One of the many rules that will be making their debut at the 2024 Indian Premier League is the two-bouncer rule. This new rule’s inception in the T20 league comes after its successful implementation in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the domestic T20 competition of India.
Conventionally, in any format of national or international cricket a bowler is allowed to hit only one bouncer per over. This is a delivery where the bowl travels over the shoulder off the batter after pitching. If a bowler bowls a second bouncer, then that results in a no ball. This results in a no ball. A no ball is an illegal delivery which has to be re-bowled. Moreover, it concedes an extra run, and a free hit on the immediate next delivery. A free hit is one where the batter can hit runs freely and cannot be deemed out even if he or she is.
The new rule allows the bowler to bowl two bouncers. This rule has been seen by cricket pundits as a double-edged sword. A batter who is comfortable with short pitched deliveries would rather enjoy the prospect of facing two bouncers which they can easily hit through pull shots. However, the ones for whom the short pitched delivery is an Achilles heel, this rule comes as a boon for the bowler. It can act as a prospective dot ball or a wicket-taking ball.
The two bouncer rule, though a bit favorable for the bowlers, demands caution. An uncontrolled bouncer can be the bearer of extra runs. It can lead to the ball travelling over the wicket-keeper’s head which can result in a wide, and in the worst case scenario, an additional four runs.
The two bouncer rule’s future depends on the manner in which it will be received by the players in the seventeenth edition of the Indian Premier League.
