IPL 2023 Winner: Former Cricketers Pick Their Favourites For Indian Premier League Season 16

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Bengaluru, February 20: The next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is just over a month away with ten franchises set to battle for the coveted title in season 16, starting from March 31.

Over the past 15 seasons of IPL, only seven teams have gone on to lift the title with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings being the most successful franchises in the cash-rich league.

While Mumbai Indians have won the IPL title a record five times, CSK has clinched the title four times so far. Kolkata Knight Riders is the next best team, having won the IPL title two times.

Current holders Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, now defunct Deccan Chargers and inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals, who came very close to winning the IPL for the second time last year, have all won the title once.

Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants are the four active teams that have not won the IPL title so far.

With all that and more in mind, former cricketers Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan picked their favourites to win the title in IPL 2023 during the press conference organized by Star Sports to celebrate 15 years of the IPL.

Virender Sehwag's favourite for IPL 2023

The former Team India opener Sehwag, who felt predictions can't remain the same as the tournament progresses, said he would like to see a team that has not won the title so far win the IPL this year.

"Predictions can keep changing as the game goes along, but if we look at it from a team's perspective, I always want a new champion. So someone who has not won the IPL before should win it this time around. Punjab, Bangalore, Delhi, Lucknow, all these teams haven't won the IPL, but I'm hoping that Delhi wins the trophy this year," Sehwag said.

Harbhajan Singh's favourite for IPL 2023

The former spinner Harbhajan also echoed Sehwag in his preference of a new winner, but he wants his home teams to win the IPL this year.

"I would always want Punjab to win. Punjab is my state and they haven't won the title yet. They've been playing from the beginning, fifteen years have passed, I hope they win this time. It's my request and I'll definitely pray that Punjab wins," Harbhajan said.

Irfan Pathan's favourite for IPL 2023

While his former teammates preferred to see a new winner, the former pacer Irfan Pathan felt that Mumbai Indians, who have assimilated a strong side should win the IPL this year.

"If you look at the Mumbai Indians team for this year, with Jofra and Bumrah fit, Rohit Sharma's form is back, Suryakumar Yadav, Green, Tim David, Brevis," Irfan said.

"With the team that they have, if they do not win the IPL, then the Mumbai Indian fans will be very disappointed. You will rarely find a team like this in years. I'm a Mumbai Indians fan, and I'll be very disappointed if they don't lift the trophy this year."

The IPL 2023 is scheduled to start with the league phase on March 31, while the final is expected to be held on May 28. Also, this season will see the return of home and away format as the matches will be played across 12 venues.