The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to return to its original home-and-away format for the first time since 2019, after being affected by COVID-19 restrictions for the past three seasons. With the 2022 season being played in Maharashtra and the playoffs and final taking place in Kolkata and Ahmedabad, the cash-rich league will now be played in 12 different venues across India, with all teams playing seven home games and seven away games respectively in the league stage.
The return of the home-and-away format is expected to benefit teams that have relied heavily on their home conditions. Here are the top three teams ready to dominate with the return of the original format for IPL 2023:
#1 Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings (CSK), led by the legendary MS Dhoni, have always been dominant on spin-friendly tracks at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have terrorized opposing batters with their smart bowling at Chepauk.
CSK struggled in the past few seasons due to the lack of home games, but with the return of the original format, the Super Kings will have an added advantage. They can play to their strengths and build the perfect team combinations for their home matches.
#2 Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) love playing at their home ground, the iconic Eden Gardens. They are a force to be reckoned with whenever they play in Kolkata, with the slow and turning tracks offering a distinct advantage.
This year, KKR have gone spin-heavy with Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Shakib Al Hasan, Anukul Roy, and mystery spinner Suyash Sharma. With the return of the home-and-away format, Kolkata can reap the maximum benefits from the slow and turning tracks at Eden Gardens.
#3 Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings (PBKS) have built a pace-heavy squad over the years and have depended heavily on their fast bowlers. The Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali has always been the perfect ground to exploit their strengths.
However, the last few years have been challenging for PBKS as they were not able to play in their home conditions. With the return of the home-and-away format, the new management and skipper Shikhar Dhawan will be delighted. PBKS can now utilize their pace-heavy squad and take advantage of the Mohali pitch to win matches.