The IPL season is almost here, and some rules are changing. The BCCI got team captains and referees together last Thursday and apparently decided on some rule changes for the 2025 season.
The IPL 2025 starts on March 22, so let’s check out the big rule changes:
1. Saliva is back
One change is that players can use saliva to shine the ball again.
The ICC banned this in 2022 because of COVID. The IPL followed suit, but they knew they could make their own rules.
After talking with IPL team captains and hearing from players like Mohammad Shami, the BCCI has apparently agreed to bring back the spit rule. Pacers can make the most of swing again.
2. A Second Old Ball after the 11th Over
To help teams deal with dew in late games, the BCCI will allow teams to use a second, old ball in the second half of the game after the 11th over.
A BCCI person said this isn’t exactly a rule change, but more of an agreement by the teams and umpires. The 2nd ball will be an old one with some wear.
Cricbuzz also says that the umpire will decide when to use the second ball, mainly in night games.
3. No More Match Bans for Slow Over-Rates
To make things easier for captains, the BCCI has changed the penalties for slow over-rates.
Reports say the BCCI won’t ban captains for slow over-rates this season. Instead, they’ll get demerit points. Bans will only happen in really bad cases.
Captains have been banned for slow over-rates before. Just last season, Rishabh Pant had to miss a game, and Hardik Pandya won’t play in MI’s opening game because of something that happened last season.
4. HawkEye for Wide Calls
Now, teams can use DRS to challenge wide calls, both for height and outside off-stump.
Ball-tracking has been used for LBW calls for years. Last year, HawkEye started using it to check waist-high no-balls.
