Playing conditions in the IPL 2024 rule book include allowances for two bouncers, two referrals, and no stop clock.

The 2024 IPL season will uphold the current domestic cricket playing condition of permitting bowlers two bouncers per over, signifying a significant departure from past seasons when only one short ball was allowed.

Earlier this year, the BCCI implemented the second bouncer rule in the playing conditions of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), an inter-state national T20 championship in the BCCI domestic calendar.

The Board has now opted to maintain this rule for the IPL as well.

For context, in T20 Internationals, the International Cricket Council (ICC) permits only one short ball, while two bouncers are allowed in Test and One Day International (ODI) competitions.

“It’s a fantastic move,” remarked Laxmipathy Balaji, a former India pacer and former bowling coach of the Chennai Super Kings, speaking to Cricpulse.

“It will be a valuable addition to the arsenal of fast bowlers and will provide bowlers, captains, and coaching staff with additional strategic options against specific batsmen.

It will also enhance the balance between bat and ball in the contest.”

Balaji emphasized that the second bouncer could become crucial, especially in the latter stages of a match.

“Bowlers often resort to yorkers in the death overs.

Now they have one more weapon.

With world-class fast bowlers participating in the IPL, it will be thrilling to witness the contests,” added Balaji.

In another notable playing condition, the BCCI will persist with the rule of checking for a catch while a referral is made for stumping.

Typically, stumping calls are reviewed by the on-field umpire’s referral.

This playing condition deviates from ICC regulations, but BCCI officials believe that not checking for a catch before a stumping would unfairly disadvantage the fielding side.

“There could be a situation where while checking for stumping, it may seem that the bat had touched the ball.

According to the ICC rule, the third umpire cannot dismiss the batsman.

That would be unjust.

Hence the BCCI has chosen to maintain the old rule,” explained a board official.

Teams will continue to have two referrals and will be permitted to review wides and no balls, as introduced last year.

However, there will be no stop clock rule in the IPL, a recent change in ICC playing conditions that has been permanently implemented in white-ball international games.