New BCCI Rules for 2024-25 Domestic Season: The 2024-25 Indian domestic cricket season kicks off with some significant changes in the rules, as announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). These updates aim to enhance the fairness, efficiency, and health standards of the game. Among the major amendments are how retired batters will be treated, the continuation of the saliva ban, and tweaks to boundary scoring and points allocation.
Let’s have a look into more details: New BCCI Rules for 2024-25 Domestic Season
Retired Batters Deemed Out
One of the most noteworthy changes concerns the treatment of batters retiring mid innings. According to the BCCI’s new directive, if a batter retires for any reason other than injury, illness, or unavoidable circumstances, they will now be deemed out immediately. Unlike previous seasons, where a batter could return to the crease with the opposing captain’s consent, this rule ensures that once a player retires voluntarily, they cannot come back to bat in that innings.
This change applies across all formats in domestic cricket, including multi-day matches like the Ranji Trophy and limited-over formats such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. It also extends to Super Over situations, making it a crucial rule for both captains and strategists to consider.
The rule aims to prevent strategic retirements, ensuring fair play and minimizing any potential misuse of retiring mid-innings to disrupt the game or gain an advantage.
Saliva Ban Remains in Place
In line with international standards, the BCCI has continued its ban on the use of saliva to shine the cricket ball. This rule, initially introduced as a health and safety measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, will remain in effect for the 2024-25 season.
If any team applies saliva to the ball, the umpires will enforce an immediate change of the ball, and the team responsible will face penalties. This strict stance is designed to maintain the integrity of the game and prevent any form of ball tampering while adhering to modern safety protocols.
Clarified Rules on Aborted Runs and Overthrows
The BCCI has also addressed some ambiguity regarding runs scored after batters abort a run. Under the updated rule, if the batters abort their run after crossing and a boundary is scored from an overthrow before they re cross, only the boundary (four runs) will be counted. This rule simplifies scoring in such situations, ensuring that only the boundary is awarded, rather than a combination of the run and the boundary.
This change aligns Indian domestic cricket with the international standards agreed upon during the ICC T20 World Cup, promoting consistency in how runs are awarded in similar scenarios across different levels of the game.
Revised Points Allocation in CK Nayudu Trophy
In the CK Nayudu Trophy (U-23 domestic competition), the BCCI has introduced a new points system for batting and bowling performances. Specifically, teams scoring over 400 runs in 100 overs will receive five batting points, but if the 400 run mark is crossed with penalty runs after 100 overs, the team will not receive the fifth batting point.
- Scenario 1: If a team is bowled out for 398 in 98 overs but receives five penalty runs while fielding, their total will rise to 403 in 98 overs, earning them five batting points.
- Scenario 2: If the same team scores 398 but takes 100.1 overs, their total will increase to 403 with penalty runs, but they will only receive four batting points for exceeding the 100 over threshold.
The BCCI’s rule changes for the 2024-25 domestic season signal a shift towards more fairness and clarity in the game. By enforcing stricter rules on mid-innings retirements, banning saliva use, clarifying scoring after aborted runs, and updating the points system in the CK Nayudu Trophy, the board is ensuring that Indian cricket remains competitive and aligned with international standards.
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FAQs
Can a batter return to the crease after retiring voluntarily?
No, under the new rules, once a batter retires voluntarily, they cannot return to bat, even with the opposing captain’s consent
