As the new domestic cricket season in India begins on Friday (October 11) with the Ranji Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced a few significant rule changes for the upcoming matches.
One of the most notable changes involves batters retiring. According to the BCCI’s new rule, if a batter retires for any reason other than injury or illness, they will be considered out immediately. This means the batter cannot return to the innings, even if the opposing captain agrees. The BCCI clarified this with the following statement: “If a batter retires for any reason other than injury, illness, or unavoidable cause, they will be dismissed immediately and cannot return to bat.”
This new rule will apply to all domestic multi-day and limited-over matches, including Super Over situations.
On the bowling side, if a team applies saliva to the ball, the ball must be changed immediately, and penalties will be imposed. This further enforces the ban on saliva, which was initially introduced as a health measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, the BCCI has adjusted the rule on aborted runs. If the batters decide to abort a run after crossing and an overthrow leads to a boundary, only the boundary (four runs) will be counted. This change aligns with the agreement made during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
The BCCI has also clarified points allocation for the CK Nayudu competition. Two scenarios were outlined:
- Scenario 1: If Team A is all out for 398 in 98 overs and receives 5 penalty runs while fielding, their total becomes 403, and they will receive 5 batting points.
- Scenario 2: If Team A is all out for 398 in 100.1 overs and receives 5 penalty runs while fielding, their total becomes 403, but they will not receive the 5th batting point due to the overs taken.
These changes reflect the BCCI’s efforts to modernize and streamline playing conditions, ensuring consistency with international standards while addressing specific domestic scenarios.
Check Also: India defeat Bangladesh in 1st T20 to go up 1-0