IPL 2023: Good old format, renewed hopes as T20 cricket carnival returns home

The Indian Premier League asserted its status as one of the biggest sporting events, let alone cricket tournaments.

The nearly Rs 50,000 crore-worth media rights deal is a testament to the growth and popularity of the IPL that has snowballed into one of the much-anticipated annual cricket rituals.

While the Indian cricket board (BCCI) did a commendable job of hosting the IPL amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the empty stands in the UAE robbed the theatre and atmosphere that the biggest T20 league in the world has managed to create over the years.

Team buses being greeted by hundreds of onlooking fans on the streets, practice sessions drawing more crowds than Test matches (sad reality) and outstation superstars establishing a connection with the local crowd and flavour were missed as the IPL was shifted out of the country or played only at select centers in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The world has changed over the last 3 years. And to take us on a trip back in time, the IPL returns to its celebrated home-and-away format for the first time since 2019. The rush for ticket sales is back and so are the travel days for the star cricketers, who are going to have a hectic 8 weeks in the T20 carnival.

However, the Virat Kohlis and the MS Dhonis would rather prefer getting appreciation and applause from packed stands over staring at their hotel room walls in restricted environments and playing in front of empty seats, even if it means relentless travel over the summer in India.

When explaining his decision to prolong his IPL career by another year, 41-year-old Dhoni said in 2022 that it would be ‘unfair’ if he doesn’t thank the fans for their support before he bids goodbye to the IPL.

“It’s a simple reason. It will be unfair to not play in Chennai and say thank you. Mumbai is one place where, as a team and as an individual, I have got a lot of love and affection. But, you know it won’t be nice to the CSK fans,” he told Ian Bishop.

“And also, hopefully, next year the teams will get an opportunity to travel, so it will be like a thank all the different places where we will be playing games at different venues.”

FUEL FOR KOHLI, STOKES

“I think Covid hurt him. I said it to him. ‘Just chill, dude, it’s Covid, you’re an entertainer. You cannot play with three people and their dog watching you play cricket’,” Kevin Pietersen recalled his conversation with Virat Kohli, suggesting that the star India batter missed the feeling of being a performer on a humungous stage.

Former Australia batter and Chennai Super Kings batting coach spoke about the players’ eagerness to return to playing in front of large crowds, adding that he hopes it can fire up someone like Ben Stokes, their new big-budget recruit, who loves the big stage as much as Kohli.

The return of fans to the stands, especially for the IPL, which has thrived on support in the cricket-crazy country, is hopefully a sign of better things to come after all those tough days during the pandemic.

HOME ADVANTAGE BACK

More importantly, the teams will be able to plan better for their strengths and weaknesses as history suggests that home advantage has been a huge factor in the IPL. Three of the most successful teams, Chennai Super Kings (61 wins at home out of 92), Mumbai Indians (56 out of 96) and Kolkata Knight Riders (52 out of 89), have thrived on making a fortress at home. Mumbai winning all their matches at home in 2013 and Rajasthan not losing even one match at home under the legendary Shane Warne in 2008 is a testament to the fact that teams benefit a great deal from the home advantage.

IPL BEFORE HOME WORLD CUP

Moving on, there is plenty more to look forward to in the upcoming season. In the ODI World Cup year, both local and overseas imports will be hoping to make the best use of the 8 weeks in India, which will host the quadrennial 50-over spectacle later in the year. Most big names, including someone like Joe Root who will make his debut in the tournament, have made it a point to not miss the IPL experience this year.

All eyes will also be on India’s World Cup-bound stars, especially the batting heroes, as India are looking to perfect their white-ball template after several near-misses at ICC events in the past. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and even the ones who are waiting in the wings (Sanju Samson and Rahul Tripathi to name a few) will be keen on finding the top gear in front of packed stands in high-pressure situations. The strike rate should not be over-rated, especially for Indian top-order batters as the likes of England and Australia, as recently seen in an ODI series in India, are playing ODI cricket at a higher gear and better level than the rest. And the Indian team management will also be hoping for a left-arm pacer to put his hand up and have a 20-plus wicket season.

NEW CAPTAINS, FUTURE CAPTAIN

There are new captains this season. David Warner, who is chipping in for Rishabh Pant who had an unfortunate car accident last year, will have a point to prove after the SunRisers Hyderabad saga. Another old warehouse, Shikhar Dhawan, will be keen on proving his naysayers wrong and keeping himself in contention for the World Cup. There are new kids in the block as well as the likes of Aiden Markram and Nitish Rana would be hoping to thrive under pressure in their first major leadership stint.

All eyes will also be on Hardik Pandya for another good season with Gujarat Titans after his fairytale first stint as captain in 2022 will seal his status as a frontrunner for the role of India’s full-time white-ball captain. At the same time, Rohit, who hasn’t had the best of IPL seasons in the last two years, has a point to prove as well ahead of his biggest assignment at the home World Cup.

There are new rules as well. Among all of them, the much-talked-about impact player rule is adding to the excitement. While some may argue that these rules add to the complexity of the game, which is trying to spread its wings in newer markets, innovation has always helped the sport progress in the right direction.

DHONI FAREWELL?

Lastly, the emotion that MS Dhoni has managed to create in the IPL might be set for its season finale. While many, including Rohit, feel that the former World Cup-winning skipper has it in him to play for a couple more years, it’s never a given with Dhoni. Each and every fan, let alone CSK fans, will be hoping to enjoy every bit of the legend while he is still turning up for the toss and smashing those big ones.