The 16th edition of the Indian T20 League is set to commence on March 31 with Gujarat and Chennai facing off at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the curtain-raiser. 10 teams will line up for the 2023 season, and this time, the tournament will take place with the home & away format making a comeback.
Gujarat, led by India’s star allrounder Hardik Pandya, are the defending champions of the Indian T20 League, having beaten Rajasthan on May 28 in the final of the 15th edition. It was Gujarat’s maiden season, and incidentally, became the first team since Rajasthan in 2008 to lift the trophy in the debut season.
They would once again enter the upcoming season as the favourites and would look to defend their title. Some of the giants of the Indian T20 League such as Chennai and Mumbai will unsurprisingly go as some of the contenders of the tournament. However, shockingly in the last season.
Meanwhile, former India fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth spoke up about the upcoming Indian T20 League. He feels that the champions of 2010, 2011 and 2018, Chennai might not get their hands on the trophy this time around. He also picked the Bangalore franchise as the team he wishes to see win the competition this time.
Could Bangalore finally bring home the trophy?
“I don’t think Chennai will win Indian T20 League 2023. I want Bangalore to win,” said Sreesanth, who was quoted as saying by Sports Yaari. Sreesanth formerly played for Punjab during 2008-2010, Kochi in 2011 and Rajasthan in 2013. He picked up 40 wickets in 44 matches with an economy rate of 8.14, an average of 29.85 and a strike rate of 22. His best bowling figures are 3 for 29.
Sreesanth’s best season in the Indian T20 League came in the very first season when he claimed 19 wickets in 15 matches and helped Punjab reach the semifinals. Sreesanth is now retired from all forms of the game. He was last in action on the field when he played the Legends League Cricket in October 2022.
Here is how fans reacted to Sreesanth’s comments on Twitter:
RCB is all set to win Lungs, kidney, heart once again
— Santosh (@SmpPhukan) March 18, 2023
RCB will win this year . They have a good balance between batting and bowling
— Deadshot2021 (@alwaysthalafan) March 18, 2023
Meanwhile Dhoni fans to sreesanth : yehi sab harkato ke karan pic.twitter.com/hRcthxuaOe
— ? (@SarcasticCowboy) March 18, 2023
Sreesanth vs Prime Dhoni ? pic.twitter.com/hy5CDnxs9Y
— Inquisitive (@SreekumarTax) March 18, 2023
Once a Traitor is always a traitor ?
— Sujal (@Sujal_Pandey07) March 18, 2023
Jo nhi hone wala wo baat kyu bolte
— . (@AamirsABD) March 18, 2023
People listening to sreesanth in big 2023 ??
— supremo ` (@hyperKohli) March 18, 2023
As a RCB fan, I don't even hope for winning a trophy anymore. Hopefully India wins WTC.
— GOATEDBAKRI (@goatedbakri) March 18, 2023
Once a Legend said……. pic.twitter.com/dBBL7T24bq
— Mahi (@mahi_7781___) March 18, 2023
If everything goes loyalty RCB wins
If goes fixing csk will win— Abd ????? ?????? (@LOVEABDMK) March 18, 2023
