Teams will be able to select their strongest XIs and impact players depending on whether they are bowling or batting thanks to this.
IPL 2023 captains will arrive at the toss with two distinct team rosters, and they will turn in their final XIs following the toss. One of the important changes to the IPL’s playing rules that will shortly be communicated to the teams is this. The adjustment would allow teams to select their best XIs based on whether they end up batting or bowling, with the appropriate impact player included, the IPL stated in an internal statement describing the numerous modifications to playing conditions.
“Currently the captains have to exchange the teams before the toss,” the note, seen by ESPNcricinfo, said. “This has been changed to exchange of teams immediately post the toss, to enable teams to choose the best XI depending on whether they are batting or bowling first. It will also assist the teams to plan for the impact player.”
After the SA20, the IPL is the second T20 franchise league to permit teams to reveal their starting lineups following the toss. Before releasing their final XIs after the toss, teams in the SA20, which played its debut season earlier this year, initially listed 13 players on their squad sheets. The adjustment, according to SA20 tournament director Graeme Smith, was made to “lessen the importance of the toss” and create an equal playing field based on the circumstances. At the conclusion of the SA20 season, the numbers were quite even: of the 33 games, teams that won the toss triumphed 15 times and lost 16 times (two no results).
A similar approach has been taken by the IPL, and one important change is the partly neutralisation of the influence of dew, which historically had a significant impact at several Indian grounds and had a severe effect on teams bowling second.
Teams winning the toss typically went on to win, as seen by the statistics from 2019, the last time the IPL was played in India with a home-and-away format: during 60 games, teams won 34 and lost 23 after winning the toss (not including Super Overs and no results).
While the toss will still be important, the new rule should prevent situations where “win toss, win match” is the case. Instead, teams will be able to adjust their teams as necessary. If a team that expected to bat first and then defend a total on a slow pitch in turning circumstances is forced to bowl first, for instance, it can play an extra spinner in the starting XI and then swap out a specialist bowler for a batter in the second innings to aid in the run chase.
Other tweaks to the IPL playing conditions
. For each over that is not finished within the allotted time, there is a four-fielder overrate penalty outside the 30-yard circle.
. A dead ball and five penalty runs will result from the wicketkeeper moving unfairly.
. A fielder who moves unfairly will cause a dead ball and five penalty runs.
