workload.

Top Indian gamers Rishabh Pant (Delhi), Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai) and Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders) are lacking the IPL this yr on account of harm, whereas England batsman Jonny Bairstow (Punjab) remains to be recovering from surgical procedure.
(With inputs from Reuters)