5 rule changes that have taken place since the start of the IPL

Sustainability is all about survival, survival is all about adapting, adapting is all about being aware of what is changing and then reacting.

Such is life and such is cricket. One cannot be immune to changes and then hope for survival. In order to be feasible and in order to be lucrative, any brand has to keep evolving according to the demands, and for all the lip-service, cricket is not just a game, it is a brand, and according to the demands, it has to undergo changes.

Back in 2008, when the Indian Premier League announced its grand arrival, cricket took a decisive turn and that is why we take a look at five significant rule changes that have taken place ever since this disruptive force hit the game.

#5 Scrapping the runner rule

Allowing the use of runners has been an integral part of cricket for more than two centuries but the ICC decided to do away with the system back in 2011 to prevent any ambiguities and players faking injuries to take undue advantage of the law.

This led to people doubting the sanctity of the new rule, but it also found many backers, namely in Michael Clarke, who was the captain of the Australian team then.

This rule has since remained the same and batsmen are not allowed the use of any external help even if they suffer any injury or cramps during the course of the match.

#4 Use of two white balls from either end

In order to spruce up the ODI format, the ICC also introduced the use of two new white balls from either end.

While this idea was not new to cricket as it was used during the ICC World Cup in 1992, it came into effect from 2011 to allow the bowlers to get the new balls to swing for a longer period of time.

Also, it allowed the batsmen to sight the ball better as previously there were problems sighting the white ball as it got old and ragged.

Although reverse swing was the casualty in the process, this new rule has not changed ever since and has allowed the bowlers to utilize the two new balls to get a conventional swing for a much longer time.

#3 Decision Review System

This particular system was introduced to weed out howlers from the game and it was first utilized in the 2008 Test series between India and Sri Lanka.

However, BCCI was the last board to adopt the system, the review system has revolutionized the game in many ways.

The main elements that have been used are television replays which use the ball-tracking technology which tracks the path of the ball, right from pitching on the wicket to actually hitting the stumps. Also, microphones which have been used by the Snickometer and the ultredge system has been used the pick up faint nicks which the ball might take while passing the bat.

Although there have been changes to this rule also, DRS has brought a better sense of parity to the game of cricket.

It will now be used in this year’s IPL.

#2 Tweaking powerplays in ODIs

Back in 2011, the ICC ratified taking the bowling and batting powerplay between the 16th and 40th over. However, this allowed the batsmen to run wild and scores saw an unprecedented jump.

This forced ICC’s hand and they then altered playing conditions once again.

While two fielders were allowed outside the 30-yard circle in the first 10 overs, four fielders were allowed to station outside the circle.

To provide more cushion to the bowlers, as many as five fielders were allowed to protect the boundaries during the final 10 overs which have always been the designated slog overs.

#1 Red card for player misbehaviour

In March 2017, the ICC empowered the on-field umpires to send off players owing to serious misbehaviour on the field.

"We felt the time had come to introduce sanctions for poor player behaviour and research told us that a growing number of umpires at the grassroots level were leaving the game because of it," John Stephenson, the MCC’s head of cricket, was as quoted by PTI.

"Hopefully these sanctions will give them more confidence to handle disciplinary issues efficiently, whilst providing a deterrent to the players," added Stephenson.

The players will also accumulate demerit points for several breaches of the protocol on the field.