The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) conducted a Captains’, Coaches, and Managers’ meeting at its headquarters on Thursday, March 20, ahead of the 18th season of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL). Throughout the meeting, representatives from all 10 IPL teams provided feedback and opinions on various features of the playing conditions. Based on a standard consensus, the next updates have been incorporated.
1) Use of saliva to shine the ball
Effective from the IPL 2025 season, bowlers can be permitted to make use of saliva to shine the ball. This decision follows consultations with all 10 teams and marks a return to traditional ball maintenance practices. The ban on the usage of saliva, which was originally imposed in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, has now been lifted.
2) Alternative of wet ball to counter dew
To deal with challenges posed by dew during evening matches, the team bowling second will now have the choice to request a ball change once after the tenth over.
a| The bowling captain could make this request, no matter whether there may be visible dew or not. Once the request is made, the umpires will mandatorily replace the ball with one other considered one of similar wear and tear. The bowling team is not going to have the freedom to decide on the alternative ball.
b| Moreover, the umpires retain the authority to vary the ball at any time before the tenth over whether it is deemed too wet, off form, lost, or damaged. If a captain requests a ball change within the eleventh over because of it being off form, the umpires will evaluate the request and approve it if deemed crucial.
c| If a subsequent request is made after a couple of overs solely because of dew, the umpires can be required to switch the ball mandatorily as stated earlier.
3) Recent Code of Conduct
Effective this season, a brand new Code of Conduct can be implemented from the TATA IPL 2025 season, introducing a demerit points system and suspension points which is able to remain valid for 36 months.
4) Expansion of DRS Scope: The Decision Review System (DRS) has been expanded to incorporate height-based no-ball reviews and wide-ball reviews outside the off-stump. The updated system will utilize Hawk-Eye technology and ball-tracking to help umpires in making accurate and consistent decisions.
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