IPL 2023: Ranking top 10 jerseys

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a fusion of cricket and entertainment, evident in the opening ceremony of its 16th edition, where celebrities set the stage ablaze before the cricketing action commenced. Beyond being a conventional cricket league, the IPL encompasses various elements, well understood by the ten franchises.

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Ahead of each season, these franchises organize dedicated events to unveil the jerseys that players will sport during the tournament. Serving as both the team's identity and a connection with its fans, the jersey's color pattern, design, and other elements are carefully selected. While some franchises have mastered the art of creating the perfect jersey, others are still fine-tuning their approach.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)- (7.5/10)

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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) made their debut last season in the IPL and even secured a third position with nine wins but fell short in the eliminator game. Recognizing criticisms of their greenish-blue jersey, the Sanjeev Goenka-owned team introduced a revamped dark blue jersey for the current season, adorned with light blue and red stripes. However, the new kit has faced backlash from fans, with concerns that the team logo on the left side gets lost due to the altered color scheme, sparking mixed reactions to the updated design.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)- (8/10)

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Chennai Super Kings is arguably the most successful IPL franchise and have also maintained consistency in their kit design, adhering to the traditional yellow color scheme. Led by MS Dhoni, the team retains the same pattern and color this season. After a challenging previous season with only four wins and missing the playoffs, CSK made notable acquisitions, securing Ben Stokes for INR 16.25 crores and former Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. Both players featured in the jersey launch event, signifying the team's readiness for the upcoming IPL season at Chepauk.

Delhi Capitals (DC)- (8/10)

Delhi Capitals introduced their new jersey in March, retaining the blue and red color scheme but tweaking the design. Notably, red is now limited to the shoulders, unlike the previous season where it featured on the chest. The central placement of the Tiger in the logo is a prominent change. Led by David Warner this year due to Rishabh Pant's absence, Axar Patel assumes the vice-captaincy. In the mini-auction, Delhi Capitals made five purchases, including Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt, and Manish Pandey, with Mukesh Kumar emerging as the team's costliest acquisition at INR 5.5 crores.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)- (8/10)

Rajasthan Royals have reflected their iconic color scheme in the Rajasthan Royals' jersey, predominantly pink with blue accents. The new kit draws inspiration from Rajasthan's traditional step-wells (baori), incorporating a distinctive stepwell design. Celebrating a rich cultural heritage of over a thousand years, fans can embrace this tradition through the jersey. In the previous season, Rajasthan Royals secured the runner-up position, with notable performances earning both the orange cap (Jos Buttler) and purple cap (Yuzvendra Chahal). Ahead of this IPL, strategic auction moves included acquiring Jason Holder for INR 5.75 crores, anticipating his crucial role.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)- (8/10)

In 2021, Punjab Kings transitioned from Kings XI Punjab, adopting a new logo and jersey incorporating red and gold, symbolizing their rebranded identity. The team has consistently maintained these colors, with red as the primary hue and gold accents on the shoulder, collar, and sides. Shikhar Dhawan assumes captaincy, with Trevor Bayliss as the new coach. Their campaign begins against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 1. However, Jonny Bairstow is unavailable for the entire season, replaced by Matthew Short, and Kagiso Rabada and Liam Livingstone won't be in contention for the first game.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)- (8.5/10)

Sunrisers Hyderabad unveiled their new jersey on Twitter, featuring Mayank Agarwal, Umran Malik, and Washington Sundar in a photoshoot, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar showcasing it during the captains' meet for IPL's 16th edition launch. The team maintains its primary colors of orange and black from the previous year. Commencing their season against Rajasthan Royals, Aiden Markram, appointed as the new captain, will miss the first game due to the ongoing ODI series against Netherlands. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is anticipated to step in as the stand-in captain for the opening match.

Mumbai Indians (MI) – (8.5/10)

Mumbai Indians maintain their iconic blue jersey, a staple since the IPL's inception, with subtle alterations this season. The new design incorporates symbols representing Mumbai, the city of dreams, featuring the Arabian Sea, Kali Peeli Taxi, Gateway of India, and Sea Link at the jersey's center. A touch of golden color on the kit's sides symbolizes the vibrant streets of Mumbai. Despite being five-time champions, Mumbai Indians concluded in the last place last season, winning only four of 14 games. Their opening game is against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday, seeking a resurgence after the previous season's underwhelming performance.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)- (9/10)

Kolkata Knight Riders is currently two-times IPL champions who have also maintained their traditional purple and gold color scheme in this year's jersey, with only the central sponsor changing to MyFab11. The kit resembles the previous season's design. The team, sponsored by MyFab11, opens their campaign against Punjab Kings in Mohali on Saturday. Missing Shreyas Iyer initially, Nitish Rana assumes captaincy. Successful moves in the mini-auction secured David Wiese, Shakib Al Hasan, and Litton Das at their base price. However, both Shakib and Litton will be unavailable for the opening game, presenting initial challenges for the team.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)- (9/10)

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) who is known for experimenting their jerseys, retains the red and black colors from the previous season, skipping the traditional green initiative this year. RCB, setting the trend in 2016 with distinct home and away jerseys, opens their season against Mumbai Indians on Sunday. The team finished fourth last year, winning eight out of 14 games but faltering in the second qualifier against Rajasthan Royals. Mini-auction acquisition Will Jacks is ruled out for the season, replaced by Michael Bracewell, adding an unexpected twist to their lineup ahead of the tournament.

Gujarat Titans (GT)- (9.5/10)

Defending champions Gujarat Titans maintain their acclaimed dark blue jersey design from their debut season, making minimal changes, such as adding a star atop their logo to signify their title win last year. GT have boasted a perfect auction record, successfully acquiring all seven players they bid for. Led by Hardik Pandya, the team focuses on bolstering their pace attack, securing Shivam Mavi for INR 6 crores and Joshua Little for INR 4.4 crores. Strategic buys include Kane Williamson and Odean Smith at their base price, showcasing Titans' commitment to building a formidable squad for the upcoming season.