IPL 2023 new rules: Captains to announce Playing XI after toss, penalty for wicketkeeper’s unfair movement, and more

The Indian Premier League (IPL) organisers introduce new rules to make the tournament more exciting.

Almost every year, there is some new rule that either makes play more interesting or disciplines players during the match.

In the 16th edition of the IPL also, organisers have come up with some new rules. Zee Biz explains those rules for you.    

Rule for Playing XI and substitute players

The Indian Premier League will have a unique rule where a team's captain can choose his final XI after the toss is over. 

As per the new rule, the captains from both teams can go for the toss, and as per the result, they can pick their final XI players, plus five substitute players each, and hand over their list to the match referee before the start of the match.

A captain can, thus, pick Playing XI based on players' past records in the tournament, against the team they are playing, or pitch conditions.

Out of five substitutes, one player at a time can be used during the match.  

According to playing conditions clause 1.2.1: "Each captain shall nominate 11 players plus a maximum of 5 substitute fielders in writing to the IPL Match Referee after the toss.

"Other than set out in Clause 1.2.9, no player (member of the playing eleven) may be changed after the nomination and prior to the start of play without the consent of the opposing captain."

In the general format widely used in cricket, both captains must submit their Playing XI to the match referee before the toss, and no changes can be made after that.

Penalty for unfair movement

The other significant rule that is being introduced in the IPL this season is penalising a wicketkeeper for unfair movement in case there is a shift in his position before the batsman meets the ball.

Wicketkeepers often use such tactics to distract the batsman on strike.

If a wicketkeeper makes any such unfair movement, either umpire can call it and signal it a dead ball and tell the other umpire the reason for doing so.

The umpire at the bowler's end shall then: "award the one-run penalty for Wide or No ball, if applicable or award 5 Penalty runs to the batting side. Inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for this action. Inform the batters and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred."

Impact Player

This rule had been introduced in December itself. As per this rule, an Impact Player is a substitute who can come to bat and bowl at any time in the match.

He can be an Indian or an overseas player. But if a Playing XI already has four overseas players, the Impact Player can only be an Indian.

The impact player should be among the five substitute players whose names the captain will give to the match referee after the toss.    

A captain can use the Impact Player at the start of an innings, when a batsman retires, when a wicket falls, or at the end of an over.

The player he replaces can not take part further in the match. 

If a batting side brings in an Impact Player, then one of the batsmen from the team will not bat.

It will keep the team size at 11 players.

If the bowling side introduces an Impact Player, he can bowl his full quota of overs irrespective of the overs bowled by the player he is replacing to.