IPL: 6 Rule changes which will make the league more entertaining

If these changes are considered and implemented, IPL will become more interesting in the future.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore
Royal Challengers Bangalore. (Photo: IANS)

It was 12 years ago that the Indian Premier League (IPL) was conceptualized and launched with a huge fanfare. Since then, the tournament has grown leaps and bounds catching the fancy of audiences’ world over. The IPL has well and truly built the club loyalty factor in every fan. Every year the critics claim that the tournament is slowly losing its charm, but they end up eating their words once it begins. This year as well, the star-studded league has exceeded the expectations of the fans and produced some intense games with gripping moments.

Such has been the impact of the IPL that many unknown players have turned into household names. While every season throws up new heroes and millionaires, we also see many falling from the graces. Such is the craze among franchises to build the perfect team that they end up buying players at insane amounts only to see them fail to live up to the expectations.

For any brand to continue to succeed, they need to evolve and continue to deliver to target audiences more than what they have come to expect. IPL is recognized as the premier tournament in the world where every cricketer aspires to play. From being the most profitable tournament, IPL now has the opportunity to also become the pioneer in innovation making the game more entertaining and thrilling to the audiences.

  

Here we bring you six rule changes which should be made in the IPL 

1. Video Assistance Referee (VAR)

Video Assistance Referee
Video Assistance Referee. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

VAR is a successful concept introduced in football. This helps the on-field referee to rely on the support of an assistant referee to minimize any errors in decisions. The umpiring in this season has been below par and earned the wrath of players, commentators and the audiences. The on-field umpires are prone to errors given the pressure they are under from the players, the high-speed nature of the game combined with the highly excited crowd.

VAR will certify that every ball is reviewed instantaneously and ensure a fair result is achieved. This will help to avoid incidents like the no-ball from Lasith Malinga which, if identified, could have changed the result of that match and who knows the course of RCB’s journey in this IPL.

2. Super Substitute (Super Sub)

MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni (Photo by: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

Super Sub was a great concept which was scrapped even before it was given a fair chance. The super sub was the 12th player who could be called on at any time in the game to replace any on-field player and perform any role. This will help the captains to adapt their team build basis on the status of the match, giving them the benefit of an additional batsman/bowler who can be called upon.

This can also help teams when they suddenly lose a player mid-match to injuries or replace a player having an off day midway through the match. Many are baffled over the fact that ICC scrapped the idea without giving it much of a chance.

3. Batsman retiring not-out

Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

Situations in the shortest format are known to swing wildly from one end to another. Matches change within a couple of overs and a team on course to an easy win could suddenly find itself struggling to save the game. While the bowling team have the advantage of choosing bowlers who will bowl the next overs given their form, the batting team is stuck with the struggling batsmen on the crease.

Many times it is spotted that a batsman is struggling to score and is not even getting out which, in turn, puts a lot of pressure on the next batsmen, especially while chasing.

Batting team needs to be given the opportunity to choose the batsmen who should be facing the bowler. Retirement of a batsman, will thus bring in more excitement to the game and also change the match within minutes. This would also enable the team batting to stay in the contest by bringing in their top batsmen, by strategically replacing the ‘not in form’ batter.

4. 5-over quotas for bowlers

Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn. (Photo: IANS)

T20 has become more and more of a batsman’s game allowing them to change batting stance and execute any kind of strokes they feel right. With small boundaries and flat pitches, there is virtually nothing going in favour for the bowlers in the shortest format at the moment.

According to the current rule, a bowler can bowl a maximum of four overs during his spell. Changing the rules to allow 2 bowlers bowl a maximum of 5 overs will hand some advantage back to the fielding team who can then plan their strategy accordingly. This will allow the team to adopt a more attacking strategy and make the game more interesting.

This would enable the captain to bowl his best bowler during the most intense moments instead of him searching and experimenting with other bowlers towards the death.

5. Bonus points for winning away matches

Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings. (Photo: IANS)

Generally, two points are awarded for the winning team in the IPL and more often than not, things go down the wire in terms of playoff qualification. But during the must-win matches, weather plays spoilsport and there have been instances of the team getting knocked out having had to share the points.

If 3 points are awarded to the team for winning away matches, it would create excitement amongst all fans since all teams competing would have an equal chance of getting themselves qualified into the knockout stages. This would also allow the tournament to open up to newer horizons with the league being open till the very last, and teams remaining unsure of their qualifications.

On the other hand, this would also prove to be an advantage for the sides who struggle at the start of the season but find their groove a little late in the tournament.

6. +2 runs for sixes over 100 meters

Andre Russell
Andre Russell. (Photo: IANS)

The IPL has proven itself to be a platform of big hitters, and massive sixes flying left, right and centre all around the park. It would be unsurprising to say that IPL has established itself as a league which solely revolves around batsman, with the bowlers doing little to restrict them. For T20 matches, the boundaries are shortened in most of the stadiums and the batsmen like Andre Russell, MS Dhoni and Chris Gayle among many are known to smack long sixes at will.

An addition of 2 runs for each six above a distance of 100 meters, could be a bigger boon for fans in the stadium, who would then witness some of the biggest sixes being ever hit. This would also allow the batting team, especially the chasing team to get closer to the target and see themselves home if the required run rate increases rapidly. In regards to the bowlers, it would be interesting to see newer techniques being used and newer variations bowled to restrict the batsmen.

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~Written by Darshan Ram

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