Two Bouncers to be Allowed in IPL 2024: Report

In their bid to balance the contest between bat and ball, the next season of the IPL could reportedly see a rule change that will increase the limit of bouncer in an over to two.

As per the current rule, a bowler cannot bowl more than one bouncer and failure to do so results in it being called a no ball.

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According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the rule, which was trialled during this year’s Syed Musthaq Ali Trophy (India’s domestic T20 tournament), could come into effect from IPL 2024.

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India pacer Jaydev Unadkat welcomed the new rule, predicting it will give bowlers an ‘added advantage’ over batters.

“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 was quoted as saying by 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,” he added.

Unadkat, who has entered the IPL 2024 auction at a base price of Rs 50 lakh, says it will also give bowlers another option at the death overs besides yorker and slower deliveries.

“Also in the death overs, you have one more option. 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,” the 32-year-old said.