 "The Indian Premier League will allow teams bowling in the second innings of an evening fixture to get the ball changed after receiving a nod of approval from the umpires. AFP")
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has introduced three new rules for its 18th edition , which got underway on Saturday with Royal Challengers Bengaluru handing defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders a seven-wicket thrashing at the Eden Gardens. Not only has the BCCI revoked the saliva ban that remains in place in international cricket, it has also given teams the option to use the Decision Review System (DRS) for deliveries that are called a wide – either for height or for deliveries bowled outside the off stump.
The BCCI has also introduced a new rule in order to counter the dew problem that has been a nightmare for bowlers over the years, especially spinners.
A majority of the matches in the IPL are played in the evening to avoid the scorching heat during summer months. And since the gradual drop in temperature post-sunset contributes to the formation of dew, teams bowling in the second innings face greater difficulty when it comes to gripping the ball.
Two years after introducing the ‘Impact Player’ rule, the BCCI has decided to come to the aid of bowlers by introducing a “conditional” second ball in the second innings of an evening fixture.
In this rule, which was taken during Thursday’s meeting with the franchise captains at the BCCI’s Mumbai headquarters, a second ball can be introduced anytime after the tenth over. The approval of the on-field umpires, however, will be necessary for the ball to be changed.
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View AllChakravarthy, Vettori praise IPL’s solution for tackling dew issue
Among those praising the BCCI for introducing the rule in IPL 2025 is leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who had played a key role in helping KKR win their third title last year and has also cemented his place in the Indian ODI and T20 teams in recent months.
“I did see the rule changes that have come a few days before. And I don’t think that’s going to make much difference regarding the saliva.
“Maybe the dew part where you can change the ball might help the spinners. And the moment they change the ball — the 11th, 12th or 13th over could see a spinner bowling — it won’t be that wet then. So, that change we can see is what I am forecasting. That’s what I can see,” Chakravarthy had said on Friday on the eve of the season-opener between KKR and RCB.
RCB head coach Andy Flower also supported the idea of bringing in a dry ball after the halfway stage in the second innings.
“I’ve always wondered why there was this reticence on the umpire’s part to change the ball. Doing so can make it an even and fair contest, and that’s what we’re looking for.
“We’re always looking for a fair balance between bat and ball. And I think in conditions where the dew does affect the teams significantly, that’s a really good rule change and about time,” said the legendary Zimbabwean wicketkeeper-batter.
New Zealand spin legend Daniel Vettori who currently serves as head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad, described the rule as a “pragmatic answer to a difficult problem”.
“I think it’s a really pragmatic answer to a difficult problem, and it doesn’t affect every ground, we know that," Vettori told reporters on the eve of SRH’s home game against Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad on Sunday.
“I don’t think we experienced dew here at all last year, but Chennai, Mumbai I think in particular, so it’s just a nice solution for everyone to come up with, and I think it will work really well," he added.