NEW DELHI: In its eleventh season, the Indian Premier League will finally feature the Decision Review System (DRS), which is already used in the Twenty20 Internationals.
From the 2018 season-opener on April 7, each team will get one review per innings, and the third umpire will have access to both ball-tracking and Ultra Edge.
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) was the first domestic T20 tournament to use the DRS during the play-off stages of the 2017 season.
“Yes, this idea has been going around for many years,” said IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla at a media conference Wednesday, confirming that the TV replay system will be utilised if a team challenges an umpiring decision.
Shukla was speaking to the media after announcing that the IPL had inked a three-year deal with Tata Nexon as its official partner.
4 other changes that will happen in IPL 2018 (Courtesy Financial Express):
Dual Jersey: The teams will have two jerseys now — home and away — for the matches. Each team plays 14 matches out of which seven are home while the other seven are away. Now, teams can wear one jersey for their home matches while the other one will be used for away fixtures. It is similar to what fans have seen in football. The first time a team did this was Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016. RCB also has unveiled their away jersey which is green in colour.
Mid-season transfer: The rule is applicable for uncapped and overseas players while the capped players have been excluded. According to this new rule, uncapped players will be available for transfer after the 25th match just like in football. Two teams can negotiate and buy their desired players. However, only foreign players who have played two or fewer matches will be eligible for the transfer.
Match Timings: The broadcaster had recommended that the second match of the day start at 7 pm instead of the earlier 8 pm, while pushing 4 pm match to a 5.30 pm start. However, a section of franchises are not happy with the decision as they claim that the timing will have an effect on their viewership.
Virtual Reality Technology: It is a revolutionary steps that promises to take cricket to another level. The introduction of VR technology will enable viewers to feel the real experience of the IPL. VRT cameras will be put at the stadium to provide a better experience for viewers at home, office etc. All they have to do is visit Hotstar and put on their VR box.
