IPL 2025 Introduces ‘Second Ball’ Rule to Tackle Dew Factor in Night Matches

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has continuously changed over the years with new rules as a way to promote the outcome of a better match. In IPL 2025, there will be an important new rule introduced to the tournament named as the ‘Second Ball’ rule.

The purpose of this rule is to mitigate the effects of the excessive amount of dew which is one of the biggest challenges of playing at night. Dew diminishes the grip the bowlers have on the ball, therefore losing control of their action and creating a large advantage for the batters especially while chasing. Therefore, the IPL governing body agreed to the addition of a fresh ball in the second innings under the appropriate conditions, to create more parity.

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According to the new regulation, from the 11th over into the second innings onwards, on-field umpires will assess the state of the ball. If it is evaluated that the dew has affected the ball to the extent that it is impacting grip and condition, the bowling team is permitted to claim a new ball. This is only permissible in night matches though and does not apply to afternoon fixtures.

This new rule represents another tactical step in bringing added dynamism to the IPL match format and providing for a fairer competition, further underscoring the Tournament’s commitment to evolving the game of cricket.