Two balls are set to be used during the evening matches of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) to take the dew factor out of the games. The decision was taken during the captains’ meeting in Mumbai on Thursday, March 20. As per the new guidelines, the teams will be allowed to opt for a ball change after the tenth over of the second innings. The rule has been brought in to minimise the effect of dew on the outcome of the matches.
As a result, the captains will have the right to ask for a ball change after the tenth over. However, it will be up to the discretion of the umpire to allow it considering the conditions of the outfield. Moreover, the replacement ball will be a like-for-like replacement of the original ball. Hence, the teams will not be provided an entirely new ball as a replacement. The rule will also apply only to the evening matches.
In the 17-year-long history of the IPL, several games have been decided by the dew factor during night matches as bowlers were at a massive disadvantage in the second innings. Hence, the rule has been brought in to bring the right balance between bat and ball.
The IPL governing council has also lifted the ban on the usage of saliva to shine ball during the tournament. The decision comes as a landmark move as bowlers had previously expressed their disappointment over the ban.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned the use of saliva in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic which significantly limited the fast bowlers’ ability to generate reverse swing—a key weapon in their arsenal. The BCCI also followed suit by prohibiting its use in the IPL 2020. The ban was made permanent in international cricket in 2022. However, in a landmark decision, BCCI have allowed its use, making IPL the first major cricketing event to re-introduce the use of saliva in the post-Covid era.
