To help bowling teams counter dew, the IPL has decided to allow the ball to be changed after the 11th over of the second innings of evening matches this season, reports Espn Cricinfo.
Any further requests for an additional change of ball will be at the on-field umpires' discretion. The decision was taken during a meeting with the captains of the ten franchises on Thursday, to discuss the playing conditions for IPL 2025, which starts on Saturday.
Until now, the umpires had the sole discretion on changing the ball if and when they felt it had got wet because of dew, which is big factor at certain venues. However, the franchises wanted the match officials to be more flexible and allow a ball change more than once.
Going by the new rule, the umpires will grant the bowling team's first request for a ball change any time from overs 12 to 20 of the chase.
The ball change will be granted on request irrespective of the presence of dew. But the option will only be available in evening matches, not afternoon games. If the bowling team does not want the ball changed after the 11th over regardless of the dew, a replacement ball will not be brought in.
The ball introduced after the 11th over will have the same level of wear and tear as the one it replaces. Importantly, the ball will be picked by the umpires and the bowling team will have no say in the choice.
One potential downside for the bowling team would be if the replacement ball is a bit harder than the ball it replaces, making run-scoring easier.
Teams have welcomed the decision as dew has played a significant role in the outcome of matches in the past, with teams predominantly opting to chase. India mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who is one of the lead bowlers for defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, said changing the wet ball in the middle overs would definitely be helpful.
Andy Flower, the head coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who will play the IPL opener against KKR at Eden Gardens on Saturday evening, said he never understood why there was "reticence" on part of the umpires to change a ball affected by dew.
"I like the rule change on the captains electing when they can take a second ball in the second half of the [second] innings," Flower said in Kolkata on Friday. "Changing the ball will make it an even and fair contest. And that's what we are looking for. The people that make the rules under which we play the game of cricket and ground staff, preparing pitches, they are always looking for a fair balance between bat and ball. And in conditions where dew does affect games significantly, that's a really good rule change and about time."
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
