IPL Preview: Latest Odds

The 16^th edition of the Indian Premier League begins on Friday and some of English Cricket’s biggest stars are involved. The franchise, the biggest in world cricket, has proved to be a great success and 2023 should see some fantastic cricket.

When does the IPL take place?

The IPL will run from March 31 until May 28 2023. The holders Gujarat Titans, champions in their first year in the IPL, take on Chennai Super Kings in the opening match. Lucknow Super Giants were also added in 2022, taking the IPL up to 10 teams.

There are 70 games before the knockout stages, with the final on 28 May at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

England Players in the IPL 2023

Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Joe Root and Harry Brook are just some of the English players involved. Fans of the England Test side will hope that they come through unscathed with an Ashes series on the horizon this summer.

England’s white-ball captain Buttler had a great campaign for the Rajasthan Royals in 2022, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 863 – including four centuries. He returns to the Royals, runners-up last year, and England team-mate Root joins him. It will be Root’s first year in the IPL. However, the former England Test skipper has not played a great deal of T20 cricket over the last few years therefore it is uncertain how much he will be used.

England Test captain Stokes is expected to play as a specialist batter for Chennai Super Kings in the first few games after having an injection in his left knee, an injury that has troubled him for some time.

Stokes, who was bought for £1.63m, joins Moeen Ali in Chennai. However, he will leave early to prepare for England’s first Test of the summer against Ireland on 1 June. This is also likely to affect Root, Brook and Jofra Archer.

Sam Curran made history in the 2023 auction when he became the IPL’s most expensive signing ever, with Punjab Kings paying £1.85m for the all-rounder who was player of the tournament at last year’s T20 World Cup. He is joined by all-rounder Liam Livingstone.

Sunrisers Hyderabad signed Brook for £1.35m, just over four months after his Test debut, with his impressive start to his international career making him one of the most sought-after players.

Fast bowler Archer, who returned to England duty in January after an absence of nearly two years, is set to play for Mumbai Indians as he aims to return to the Test side in time for the Ashes.

Adil Rashid joins Brook at Sunrisers, with Phil Salt at Delhi Capitals and David Willey and Reece Topley at Royal Challengers Bangalore also involved. Jonny Bairstow, who was set to play for Punjab Kings but will play no part this year as he recovers from a broken leg. Matthew Short replaces him.

What is the format and schedule for IPL 2023?

Group A                                                        Group B

Mumbai Indians                                           Chennai Super Kings

Kolkata Knight Riders                                 Sunrisers Hyderabad

Rajasthan Royals                                         Gujarat Titans

Delhi Capitals                                               Royal Challengers Bangalore

Lucknow Super Giants                                Punjab Kings

The teams are split into two groups of five and each play 14 group games. They play the teams in their group once and those from the other group twice. The results make up a single table, with the group stage finishing on May 21. The first and second teams in the group stage then play each in the play-offs, with the winner progressing directly to the final. Third and fourth then play with the loser eliminated. The winner of that match faces the loser of the first play-off for a place in the final.

New rules for IPL in 2023

Teams can now hand in their playing XI after the toss, rather than before.

There is a new ‘Impact Player’ rule. Teams can name up to five substitutes and one can be brought on during the game (at the start of an innings, end of the over for a bowler and any time for a batter). The player taken off can play no further part and the replacement must be Indian unless the team has not used their full overseas quota of four.

Teams will also be able to review wides and no-balls. If their bowling innings overruns they will only be allowed four fielders outside the 30-yard ring.

IPL 2023 Latest Odds: