IPL 2025: Major rule changes by BCCI gets mixed responses from cricket fans

The Indian cricket fans and followers are all ready to roar with new energy and groove to new team songs as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is all set to begin on March 22, 2025 with the first match being between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, just a few days prior to the beginning of one of the most famous leagues of Indian cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced a few more changes to the existing rules. The cricket fanatics all over social media have mixed reactions to these changes with some being excited and others, not so much. Here are the top changes that have been introduced for IPL2025 and how the netizens have been reacting to them.
Bowlers will once again be allowed to use saliva on the ball in IPL 2025 which will help in maintaining the condition of the ball. The reason bowlers usually apply saliva to the balls is to add a layer of smoothness to one surface while keeping the other rough. This helps fast bowlers and spinners in making the ball swing. Netizens seem to be agreeing with the happiness of the bowlers in this new ban lift with hilarious tweets such as:


This new rule also seems to be favouring the players. The ‘Second Ball’ rule allows players to play with a new second ball after the umpire has assessed the condition of the first ball after the 11th over of the second innings. This law is only applicable for night matches and depends on whether the first ball has been hampered by dew or not. This marks significant aid for bowlers as previously they had to ball the entire match with one ball while grappling with the effects of dew on it which affected the ball’s grip. Cricketer Mohammad Kaif also reacted to the new rule:

Check out these tweets on the second ball rule, P.S. people are not happy:


The impact player rule of IPL 2025 which was introduced in 2023 will not be changed. This rule allows teams to substitute one player with another in a match, providing the new players with chances to showcase their talent which they otherwise may not. The no-change policy assumed by BCCI on this rule has received mixed reactions on social media.

In IPL 2025, the Hawk-Eye technology will be used to adjudicate wides outside the off stump and off the batter’s head. This will help umpires in making accurate decisions during matches. This technology will measure the ball's height as it passes the batter and compare it to the batter's recorded head height. The ball will be considered wide if it is higher than the batter's head.