All you need to know about the ten teams vying for glory
It is that time of the year again when the length and breadth of India pauses for a few hours each day, for over two months, and indulges in its favourite pastime — cricket.
Perhaps no other sport brings a country to a standstill like cricket does with people forgetting their stresses and their hardships for those few hours and just living in the moment.
It is the also the time when battle lines are drawn depending on which team or city you hail from or support.
Yes, the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world's most popular T20 league is right round the corner with the 17th edition set to roll from Friday,.
And even before a ball has been bowled in anger, it has had its fair share of drama and it promises to be another cracking season with its surfeit of thrills and high-quality action.
Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions and five-time winners of the trophy, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will set things in motion with the opening match in Chennai.
There have been several personnel changes across the teams, acquired during the mini auction held in Dubai last December.
It would be interesting to see how they stack up with their new teams. There have also been captaincy changes and new coaches.
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have been the most successful teams with five titles apiece.
Will the other eight teams be able to break their hegemony or could Royal Challengers Bengaluru take inspiration from their women's team and end their title drought and do the double of winning the Women's Premier League and the IPL?
Time will tell.
Here's a lowdown on the new season:
It begins on Friday, March 22 but owing to the Indian elections, the tournament will be split into two halves.
The first segment will see 21 matches played over 17 days until April 7.
There will be 74 matches played through the tournament including the play-offs and the final.
Teams &2023 results
Chennai Super Kings
Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Coach: Stephen Fleming
Titles: 5 (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023)
Last year: Champions
Mumbai Indians
Captain: Hardik Pandya
Coach: Mark Boucher
Titles: 5 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020)
Last year: 3rd
Kolkata Knight Riders
Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Coach: Chandrakant Pandit
Titles: 2 (2012, 20140
Last year: 7th
Gujarat Titans
Captain: Shubman Gill
Coach: Ashish Nehra
Titles: 1 (2022)
Last year: Runners-up
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Captain: Pat Cummins
Coach: Daniel Vettori
Titles: 1 (2016)
Last year: 10th
Rajasthan Royals
Captain: Sanju Samson
Coach: Kumar Sangakkara
Titles: 1 (2008)
Last yera: 5th
Royal Challenger
s Bangalore
Captain: Faf du Plessis
Coach: Andy Flower
Titles: 0
Last year: 6th
Delhi Capitals
Captain: Rishabh Pant
Coach: Ricky Ponting
Titles: 0
Last year: 9th
Lucknow Super Giants
Captain: KL Rahul
Coach: Justin Langer
Titles: 0
Last year: 3rd
Punjab Kings
Captain: Shikhar Dhawan
Coach: Trevor Bayliss
Titles: 0
Last year: 8th
Leading run-getter: Virat Kohli (RCB)
• Matches: 237
• Runs: 7263
• Highest score: 113
• 100s: 7
• 50s: 50
• 4s: 643
• 6s: 234
Leading wicket-taker: Yuzvendra Chahal (RR)
• Matches: 145Wickets: 187
• Best figures: 5-40
• Overs: 527 2023
Leading run scorer: Shubman Gill (GT)
• Matches: 17
• Runs: 890
• Highest score: 129
• 100s: 3
• 50s: 4
• 4s: 85
• 6s: 33 2023
Leading wicket taker: Mohammed Shami (GT)
• Matches: 17
• Wickets: 28
• Best figures: 4-11
• Overs: 65