IPL Announces New Bouncers Rule (image-instgram/iplt20)

As IPL auction being held in Dubai on Tuesday, reports have come out stating an addition of new rule to the tournament this season. It has been reported that this change is made to make it even between both bat and ball.

This rule was earlier trialed during the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Jaydev Unadkat, an IPL veteran praised the change and he has also played for Saurashtra at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, he said that two bouncers an over is much useful and he felt that this will be an added advantage to the bowler over batsmen.

He then explained it further stating that previously the batsman knew that no more bouncer will come, if bowled a slow bouncer. But now even if one bowls a slower bouncer in the first half of the over, one can still go for an extra bounce.

“Someone who is weak against bouncers will have to be better at it and then it will give the bowler one more weapon in their armoury. So, I feel it”s a very small change with a huge impact and as a bowler I feel it”s very important to have that rule,” he further added.

The player also felt that the fast bowlers have more options in the death overs with the new rule. “Also in the death overs, you have one more option. So, it was becoming more of yorker-oriented [bowling] in death overs for fast bowlers. Not it can be yorker, slower ball and bouncers because of two bouncers an over. Even if you don”t bowl the second bouncer, the batsman still has that expectation that the bowler might bowl the second bouncer,” he added.

IPL 2024 is likely to begin between March 22 and end of May. The final schedule will be announced once the polling dates for India’s general election is finalised by the Election Commission.