The Indian T20 league is mulling over some dynamic changes to make the 2020 season more exciting. They plan to introduce a ‘power player’ and a separate umpire only to check if bowlers have overstepped the crease.
The latter move seems valid, considering the several umpiring gaffes regarding no-balls last season. MS Dhoni infamously walked on to the field after being dismissed when umpire Umang Gandhi retracted his original decision of signalling a no-ball for height in the match between the Chennai-based franchise and Rajasthan.
The cricket World Cup held earlier this year also saw some poor umpiring decisions when it came to no-balls, so the move seems justified in lieu of the increased scrutiny on umpires.
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However, the other change is generating all the buzz. The BCCI has proposed the concept of a ‘power player’- effectively someone not on the field who can be brought in at the fall of a wicket or at the end of an over - according to the game situation.
“Imagine you need 20 runs off the last six balls and you have Andre Russell sitting in the dug-out as he wasn’t a hundred per cent and wasn’t part of the original XI. But now, he can just walk in and go slam-bang and win you the game,” a BCCI official told IANS.
The move is being thought of to increase the excitement and ensure fans remain engaged even more through the game. It may also lead to further specialists emerging in cricket.
Though nothing has been made concrete yet, the BCCI may implement the rule at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which starts on Friday.
Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Sajjad Hussain
