In a bid to level the playing field between bat and ball, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season is set to allow the bowlers to bowl two bouncers in an over.
The tweak in the IPL Playing Conditions comes after the two-bouncer per over rule was trialed during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023-24 – India's domestic T20 tournament.
It is worth noting here that the bowlers have been allowed to bowl just one bouncer per over so far, with any other delivery that is going above the shoulder height deemed a no-ball. Now, the bowlers can unleash two balls that can bounce above the shoulder of a batter but it has to be within the reach of the batter so that it isn't called a wide.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, India pacer Jaydev Unadkat welcomed this change and said, “I do feel two bouncers an over is very much useful, and I feel it’ one of those things which gives the bowler an added advantage over the batters.”
“Someone who I weak against bouncers will have to be better at it and then it will give the bowler one more weapon in their armoury. So, I feel it’s a very small change with a huge impact and as a bowler I feel it’s very important to have that rule,” he added.
The Impact Player rule, which was introduced in IPL 2023, will remain in place in the next edition as well.
Under this rule, each team can name as many as four substitute players along with their playing XI at the toss. One of them can replace a member from the original XI during the match and the player will be called Impact Player.
The IPL 2024 auction is all set to take place in Dubai on December 19, while the tournament window is from March 22 till the end of May with the exact dates yet to be finalised due to the upcoming elections in India.