Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
With the tune set in for IPL 2024, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) will turn to narrow down the level of play between ball and bat. With significant changes in line for IPL 2024, one of the key rules which has come in favour of the bowlers is the introduction of two bouncers per over. The alteration, which was tried during the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy aims to balance the game in terms of bat and ball.
As per this new rule, the bowlers will now possess the freedom to deploy a second bouncer in an over, even if one has been bowled earlier. Jaydev Unadkat, an experienced campaigner in the IPL, spoke about this development in his chat with ESPNcricinfo and lauded this change. “I do feel two bouncers an over is very much useful, and I feel it’ one of those things which gives the bowler an added advantage over the batters,” he said.
“Someone who I 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,” Unadkat added.
The 32-year-old, who has been listed in the IPL 2024 auction at the base price of INR 50 Lakh also added that this will add more options to try and rein batters in the death. “Also in death overs, you have one more option. So, it was becoming more yorker-oriented (bowling) in death overs for fast bowlers. Now it can be yorker, slower ball, and bouncers because of two bouncers an over.”
It is to be noted that this change comes after the implementation of the Impact Player rule, which was introduced in IPL 2023. Under the impact player rule, a team has a list of four substitutes at the toss apart from the Playing XI. The team can use any one of the four subs as their Impact Player.
Additionally, while the IPL 2024 mini auction is set to take place on Tuesday, December 19, the 17th edition of the tournament I likely to be played between March 22 and end of May. However, the official schedule will be announced after the government announces the polling dates for the General Elections.
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