IPL 2022: 10 things that have changed since RR last won the inaugural tournament

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has ended and the Gujarat Titans (GT) are the deserving winners of the tournament. The Titans won the final match against Rajasthan Royals and skipper Hardik Pandya was adjudged Player of the Match for his excellent performance with both bat and ball. Ever since the cash-rich tournament came into existence in 2008, the tournament has seen several changes in rules and regulations to ensure that the game is played in fair spirit. On that note, let us take a look at ten major changes that have been made in the toughest franchise-based league. 10. Run-out (Bat in the air) Shubman Gill run-out. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The International Cricket Council (ICC) made this rule five years ago back in 2017 and it was welcomed by most of the cricketing boards around the world and the batters as well. It ensured that batters aren’t required to drag their bat to remain standing confidently on the 22 yards. It may be noted that the willow sometime bounces off the ground after the batter grounds it behind the crease in his attempted dive to save himself and his wicket on a cricket field. However, paving a better route to save the batter’s wicket, the IPL authorities applied the changed rules in the league as well. The rule has greatly benefitted the batters and has helped them to save their wicket after putting in a desperate dive. As the IPL juggernaut continues, the rule will ensure that the batter’s efforts do not go in vain after giving their 100% on the field. 9. Auto no-ball Ashwin No Ball (Photo Source: Twitter) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) implemented the auto-no ball option as a solution to end umpiring errors. The rule states that the third umpire will check every ball and take the decision if the bowler has stepped over the line. Minimizing the mounting pressure on umpires, the decision appears to be having a positive impact on the game. During the 2019 edition, Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga bowled an illegal delivery in the last ball of a match between MI and RCB. The Red Army needed seven runs to defeat the five-time champions off the last ball and ended up losing by 6 runs. Eventually, the umpire overlooked the no-balls costing RCB two points. The new rule has ensured that there are no margins of error in this aspect of the game. On the other hand, the on-field umpires have also been relieved and can focus on conducting the game being played on the cricket field. 8. Concussion substitutes Hardik Pandya Injured. (Photo Source: Disney+Hotstar) A ‘concussion replacement’ is used in a match when a player is injured after being hit on the head. The injured batter can be replaced by a player having the same nature of gameplay not included in the playing XI, but the substitution has to be approved by the match referee. IPL is a tournament that accepts changes to make the tournament better. Hence, the management committee decided to apply this rule in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League. Australian batter Steve Smith was the first player to be concussed in the history of IPL. In IPL 2022, the fans witnessed a little different rule, but on the lines of concussion replacement termed as ‘retired out’. Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin from the Rajasthan Royals used the rule during a group stage match as he was called back to the pavilion despite not suffering any injury. 7. Decision Review System Rohit Sharma taking DRS. (Photo source: Twitter) With the on-field umpiring decisions being under immense scrutiny, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) gave a green signal to the Decision Review System in 2016 after heavy discussions under the roof. The decision to bring in the DRS system has proved to be a boon for the teams across the years. It must be noted that the BCCI was one of the boards which were against the DRS system being implemented in the international arena. After several discussions between International Cricket Council (ICC) and BCCI officials, the DRS system was put in place for matches played by India. Meanwhile, in IPL, each team gets two reviews in one inning. The reviews can be retained even if the decision does not go in their favor, but it has to be ‘umpire’s call’ meaning touch and go. The introduction of a review system in IPL has ensured that the game is played fairly. 6. Runout at non-striker’s end Ravi Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler (Photo Source: Twitter) Considered distasteful in the gentlemen’s sport, running out at the non-striker’s end is the method of striking the bails out from the stump before bowling when the batter is outside the white line at the other end. This method to inflict a dismissal is well within the rule of the game, but it has received criticism from all corners of the cricketing world. The first bowler to use the mode of dismissal was Indian veteran Vinoo Mankad against Australia in 1947. Hence, it sparked controversy during those days as well. It continues to be part of the same club even today. The rule was not included during the first four editions of IPL. However, it was included in the competition’s rules and regulations in IPL 2012. In IPL 2019, senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Rajasthan Royals Jos Buttler in an uncanny style and was criticized for his actions. 5. Covid-19 replacements Team India. (Photo Source: BCCI) Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, matches in the international and domestic circuit came to a halt for quite a time. However, as soon as things started getting back to normal and the matches resumed, the International Cricket Council (ICC) brought another rule in place. As per the new Covid-19 replacement rule, teams are allowed to replace players displaying symptoms of COVID-19 during a series or tournament. In line with concussion replacements, the match referee will approve the nearest like-for-like replacement. Apart from the international and domestic circuit, the rule was also applied in the toughest franchise-based league in the world after the nod from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Since then, several franchises have used the rule to replace the Covid hit players. 4. No use of Saliva Virat Kohli almost puts saliva (Photo Source: Twitter) Just like the Covid-19 replacement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned the use of saliva on the ball due to the coronavirus pandemic. Traditionally, the fielder applies saliva to one side of a ball to make it swing in mid-air. However, that practice came under sharp focus in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The decision did not go down well with the bowlers, especially the pacers as the practice is used to obtain reverse swing, particularly, with the the red ball. However, the top board did not stop the teams to use their sweat to shine the ball. Despite the ban, cricketers sometimes apply saliva to the ball mistakenly. As a result, the umpires were forced to change the cricket ball. Apart from the saliva ban, umpires now also sanitize the ball whenever it goes out of the cricket field after being struck for a maximum. The rule is still in place even after the pandemic reaches its ending stages. 3. IPL being conducted in two phases IPL Trophy. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) It was the very first time that an IPL season was conducted in two phases in 2021. The decision was taken after several Covid-19 cases were reported in the franchise camps. The remaining edition of IPL 2021 was played in Dubai and the edition was won by Chennai Super Kings. The IPL 2021 had to be relocated after several Covid-19 cases were detected in Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab King’s camp. Eventually, the two-time champions reached the final match of the tournament but lost the final match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). After being conducted in two phases in the previous edition, this year’s tournament was fully conducted in India. However, the Indian board decided to conduct all the group stage matches in Maharashtra and playoff stages in Kolkata and Gujarat. 2. IPL becoming 10 team tournament again Gujarat Titans. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced two teams for the IPL 2022 edition. Hence, IPL became a ten-team tournament again after 12 years. The new entrants that were introduced for IPL 2022 were Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). LSG had an excellent outing in their first edition. Under the leadership of KL Rahul, the new entrants reached the playoffs stage. The Supergiants had one of the most balanced bowling attacks in the tournament and their batting unit was also decent. LSG was knocked out of the tournament after getting defeated by RCB in the Eliminator match. The second new team GT shocked everyone with their excellent performance throughout the tournament. The new entrants finished right at the top of the points table during the group stage matches and were the first team to reach the finals as well. Under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, GT played some excellent cricket throughout the tournament 1. Introduction of Strategic Timeout Umpire signalling strategic time out (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The strategic timeout was introduced when IPL was held in South Africa due to elections in India. Strategic time-outs put the game on halt for 2.5 minutes and give both teams the time to plan their next move in the game and act according to the situation. In one game, there is a total of four time-outs. The fielding team can take its timeout during six to nine overs. On the other hand, the batting team has the option of taking it between 13 and 16 overs. In those 2.5 minutes, the main motive of the sponsors is to create as much revenue as possible. It is often seen that right after the strategic timeout, something is bound to whether fall of wickets or boundaries coming. The rule is still intact after its introduction in 2009 and some other leagues around the world have also opted to apply the rule in their respective tournaments.

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IPL 2022: 10 things that have changed since RR last won the inaugural tournament

Several changes have been done in IPL since its inception in 2008.

3. IPL being conducted in two phases

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