The home-and-away format will see a lot of change on the teams in the 16th season of the IPL, starting March 31, between defending champions Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings. The format is returning for its 16th season after a gap of four years. This format could not be used for the last three years due to Kovid-19. The entire session of 2020 and 2022 was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The home-away format was last played in 2019.
Covid-19 spoiled the game
Covid-19 had disrupted the previous seasons of IPL in such a way that these seasons had to be organized in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). IPL returned to India in 2021 and was held in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Ahmedabad. But in the same season, half of it was postponed due to the cases of Bovid-19 players inside the teams. Then its second part was done in UAE in 2021. Then the BCCI also decided to conduct the 2022 session in UAE only due to Corona. Now in 2023, this 16th session will be held in India.
This is a home-away format
In the home-away format, each team will play half of its group stage matches at home and the remaining matches at the opposition's ground. All the teams will play seven matches in the league at their home and seven at the home of the opposition team.
Teams will benefit
With the IPL auction, the 10 teams playing in the league have almost prepared their squads for this new season. This format can benefit those teams. If the teams lose the match at the home of the opposition team, then winning the match at their home can be an advantage for them. Franchises also want them to play matches at their home because the home supporters support and the pitch gives the team an advantage.
Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings will also play their two home matches in Guwahati and Dharamsala this season. The teams of Guwahati and Dharamshala are not in the IPL, so it was decided to hold matches there to show the fans there also in the stadium against the IPL.
