Ahead of IPL 2021, BCCI released the new and updated set of rules for the upcoming IPL 2021. IPL 2021 is scheduled to kick start from April 9 with the opening match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
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IPL 2021 New Rules
BCCI introduced five new rules for the upcoming IPL 2021 which are listed below:
No Soft Signal in IPL 2021
The BCCI has removed the rule of soft signal in the IPL. As per the new rule, the on-field umpire’s soft signal will not have any bearing on the third umpire’s decision.
“The on-field umpire giving soft signal while referring the decision to the third umpire will not be applicable,” the BCCI stated.
”Should both on-field umpires require assistance from the third umpire to make a decision, the bowler’s end umpire shall firstly take a decision on-field after consulting with the striker’s end umpire, before consulting by two-way radio with the third umpire,” added the BCCI as quoted by CricBuzz.
”Such consultation shall be initiated by the bowler’s end umpire to the third umpire by making the shape of a TV screen with his/her hands. The third umpire shall determine whether the batsman has been caught, whether the delivery was a bump ball, or if the batsman willfully obstructed the field. In case of a fair catch, the third umpire will use all the technological support available to him/her. The third umpire shall communicate his/her decision.” added the BCCI.
Restriction in Match Duration
Apart from the controversy around ‘soft signal’, another pressing point during the India-England series was the appalling over-rate by both teams.
Thus in order to ensure that the time-rates are in check, the BCCI has stated in the revised playing conditions that the 20th over must be finished in 90 minutes. Earlier, the 20th over was to start by the 90th minute.
“As a measure to control the match timings, the 20th over in each innings is now included in 90 minutes, earlier the 20th over was to start on or before the 90th minute.” the BCCI said.
“The minimum over rate to be achieved in IPL Matches shall be 14.11 overs per hour (ignoring the time taken by time-outs). In uninterrupted matches, this means that the 20th over should finish within 90 minutes (being 85 minutes of playing time plus 5 minutes of time-out) of the start of the innings. For delayed or interrupted matches where an innings is scheduled to be less than 20 overs, the maximum time of 90 minutes shall be reduced by 4 minutes 15 seconds for every over by which the innings is reduced.” the BCCI added.
As far as timing is concerned, the BCCI has entrusted the responsibility of ensuring the rule on the fourth umpire, empowering him to warn the batting side if it resorts to time-wasting tactics.
“In the event of any time allowances being granted to the fielding team under clause 12.7.3.4 above (time wasting by batting team), then such time shall be deducted from the allowances granted to such batting team in the determination of its over rate. The fourth umpire should ensure that the batting captain (if not at the wicket) and the team manager are both aware of any warnings.” said the BCCI.
Short Run
What is Short Run?
A run is called ‘short-run’ by the umpire when one of the two batsmen has failed to complete a proper run, i.e., failed to cross the crease. Rule 18 of the Laws of Cricket states that “a run is “short” if either, or both, batsmen fail to make good their ground in turning for a further run.”
The BCCI has also amended the short-run call by the umpires. It has authorized the third umpire to overrule the on-field umpire’s decision on cutting down a run off the batting team’s total.
There was a major controversy last year during a Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Delhi Capitals game in which a wrong Short Run call by the square-leg umpire proved costly for the Punjab side.
Super-Over
What is a Super Over?
When the scores of the two teams get equal the match is considered to be a tie and the super over will be used to determine the winner.
Another updated clause in the playing conditions is that in an uninterrupted match, subsequent super overs can be played till an hour’s time from the actual finished time of the tied matches (Clause 16.3.1). Check out the IPL Super Over Rules and List of Super Over Matches Since 2008.
No-ball
What is a No-Ball?
A No Ball in Cricket is a delivery that is NOT considered as one of the six determined deliveries that a bowler needs to bowl to complete an Over. The penalty for a No Ball is 1 run. In the shorter formats of cricket, a Free Hit usually follows the No Ball.
As per the updated IPL guidelines, the third umpire can overrule the no-ball decision made by the on-field umpire.
Types of No-Ball in Cricket
Totally there are 17 types of no-ball in cricket. Following are the occasion where the umpire refers to the ball as “NO-Ball”:
- Front Foot No Ball – Overstepping by the Bowler
- If Ball Bounces Over Batsman’s Head
- No Ball if Bowler Bowls a Beamer
- No Ball for Chucking (Flexing the Arm)
- Back Foot No Ball
- No Ball for Dangerous Short-pitched Deliveries
- No Ball for Failure to Notify the Mode of Delivery
- Underarm No Ball
- No Ball if Wicketkeeper is in Front of Stumps
- No Ball if Bowler Touches Wickets during Delivery
- No Ball if Ball Bounces more than Once
- No Ball if Bowler Throws the Ball before Delivery
- No Ball if Ball Bounces off the Pitch
- No Ball if Fielder Intercepts a Delivery
- No Ball if Ball Stops Before Reaching the Batsman
- No Ball for Breaching the On-side Rule
- No Ball for Fielders Encroaching the Pitch
