This rule will not be applicable for afternoon games.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has passed the rule to use two balls in the second innings of a match in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). The decision comes in a bid to negate the dew factor in the evening games.
Furthermore, this rule won’t be applied to afternoon games. It is also understood that the second ball can only be used after the 11th over.
A source privy to the developments told Cricbuzz, “As for the change of ball, the BCCI has left the decision to the discretion of the umpires. They will decide based on the presence of dew. As a result, this rule will primarily apply to night games, and it is unlikely that a second ball will be used in afternoon matches.”
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By introducing a second ball, the rule eliminates any potential advantage the toss-winning captain might gain from the dew factor, creating a more balanced and fair competition during the matches. Under dew, stroke play becomes easier for the batters as the ball comes onto the bat smoothly, enabling them to play shots with confidence.
With a more dry ball, it would keep the bowling side in the hunt, and assist spinners especially as it would allow them to grip and spin better which otherwise would have been difficult with a wetter ball.
To aid bowlers further, the BCCI has also done away with the saliva ban to give them more say in the game now. The use of saliva would allow pacers to employ the reverse swing more effectively once the ball gets old.
The IPL restoring the practice could now also prompt cricket’s apex council ICC to reconsider the rule, which was imposed three years ago in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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