By The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued new playing conditions for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), which is set to begin on March 31. One of the significant changes is that IPL franchises can now decide on their playing XIs after the toss instead of submitting the team sheets before the spin of the coin.
This change will allow the teams to select their best XIs based on whether they will be batting or bowling first, including impact players who may be better suited to one role or the other. The change is covered under clause 1.2.1 of the playing conditions, which states that each captain shall nominate 11 players and a maximum of 5 substitute fielders in writing to the IPL Match Referee after the toss.
The IPL is now the second franchise league to allow teams to decide on their playing XIs after the toss, following the South African T20 league, where teams were allowed to put 13 names on the team sheets before the toss. This change is aimed at reducing the impact of the toss and benefiting teams at venues where dew has a significant impact on the outcome.
In the last IPL played in India in 2019, teams winning the toss went on to win in 34 of the 60 games staged (excluding Super Overs and no results). With this new rule, teams will have a better chance of winning even if they lose the toss.
Another significant change in the playing conditions is that unfair movement by the wicketkeeper before the batter meets the ball will be penalized. Additionally, there will be an overrate penalty of only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle for every over not completed within the allocated time.
These changes have been implemented to ensure fair play and enhance the overall viewing experience for fans. The new playing conditions will be shared with all IPL teams ahead of the tournament, which promises to be another exciting season of T20 cricket.