Ahead of the upcoming IPL 2024 player auction, a new rule has been introduced. Against the only one bouncer allowed in one over in the shortest format of the game. In Tests and ODIs, two bouncers are allowed. However, after testing the same during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023-24, the rule has been introduced in the tournament. Notably, the same rule is yet to be implemented at the highest level and in other leagues.
Apart from this, the tournament saw the introduction of the impact player rule. The same was seen during the SMAT 2023-24. This has seen the importance of all-rounders being diminished. Just like the two-bouncer rule, the impact player is yet to be introduced at the highest level.
I do feel two bouncers aN over is very useful: Jaydev Unadkat
“I do feel two bouncers an over is very much useful, and I feel it’s one of those things which gives the bowler an added advantage over batsmen,” Unadkat told ESPNcricinfo. “Because, for example, if I bowl a slower bouncer… the batsman in the previous case is sure that there’s no more bouncer coming. In this case, even if you bowl one slower bouncer in the first half of the over, you can still use one more [in the over]. Someone who is weak against bouncers will have to be better at it and then it will give the bowler one more weapon in their armoury. So, I feel it’s a very small change with a huge impact and as a bowler I feel it’s very important to have that rule.”
“Also in the death overs, you have one more option,” he said. “So, it was becoming more of yorker-oriented [bowling] in death overs for fast bowlers. Not it can be yorker, slower ball and bouncers because of two bouncers an over. Even if you don’t bowl the second bouncer, the batsman still has that expectation that the bowler might bowl the second bouncer.”
