GT vs CSK, IPL 2023 Highlights: Gujarat start title defence with a win, beat Chennai by 5 wickets

Gill and Brook have taken the cricket world by storm this year. Brook has made Test cricket look like a joke, he has played four innings this year, scored 329 runs at 82.25 and a strike rate of 110.40 (this is Test cricket) with one century. His Test stats stand at 809 runs with a strike rate of 98.77 with four centuries in just six innings. In T20Is, he has scored 372 runs in 17 innings at a strike rate of 137.77 but it has to be noted that most these games came before he took the Test world by storm. Shubman Gill, meanwhile, has scored five centuries accross formats this year, with two double tons in ODIs. He was the protagonist of GT's IPL final victory last year. Gill will turn out for GT once again, Brook will make his IPL debut with SRH. 

Steve Smith will be involved in the IPL as a commentator for the first time this season. He played for the Delhi Capitals last season after which he was released and went unsold in the auction last year. 

Choudhary's injury was the latest blow to the Super Kings attack that is already without New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, who has also been ruled out of the entire season with a back injury. Jamieson was the most expensive New Zealand player of all time in the history of the IPL when he was bought by CSK in the auction last year. Super Kings will also be without the Sri Lankan pair of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, who will link up with the franchise only after the end of Sri Lanka's six-match white-ball series in New Zealand on April 8.

Fast bowler Mukesh Choudhary was one of the few bright spots for CSK in an otherwise forgettable 2022 season. But Choudhary is unavailable for the entire season with a stress fracture of the back and Nagaland left-arm seamer Akash Singh has been roped in as a replacement. Choudhary was one of the finds of the last IPL season, emerging as the team's joint-highest wicket-taker, with 16 strikes in 13 games at an economy rate of 9.31. Eleven of those wickets came in the powerplay, the joint-most by any bowler during this phase in the tournament. Akash, who was unsold at the auction, will join Super Kings at his base price of INR 20 lakh. In all, he has played nine T20s so far, picking up seven wickets at an economy rate of 7.87.

Comparisons between how Pandya behaves on the field to Dhoni's demeanour may have been unimaginable not too long ago but there is a case for it today. Pandya seldom celebrates extravagantly after a wicket, particularly while he is captain of a team. A lot of those who have played under him have spoken about how calm he manages to stay as captain in trying situations, even if he may be seen animatedly talking to his players during the match. All of these are quite similar to what those have played under Dhoni say about him. 

This is a word that you will hearing throughout this tournament and rightly so. This is the year of the ODI World Cup and yet this extended IPL season will make teams more adapted to the pace of the shortest format rather than the ebb and flow of the 50-over game. Mumbai Indians coach Mark Boucher has said that he is fine with Rohit Sharma, the MI and India captain, taking rest periodically. The likes of Ben Stokes and Josh Hazlewood have said that they may not be available for their teams in the latter end of the season due to the Ashes coming later. 

Punjab Kings: PCA Stadium, Mohali; HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala  

Lucknow Super Giants: BRSABV Ekana Stadium, Lucknow 

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad 

Royal Challengers Bangalore: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru 

Chennai Super Kings: MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk Stadium), Chennai

Delhi Capitals: Arun Jaitley Stadium (Feroz Shah Kotla), New Delhi 

Kolkata Knight Riders: Eden Gardens, Kolkata 

Rajasthan Royals: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur; ACA Stadium, Guwahati 

Mumbai Indians: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Today's action begins with an opening ceremony, something that the IPL seemed to have done away with a few years ago but here it is. That starts at 6pm, the toss is then scheduled to take place at 7pm and the match itself begins at 7.30pm.

Motera was always an iconic venue but not quite the most impressive of structures in India. But since it has been revamped to the biggest stadium in the world and renamed after India's sitting prime minister, it has pretty much become the staple for any big match. The Narendra Modi Stadium is where the 2023 season will start and end. 

Not once have we seen MS Dhoni walking off to a standing ovation from a loving crowd who knows that they have seen the last of the great man and that is because the former India captain drops his retirement announcements with absolutely no warning whatsoever. On December 30, 2014, Dhoni suddenly retired in Test cricket, handing over the captaincy to Virat Kohli, during India's series in Australia. Then, although it is not exactly a retirement, the BCCI announced in the evening of January 5, 2017 that Dhoni will no longer captain the Indian limited overs teams. Dhoni then simply said “Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout.from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired” in a caption to an Instagram video that contained a collage of stills of moments, both good and bad, from his international career. The collage, if anything, gave a glimpse into the enigmatic mind behind the calm face of the man who led India to three ICC titles in his illustrious career. One can expect him to simply quietly announce his retirement from the IPL, which would effectively mean the end of his professional career, a few days after the end of the 2022 IPL quite suddenly.  

The IPL is not exactly the first ever tournament to implement a rule like this, although this will be the first time ever that this form of the rule will be tried out. The X-Factor rule in the BBL is different in the way that in this, a player who for some reason has not been able to play an active role in the game can be substituted. It means that an unused spinner can be substituted for a fast bowler if the conditions favour pace or an unused batter can be replaced by an extra bowler and so on. Meanwhile, the Impact Player rule used in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2022 was also fundamentally different in the way that the teams had to nominate the Impact Player before the toss, as opposed to what is the case in the IPL, and they had to bring the player on before the 14th over of the match.

The biggest reason for the introduction of this rule is to negate the oversized influence of dew in evening matches in many venues in India, with chasing teams winning matches more often than not. If a team has been tasked with batting first, they can choose the team sheet in which they have an extra batter and make as many runs as they want. Once their turn to field comes, the captain can exchange the extra batter for a bowler who can put pressure in the middle overs so that their other main bowlers can conserve their quotas.

One could start seeing teams opting to play just three foreign players more often now so as to use an experienced international star as their Impact Player as opposed to a younger domestic player. It has to be noted, though, that according to ESPNCricinfo, several franchise coaches and talent scouts, who watched the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in person, said the Impact Player was utilised for "damage control" rather than as a tactical tool.

The Impact Player cannot be used by teams to work a way around the limitation over the number of foreign players they can use in a match. If a team already are playing four foreign players, the Impact Player has to be an India. If that isn't the case though, then the Impact player can be a foreigner.

The captain will walk out for the toss with two team sheets. Instead of exchanging the sheets before the toss, they will choose which one is it that they want to go with after the toss is done, which means they will be able to choose their team based on whether they are batting or bowling first. Additionally, while the captain only named a 12th man in the team sheet earlier, now they can name five substitute players, one of whom would be designated as the Impact Player and will be allowed to take part in the game.

The player can be brought on during stoppages in during the first or second innings of the match, which means at the end of an over, after the fall of a wicket or at the start of an innings. When captains choose to go for an Impact Player, the umpires are to make a cross signal with both hands over their heads. The Impact Player has to be substituted in for another player and once that is done, the player who has been taken off can play no further role in the match.

Last season, there was the excitement of watching two new teams play. This season, there is an entirely new rule coming into play. Wonder what the organisers are going to do next season. The Impact Player rule is designed to negate as much as possible the dew factor, which has made T20 matches in India and UAE as predictable as it gets. A vast majority of teams batting second have won matches, especially in recent times. What is it though? Well, we will be discussing that in the next few updates. 

Schedule for the playoffs was announced a few days after the sequence of matches for the league stage was revealed. The first qualifier will be held in Kolkata on May 24. The Eliminator will then be held on May 25 at the same venue. The second qualifier will then be held on May 27 in Ahmedabad and the final will also be held there on May 29.

31-Mar-23 – 19.30 – Gujarat Titans v Chennai Super Kings – Ahmedabad

01-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Punjab Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders – Mohali

01-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Lucknow Super Giants v Delhi Capitals – Lucknow

02-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals – Hyderabad

02-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians – Bengaluru

03-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Chennai Super Kings v Lucknow Super Giants – Chennai

04-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Delhi Capitals v Gujarat Titans – Delhi

05-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Rajasthan Royals v Punjab Kings – Guwahati

06-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bangalore – Kolkata

07-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Lucknow Super Giants v Sunrisers Hyderabad – Lucknow

08-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Capitals – Guwahati

08-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings – Mumbai

09-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Gujarat Titans v Kolkata Knight Riders – Ahmedabad

09-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Punjab Kings – Hyderabad

10-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Lucknow Super Giants – Bengaluru

11-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Delhi Capitals v Mumbai Indians – Delhi

12-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals – Chennai

13-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Punjab Kings v Gujarat Titans – Mohali

14-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad – Kolkata

15-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Capitals – Bengaluru

15-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Lucknow Super Giants v Punjab Kings – Lucknow

16-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders – Mumbai

16-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Gujarat Titans v Rajasthan Royals – Ahmedabad

17-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Chennai Super Kings – Bengaluru

18-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Mumbai Indians – Hyderabad

19-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Rajasthan Royals v Lucknow Super Giants – Jaipur

20-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Punjab Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore – Mohali

20-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Delhi Capitals v Kolkata Knight Riders – Delhi

21-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad – Chennai

22-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Lucknow Super v Giants Gujarat Titans – Lucknow

22-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Mumbai Indians v Punjab Kings – Mumbai

23-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Rajasthan Royals – Bengaluru

23-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings – Kolkata

24-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Delhi Capitals – Hyderabad

25-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Gujarat Titans v Mumbai Indians – Ahmedabad

26-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders – Bengaluru

27-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Super Kings – Jaipur

28-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Punjab Kings v Lucknow Super Giants – Mohali

29-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Kolkata Knight Riders v Gujarat Titans – Kolkata

29-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Delhi Capitals v Sunrisers Hyderabad – Delhi

30-Apr-23 – 15.30 – Chennai Super Kings v Punjab Kings – Chennai

30-Apr-23 – 19.30 – Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals – Mumbai

01-May-23 – 19.30 – Lucknow Super Giants v Royal Challengers Bangalore – Lucknow

02-May-23 – 19.30 – Gujarat Titans v Delhi Capitals – Ahmedabad

03-May-23 – 19.30 – Punjab Kings v Mumbai Indians – Mohali

04-May-23 – 15.30 – Lucknow Super Giants v Chennai Super Kings – Lucknow

04-May-23 – 19.30 – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders – Hyderabad

05-May-23 – 19.30 – Rajasthan Royals v Gujarat Titans – Jaipur

06-May-23 – 15.30 – Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians – Chennai

06-May-23 – 19.30 – Delhi Capitals v Royal Challengers Bangalore – Delhi

07-May-23 – 15.30 – Gujarat Titans v Lucknow Super Giants – Ahmedabad

07-May-23 – 19.30 – Rajasthan Royals v Sunrisers Hyderabad – Jaipur

08-May-23 – 19.30 – Kolkata Knight Riders v Punjab Kings – Kolkata

09-May-23 – 19.30 – Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore – Mumbai

10-May-23 – 19.30 – Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Capitals – Chennai

11-May-23 – 19.30 – Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals – Kolkata

12-May-23 – 19.30 – Mumbai Indians v Gujarat Titans – Mumbai

13-May-23 – 15.30 – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Lucknow Super Giants – Hyderabad

13-May-23 – 19.30 – Delhi Capitals v Punjab Kings – Delhi

14-May-23 – 15.30 – Rajasthan Royals v Royal Challengers Bangalore – Jaipur

14-May-23 – 19.30 – Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders – Chennai

15-May-23 – 19.30 – Gujarat Titans v Sunrisers Hyderabad – Ahmedabad

16-May-23 – 19.30 – Lucknow Super Giants v Mumbai Indians – Lucknow

17-May-23 – 19.30 – Punjab Kings v Delhi Capitals – Dharamshala

18-May-23 – 19.30 – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bangalore – Hyderabad

19-May-23 – 19.30 – Punjab Kings v Rajasthan Royals – Dharamshala

20-May-23 – 15.30 – Delhi Capitals v Chennai Super Kings – Delhi

20-May-23 – 19.30 – Kolkata Knight Riders v Lucknow Super Giants – Kolkata

21-May-23 – 15.30 – Mumbai Indians v Sunrisers Hyderabad – Mumbai

21-May-23 – 19.30 – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Titans – Bengaluru

The prospect of Archer and Bumrah in tandem while at their best would send shivers down anyone's spine, regardless of where the match is being played or which format it is. However, it is not to be for the Mumbai Indians this season. Archer is back, having seemingly put his lengthy saga of injury troubles behind him but there remains question marks over Bumrah's availability. For now, it is safe to assume that Bumrah will play no role this season. 

The England Test captain has been rather quiet on the T20 front over the past few years, turning his attention entirely to red ball cricket. It has to be said, though, that he seemed totally ready to commit to RR last season, which is probably indicated by the fact that he injured his finger while fielding and that is what ruled him out for the season. Now, he is with a team that knows how to handle older, injury prone players and still win and the fact that he may not bowl in the first few games may just be seen as a slight but familiar complication. They had a similar situation with Shane Watson, after all, and he turned out to be the opener that propelled them to two titles. CSK fans are absolutely hyped about Stokes joining their squad and teaming up with Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. 

Chennai Super Kings - MS Dhoni

Gujarat Titans - Hardik Pandya

Mumbai Indians - Rohit Sharma

Royal Challengers Bangalore - Faf du Plessis

Punjab Kings - Shikhar Dhawan

Rajasthan Royals - Sanju Samson

Delhi Capitals - David Warner

Lucknow Super Giants - KL Rahul

Sunrisers Hyderabad - Aiden Markram

David Warner was ferocious as a batter while he was leading SRH. He was made captain in 2015 and between then and 2020, Warner never scored less that 500 runs a season, crossing the 800-run mark in 2016 when SRH won the title and crossing 600 in 2017 and 2019. The little break in between is because of the fact that Warner didn't play in the 2018 season due to the fallout of the Newlands ball tampering scandal that rocked Australia. However, he then could score just 195 runs in 8 innings in 2021 before he was sacked as captain and axed from the team altogether. An unceremonious parting came next and Warner joined the Delhi Capitals, where he scored 432 runs last season. Now he has been appointed captain of the team in the absence of Rishabh Pant, he is going through a phase of poor form that has resulted in him almost losing his opening spot in the Australian team in all formats. It will be interesting to see what he does this season.

There is a chance that many may not have heard of the Bengal wicketkeeper and a chance for DC having some problems in this position this season. ESPNCricinfo has reported that Porel and three other uncapped wicketkeepers - Sheldon Jackson, Luvnith Sisodia and Vivek Singh - had been put through a series of match simulation exercises, apart from being monitored by the Capitals coaching group, headed by director of cricket Sourav Ganguly and head coach Ricky Ponting, over the past week. Porel has impressed with his glove work in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy but hardly made an impact with the bat, scoring 22 runs for Bengal in three outings. Not an encouraging sign for DC fans. 

This is just in folks, the Delhi Capitals have announced Abhishek Porel as Rishabh Pant's replacement as wicketkeeper for the season. There was a lot of uncertaintly over who takes Pant's place behind the wickets, now that they had appointed Warner as captain in his absence. It was thought that the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Phil Salt, both of whom have occassionally kept wickets, could be tried out, but DC have gone for a specialist. 

Last season was probably the nadir of the spate of poor form that Virat Kohli went through over the last three and a half odd years. His strike rate was sluggish and he registered two consecutive golden ducks for the first time in his professional career. The man who once scored nearly 1000 runs in a single season ended up with a tally of 341 runs in 2022 in 16 innings at a paltry strike rate of 115.98. He seems to have turned a corner since then though, ending his drought of centuries with a first-ever ton in T20Is of all formats. He then went on a run of three ODI centuries in four matches and then finally scored his first Test ton in over three years last month. One can't say that he is truly back to his roaring best but with RCB playing at the Chinnaswamy again, a paradise for batters, chances of a repeat of the 2022 nightmare seems low for the former captain.

Aiden Markram (c), Abdul Samad, Rahul Tripathi, Glenn Phillips, Abhishek Sharma, Marco Jansen, Washington Sundar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kartik Tyagi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T. Natarajan, Umran Malik, Harry Brook, Mayank Agarwal, Heinrich Klaasen, Adil Rashid, Mayank Markande, Vivrant Sharma, Samarth Vyas, Sanvir Singh, Upendra Yadav, Mayank Dagar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akeal Hosein, Anmolpreet Singh.