Kolkata, March 21 – The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will kick off on Saturday with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Kolkata. This season promises to be intriguing not just for the action on the field, but also for a host of new rules and a reshuffling of team leaderships.
As per agency report, one of the key changes this year is the reinstatement of the use of saliva to shine the ball, a practice that was banned during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the decision after receiving approval from most team captains. While the International Cricket Council (ICC) had permanently banned the use of saliva in 2022, the IPL operates under its own set of rules, and this move may influence similar decisions globally.
In addition to this, another new rule allows umpires to introduce a new ball from the 11th over of the second innings in evening matches if dew is deemed to be affecting play. Teams can also now use the Decision Review System (DRS) for height and off-side wide deliveries, while the impact player rule remains unchanged.
This season, at least seven teams will take the field with new captains, either on a permanent or interim basis. Among the most surprising changes was Royal Challengers Bengaluru naming Rajat Patidar as captain, despite the presence of senior star Virat Kohli in the squad. Axar Patel will lead Delhi Capitals, while Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata to the title last season, will now captain Punjab Kings. Ajinkya Rahane has been handed the leadership of Kolkata Knight Riders.
Due to an injury to Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag will captain Rajasthan Royals in their opening matches. Hardik Pandya will miss Mumbai Indians' first match due to a suspension from last season, with Suryakumar Yadav stepping in as captain for the opening game against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday.
Another notable storyline is Rishabh Pant, who was bought for a record Rs 27 crore by Lucknow Super Giants and will captain the side. Pant hasn't played competitive cricket recently despite being named in the Indian squad for the T20 series against England and the Champions Trophy, but he will now return to the field in the IPL.
There have also been significant changes in coaching staff. Ricky Ponting has moved from Delhi Capitals to become the head coach of Punjab Kings, while Hemang Badani has taken over the coaching role at Delhi. Kevin Pietersen has joined Delhi as a mentor, and Rahul Dravid returns to the IPL as head coach of Rajasthan Royals after leading India to the T20 World Cup title last year.
Former CSK all-rounder Dwayne Bravo will now mentor KKR, taking over from Gautam Gambhir, who is now India's head coach. Concerns remain over the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah, who is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru undergoing assessment.
While speculation about Mahendra Singh Dhoni's IPL retirement continues, the 43-year-old remains a key part of Chennai Super Kings. At the other end of the age spectrum is Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 30 years younger than Dhoni, who has joined Rajasthan Royals and is expected to make his IPL debut.
This season will also mark the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to T20 cricket after both stepped away from the international T20 format following India's triumph in the World Cup last year.
In Saturday's opener, both Kolkata and Bengaluru will look to start strong. All eyes will be on spinner Varun Chakravarthy, especially in his battle against big hitters like Kohli and Phil Salt. Chakravarthy played a crucial role in India’s Champions Trophy victory.
However, weather could play spoilsport, with the meteorological department forecasting rain and strong winds on the match day.
The tournament will begin with a vibrant opening ceremony featuring performances by Shreya Ghoshal, Karan Aujla, and Disha Patani, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting IPL season.
