Tactical substitutions introduced for 2023 IPL

Each team will be able to make one substitution prior to the 14th over of either innings, with the replacement player allowed to bat and bowl without restriction

A new rule has been introduced ahead of the 2023 Indian Premier League, with teams now having the option to deploy a tactical substitution.

The concept was trialled by the BCCI during the 2022 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's domestic T20 competition, and the 'impact player' innovation has since been given the green light for next year's IPL.

Each team must name four substitutes before the first ball is bowled and has the option of introducing one of these players into the match prior to the 14th over of either innings.

^{The rule is similar to the Big Bash's short-lived X-factor player [Sarah Reed/Getty Images]}

The replacement does not need to be like for like – a bowler can replace a batter – and that player will be able to bat or bowl his full quota of overs. Therefore, even if a player has bowled four overs, his replacement can also bowl four overs. A dismissed batter can also be replaced by another batter, as long as only eleven batters are used.

Teams cannot introduce an impact player in the middle of an over, unless he is coming in to bat at the fall of a wicket or replacing an injured fielder, and substitutes will not be in play if a match is reduced to 10 overs per side.

The rule is similar to the 'X-factor' player trialled in the Big Bash. Under that rule, teams were required to name two substitutes prior to the match and were allowed to substitute a member of the starting XI at the halfway mark of the first innings provided they hadn't already batted or bowled more than one over. That rule has, however, been abandoned ahead of BBL12.

The schedule for the 2023 IPL is yet to be confirmed, although the player auction is due to take place on December 23. Gujarat Titans are the defending champions after defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in the final.

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