New rules mean breaking old ones. The IPL has always been ahead in introducing innovative regulations to make cricket more exciting and engaging. This time, two new rules are set to be implemented.
A couple of days ago, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held a meeting with team captains, where they decided that matches will now feature three different balls. Additionally, captains received a sigh of relief: no matter how many times a team fails to maintain the required over rate, no captain will face a suspension. Instead, they will receive demerit points as punishment.
This is certainly good news for players like Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. In the previous IPL season, Hardik Pandya was set to miss the first match due to slow over-rate violations. Considering this, IPL authorities have decided to remove the one-match suspension rule that was applied after three slow over-rate offenses.
Another significant change reported by multiple Indian media outlets is the introduction of a third ball in matches to counter the impact of dew. The specifics of how these balls will be used have also been disclosed.
Since dew is expected to be a major factor in several venues during April and May, especially in night games, the use of three balls aims to balance the playing conditions. The rule remains similar to before but with a slight modification:
• The ball will be changed in the 11th over of the second innings.
• The first innings will still use a single ball for all 20 overs.
• In the second innings, the first ball will be used for 11 overs, and a fresh ball will be introduced for the final 9 overs.
BCCI and team captains believe this change will mitigate the dew problem, ensuring fairer playing conditions.
With one trophy in sight, the 10-team battle begins tomorrow. The tournament consists of 74 matches, including the group stage, qualifiers, and the final. A total of 13 venues will host the games. IPL 2025 kicks off on March 22 and will conclude on May 25.
