NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has introduced several new rules over the years, including strategic timeouts and the Impact Player rule. Now, the tournament is set to implement another innovation in IPL 2025 – the ‘Second Ball’ rule.
The ‘Second Ball’ rule has been introduced to counter the impact of dew in night matches. Dew makes it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball, giving batters a significant advantage, especially during run chases. To address this issue, the IPL has introduced a provision allowing the use of a second ball in night games.
Under this rule, on-field umpires will assess the condition of the ball after the 11th over of the second innings. If excessive dew is detected, the bowling team will be permitted to use a new ball.
This rule aims to provide bowlers with a fairer playing field in dewy conditions.
The ‘Second Ball’ rule will not be applicable in afternoon matches.
SALIVA BAN LIFTED
The BCCI also lifted the ban on use of saliva on the ball in the upcoming Indian Premier League after a majority of captains agreed to its proposal, making it the first major cricket competition to do away with the restriction that was a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was taken at the captains’ meeting in Mumbai ahead of the league starting on Saturday.
“The saliva ban has been lifted. Majority of captains were in favour of the move. Some had reservations about the re-introduction, some sat on the fence but majority of them supported the move,” a top BCCI official told PTI.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had banned the age-old practice of applying saliva to shine the ball as a precautionary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which health practitioners advocated strict hygiene protocols and physical distancing.
In 2022, the world body made the ban permanent.
The IPL too included the ICC ban in its playing conditions in the aftermath of the pandemic but its guidelines are outside the purview of the sport’s governing body.
With the development on Thursday, the IPL became the first major cricketing event to re-introduce saliva’s use after the pandemic.
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