With the start of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) just around the corner, Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians have made crucial changes to their squads by bringing in replacements for their injured players. Wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel has been signed by Delhi Capitals for INR 20 Lakh as a replacement for the injured Rishabh Pant, while Sandeep Warrier has been roped in by five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians for INR 50 Lakh to cover for the absence of their star pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from a back injury.
The Delhi Capitals already have three keeper-batters in their team in the form of Sarfaraz Khan, Phil Salt, and Manish Pandey. However, they decided to bolster their wicketkeeping position further by adding the 20-year-old Bengal keeper-batter Porel, who has played 16 First-Class games, in addition to 3 List A matches and as many T20s for Bengal. It remains to be seen whether they will field Sarfaraz as behind the wickets going ahead this season.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians have brought in Sandeep Warrier, a pacer who has featured in 68 T20s and scalped 62 wickets. Warrier also has fair bit of experience playing in the lucrative T20 competition. With Bumrah out injured, Warrier’s inclusion will give Mumbai Indians a much-needed boost in the pace bowling department.
The defending champions Gujarat Titans will kickstart their title defence by playing four-time winners Chennai Super Kings on March 31 in Ahmedabad. Gujarat Titans have done a fair job in the mini-auction and have upgraded their squad for the season. While the franchise looks well-rounded on paper, it remains to be seen if they can add another title in their cabinet. On the other hand, MS Dhoni’s Super Kings will be gunning to make a comeback in a resounding fashion and add a fifth title to their illustrious cabinet.
The IPL has always been a grand spectacle and this year is no different. The opening ceremony will be filled with a star-studded line-up, following which the action will begin on the field. Fans are eagerly waiting to see their favorite players in action and witness some thrilling matches over the course of the tournament.
The replacements made by Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians ahead of the IPL will certainly make an impact on their respective campaigns. It will be interesting to see how the teams perform with their new additions, and who comes out on top in what promises to be an exciting season of IPL.
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IPL 2023 Live Streaming Details
