IPL 2025: What is the new two-ball rule for the second innings and how will it help?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is set to introduce a significant rule change in an attempt to address the long-standing issue of the dew factor affecting matches, particularly during second innings of evening games. According to reports, the new regulation will allow the use of two different balls from the 11th over onwards in the second innings. This move aims to provide a more balanced contest between bat and ball, ensuring that bowling teams are not at a major disadvantage due to excessive dew.

#breaking Two balls to be used from each end from 11th over onwards of the second innings in IPL-2025 to counter the dew factor https://t.co/UrvSjXrbUs

— Gaurav Gupta (@toi_gauravG) March 20, 2025

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How will the new Two-Ball rule help?

Traditionally, a single white ball is used throughout each innings of a T20 match. However, in sub-continent conditions where dew is prevalent, the ball tends to get wetter, making it difficult for bowlers to grip and extract movement. To counter this, the IPL 2025 has reportedly introduced a regulation where from the 11th over of the second innings, two separate balls will be used from each end.

This means that bowlers will now have access to a relatively newer ball in the latter half of the innings, ensuring a better grip, more movement, and a fairer playing field. The rule will be applicable to all matches where dew is expected to play a significant role.

The rule aims to bridge the gap between teams batting first and second, ensuring that matches do not become one-sided due to external conditions.

Impact Player rule stays

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday also decided to continue the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The Impact Player rule, introduced in IPL 2023, allows teams to field 12 players instead of 11, with one acting as a tactical substitute. The designated Impact Player can be brought in to bat or bowl based on the team’s strategy. This differs from international cricket rules, where substitutes are only allowed to field.

This decision has reportedly been taken at the captains’ meeting in Mumbai. The Impact Player rule was one of the agendas set for the meeting, as reported earlier by various media outlets.

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Saliva ban lifted

The BCCI has reportedly decided to lift the ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season after receiving majority support from team captains.

“The saliva ban has been lifted. Most captains were in favour of the move,” a senior BCCI official told PTI.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) initially prohibited the use of saliva as a temporary precaution during the COVID-19 pandemic before making the ban permanent in 2022. While the IPL had also adopted this restriction in line with ICC guidelines, its playing conditions remain independent of the sport’s global governing body.

With this decision, the IPL becomes the first major cricket tournament to reintroduce the use of saliva since the pandemic.