IPL: Will DRS be Debated in IPL 2022?

This year's Indian Premier League will be different from the previous editions. It will have ten teams battling it out with two new franchises - Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans and KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants in the arena.

In addition, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced major alterations in the rules surrounding the Decision Review System (DRS) and sanctions for breaking the bio-bubble norms. With regard to the former, the number of reviews allowed to each team per game differs from format to format. Since it is a new addition to the IPL this year, there is a level of uncertainty that precedes its implementation. So is the league ready to shake up its structure? Let's find out!

The Decision Review System

Over the last few years, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been trying to popularize the practice of the DRS. According to the norm, either the batting or fielding team can refer the decision of the field umpire to the 3rd umpire. After IPL 2021, the ICC decided to use the DRS for the first time in the history of the Men's Twenty20 World Cup. The official statement declared that in every innings, both the teams will get two chances of review under DRS.

Usually, in T20 matches, a team is offered one review in an innings, but the Covid-19 entailed the absence of experienced umpires. Many matches lacked the expertise granted by skilled umpires which is why the ICC in June 2021 chose to increase one review in each format of cricket. Hence, there will be two reviews given to each team in a single IPL match.

New Rules Issued by BCCI

According to the new rules issued by BCCI, teams would be able to take two DRS referrals per innings. The BCCI has communicated the Playing Conditions to all the franchises which include the modification in the number of DRS referrals granted. Furthermore, the team which is positioned higher in the standings will be declared as winners when the super over or super overs fail to determine the result. The new rule issued by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) even lets the new batter take the strike if the last batter was dismissed through a catch.

Meanwhile, BCCI will reschedule matches if the participating teams don't have 12 players available each. Another rule recommended by the MCC states that saliva won't be allowed to shine the ball. It was initially created due to the rise in Covid-19 cases, but has nevertheless become permanent. Since new rules designed during the pandemic have stayed on, we believe that the new DRS rule of permitting two referrals will not be argued. Hence, the league is slated to kick off with the aforementioned changes on 26 March as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) square off at Wankhede.