3 rule changes that can make IPL 2023 more interesting

The 15th edition of IPL reached its culmination on May 29 after Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans clinched the trophy by defeating Rajasthan Royals in the final. It was a record-breaking season that saw the most number of sixes hit in an IPL season. 

Before the tournament started, BCCI had made a few changes to the existing rules. The most prominent one is the addition of an extra review in each innings. Previously only two reviews were allowed to teams in each innings. But IPL 2022 saw teams getting two reviews per innings. 

Another change that the BCCI made to this year’s edition was in accordance with the changes made by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The new rule stated that if the batter gets caught, the new batter will have to take the strike, even if the batter had crossed over. 

Previously, if the striker and the non-striker change ends before the landing of the ball, the new batter would go at the non-striker’s end. This new rule will come into effect in international matches from October 1, 2022. The new changes were a welcome addition to IPL and gave a competitive edge to the bowlers, which was due for some time. The competition was a huge success, and there might be a few more changes coming our way in the future. 

We take at some of the plausible alterations that might come into play in the next edition of the IPL to make the tournament a bit more exciting.

Extra fielder outside the 30-yard circle in slog overs

The aforementioned change in the rule by ICC favours the bowlers as they get to bowl to a new batter straightaway. But, even with that change in the rule, we saw a record 1062 sixes in IPL 2022, the most in the tournament’s history.

The mandatory powerplay in the first six overs allows just two fielders outside the 30-yard circle. Batters usually take full advantage of the field restriction at the nascent stage of the innings. To level the playing field, an extra fielder should be allowed on the ropes in the overs between 16-20. Currently, five fielders are allowed outside the ring after the first six overs.

The presence of an extra fielder might make the batters think a bit more about taking the aerial routes, which will allow the bowlers to earn dismissals. The rule might give leverage to the bowlers, but in a game that is said to be dominated by the bat, it is only fair.