One of the more intriguing changes to the rules in the Indian Premier League for 2023 will allow teams to use an 'Impact Player'.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has implemented the potentially game-changing measure after trying it out in domestic competitions.
Announcing the news two days before the player auction on December 21, organisers said the move would add "a new tactical, strategic dimension" to the game.
Here's how umpires will let fans know it's happening during IPL games, the criteria teams have to meet to take advantage of it and everything else you need to know.
MORE: Latest betting odds for IPL 2023
What is the Impact Player rule in IPL?
Introduced for the 2023 season, Impact Players will give teams the opportunity to change their balance — and possibly swing a match in their favour — by substituting one player for another for the remainder of the game.
"A number of team sports allow teams to make tactical substitutes i.e., football, rugby, basketball, baseball. The substitute is allowed to perform or participate like any other regular player," the IPL said when the new rule was confirmed.
How does the IPL Impact Player system work?
In addition to the usual playing XI, teams will list four substitutes at the toss, any one of whom can be used as their Impact Player.
They will hand in two teamsheets: one with a starting XI and substitutes should they bowl first, and another if they begin by batting.
The Impact Player can join play before the start of an innings, at the end of an over, when a wicket falls or when a batter retires, although the player will not be able to bowl the remaining balls of the over if they are brought on by the bowling side when a wicket falls or batter retires.
The replaced player can play no further part in the match, and their team can still only use 11 batters, so one of their players yet to bat will not do so if the Impact Player does.
Perhaps the most important aspect for teams to consider is that they are still only allowed to use a maximum of four overseas players in a game.
That means only an Indian can be used as the Impact Player if the team already have four overseas players in their starting XI.
What is the umpire signal for Impact Players?
Look out for umpires clenching their fists and crossing their hands above their heads, which means an Impact Player is about to enter the action.
What is the new IPL rule on no-balls and wides?
Teams have only previously been allowed to review on-field decisions when an umpire decides a player is or isn't out.
However, they will now be able to do so when wides or no-balls are called, with two unsuccessful reviews for each team in each innings allowed.
IPL 2023 full schedule
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31/3/2023 | Gujarat Titans | Chennai Super Kings | Ahmedabad | 7:30pm |
| 1/4/2023 | Punjab Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders | Mohali | 3:30pm |
| 1/4/2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | Delhi Capitals | Lucknow | 7:30pm |
| 2/4/2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Rajasthan Royals | Hyderabad | 3:30pm |
| 2/4/2023 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Mumbai Indians | Bengaluru | 7:30pm |
| 3/4/2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Lucknow Super Giants | Chennai | 7:30pm |
| 4/4/2023 | Delhi Capitals | Gujarat Titans | Delhi | 7:30pm |
| 5/4/2023 | Rajasthan Royals | Punjab Kings | Guwahati | 7:30pm |
| 6/4/2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Kolkata | 7:30pm |
| 7/4/2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Lucknow | 7:30pm |
| 8/4/2023 | Rajasthan Royals | Delhi Capitals | Guwahati | 3:30pm |
| 8/4/2023 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai | 7:30pm |
| 9/4/2023 | Gujarat Titans | Kolkata Knight Riders | Ahmedabad | 3:30pm |
| 9/4/2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Punjab Kings | Hyderabad | 7:30pm |
| 10/4/2023 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Lucknow Super Giants | Bengaluru | 7:30pm |
| 11/4/2023 | Delhi Capitals | Mumbai Indians | Delhi | 7:30pm |
| 12/4/2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai | 7:30pm |
| 13/4/2023 | Punjab Kings | Gujarat Titans | Mohali | 7:30pm |
| 14/4/2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata | 7:30pm |
| 15/4/2023 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Delhi Capitals | Bengaluru | 3:30pm |
| 15/4/2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | Punjab Kings | Lucknow | 7:30pm |
| 16/4/2023 | Mumbai Indians | Kolkata Knight Riders | Mumbai | 3:30pm |
| 16/4/2023 | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals | Gujarat | 7:30pm |
| 17/4/2023 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru | 7:30pm |
| 18/4/2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Mumbai Indians | Hyderabad | 7:30pm |
| 19/4/2023 | Rajasthan Royals | Lucknow Super Giants | Jaipur | 7:30pm |
| 20/4/2023 | Punjab Kings | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Mohali | 3:30pm |
| 20/4/2023 | Delhi Capitals | Kolkata Knight Riders | Delhi | 7:30pm |
| 21/4/2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Chennai | 7:30pm |
| 22/4/2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | Gujarat Titans | Lucknow | 3:30pm |
| 22/4/2023 | Mumbai Indians | Punjab Kings | Mumbai | 7:30pm |
| 23/4/2023 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Rajasthan Royals | Bengaluru | 3:30pm |
| 23/4/2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata | 7:30pm |
| 24/4/2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Delhi Capitals | Hyderabad | 7:30pm |
| 25/4/2023 | Gujarat Titans | Mumbai Indians | Ahmedabad | 7:30pm |
| 26/4/2023 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Kolkata Knight Riders | Bengaluru | 7:30pm |
| 27/4/2023 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | Jaipur | 7:30pm |
| 28/4/2023 | Punjab Kings | Lucknow Super Giants | Mohali | 7:30pm |
| 29/4/2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Gujarat Titans | Kolkata | 3:30pm |
| 29/4/2023 | Delhi Capitals | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Delhi | 7:30pm |
| 30/4/2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Punjab Kings | Chennai | 3:30pm |
| 30/4/2023 | Mumbai Indians | Rajasthan Royals | Mumbai | 7:30pm |
| 1/5/2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Lucknow | 7:30pm |
| 2/5/2023 | Gujarat Titans | Delhi Capitals | Ahmedabad | 7:30pm |
| 3/5/2023 | Punjab Kings | Mumbai Indians | Mohali | 7:30pm |
| 4/5/2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | Chennai Super Kings | Lucknow | 3:30pm |
| 4/5/2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Kolkata Knight Riders | Hyderabad | 7:30pm |
| 5/5/2023 | Rajasthan Royals | Gujarat Titans | Jaipur | 7:30pm |
| 6/5/2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians | Chennai | 3:30pm |
| 6/5/2023 | Delhi Capitals | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Delhi | 7:30pm |
| 7/5/2023 | Gujarat Titans | Lucknow Super Giants | Ahmedabad | 3:30pm |
| 7/5/2023 | Rajasthan Royals | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Jaipur | 7:30pm |
| 8/5/2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Punjab Kings | Kolkata | 7:30pm |
| 9/5/2023 | Mumbai Indians | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Mumbai | 7:30pm |
| 10/5/2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Delhi Capitals | Chennai | 7:30pm |
| 11/5/2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Rajasthan Royals | Kolkata | 7:30pm |
| 12/5/2023 | Mumbai Indians | Gujarat Titans | Mumbai | 7:30pm |
| 13/5/2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Lucknow Super Giants | Hyderabad | 3:30pm |
| 13/5/2023 | Delhi Capitals | Punjab Kings | Delhi | 7:30pm |
| 14/5/2023 | Rajasthan Royals | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Jaipur | 3:30pm |
| 14/5/2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai | 7:30pm |
| 15/5/2023 | Gujarat Titans | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Ahmedabad | 7:30pm |
| 16/5/2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | Mumbai Indians | Lucknow | 7:30pm |
| 17/5/2023 | Punjab Kings | Delhi Capitals | Dharamshala | 7:30pm |
| 18/5/2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Hyderabad | 7:30pm |
| 19/5/2023 | Punjab Kings | Rajasthan Royals | Dharamshala | 7:30pm |
| 20/5/2023 | Delhi Capitals | Chennai Super Kings | Delhi | 3:30pm |
| 20/5/2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lucknow Super Giants | Kolkata | 7:30pm |
| 21/5/2023 | Mumbai Indians | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Mumbai | 3:30pm |
| 21/5/2023 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Gujarat Titans | Bengaluru | 7:30pm |
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IPL 2023 team groups
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| Rajasthan Royals | Punjab Kings |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Delhi Capitals | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Gujarat Titans |
IPL 2023 venues
| Teams | Venues |
| Chennai Super Kings | MA Chidambaram Stadium |
| Deli Capitals | Arun Jaitley Stadium |
| Gujarat Titans | Narendra Modi Stadium |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Eden Gardens |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Ekana Cricket Stadium |
| Mumbai Indians | Wankhede Stadium |
| Punjab Indians | IS Bindra Stadium |
| Rajasthan Royals | Sawai Mansingh Stadium |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium |
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