IPL 2024: How the two bouncer an over rule empowers overseas quicks against subcontinent-bred batsmen | Ipl News

The two-bouncer rule is almost like a new weapon. Bowlers would be less predictable; batsmen would have more decisions to make. The biggest takeaway, former India seamer Irfan Pathan observes, is that it could make quick bowlers deadlier against domestic batsmen. “I feel that all the overseas bowlers and India bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, or those who have decent speed will take advantage against Indian domestic batters, especially those who are new in the team,” he tells The Indian Express.
The short ball and the bouncers have often left Indian batsmen (capped and uncapped) uncomfortable. While they have had the luxury of seeing it in the past, they could not afford to see off both bouncers. T20 doesn’t give much space to dot balls. With most teams having a good overseas pacer in their ranks, it would also be interesting to see the match-ups between them and Indian batsmen.
“Batsman will take some time and I think bowlers will use this to their advantage. But every IPL team has a side-arm bowler and batsman do practice for quick deliveries.” Pathan says.

Second-guessing the bowlers’ length too would be more difficult. The chances of fast bowlers being predictable with their lengths also reduces. For instance, the yorker, those aimed at the stumps as well as wide ones, is the stock ball at the death. But batsmen tend to premeditate and be in the position to play the scoops and reverse-scoops. That would be more difficult now. Moreover for a bowler like Bumrah, renowned for yorkers, his biggest bluff could be the bouncer.
The BCCI had experimented the rule in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this year, and the feedback was largely positive. Former India seamer and now bowling coach of Tamil Nadu, L Balaji, had a ringside view of what this brought to the table. “At Dehradun, we played on placid pitches. But with two bouncers, there was a new pathway to be defensive. Moreover, with the old ball as a fast bowler you tend to be a bit defensive. If you are not confident in executing yorkers, then length balls is what pacers bank on. But with two bouncers, you could see the fast bowlers wanting to dictate the play,” Balaji explains to The Indian Express.
At the IPL, where a majority of the matches are played in the night, and dew being a constant factor across venues, bowling second had been a disadvantage. With the margin of error for yorkers being high, pacers have banked on slower ones and variations in length. But two bouncers will change that aspect, albeit when used judiciously. “When you have two bouncers, you are bound to keep the batsman guessing. It is important how you use them. You have to spread it out — you can use one straightaway and another at the back end of the over. When you have that added luxury, you can construct an over to your plans and have more chances of making it work. The yorker, despite all the damage it can cause to a batsman, is difficult to execute. Wet ball, dew and the chances of it ending up as a full-toss will implant doubts. But with a bouncer, you will always have the confidence,” says Balaji, who has been the bowling coach of Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, said.
‘Double-edged sword’
Bouncers are not totally risk-proof though. With the boundaries being on the shorter side, and horizontal-batted shots tend to travel the dance. Because of the speed factor, even miscued pull shots or top-edges could end up travelling the dance. “A bouncer will be like a double sword. For example a bowler is defending 12 runs, he bowls a bouncer, the ball takes an edge behind, and it can go for four or six. It will be a risk but at the same time it could be a weapon too. It would surely be a weapon for those who will have speed, who can bowl 135 kmph. He will keep batsmen in check. Batsman will also think ‘ke ab aaya short ball? (when will the short ball arrive?) There could be a possibility that a fast bowler does not use it all because it will depend on the condition too in the ground,” Pathan says.

Having remained a game where batsmen set the pace, Balaji says bowlers can make amends now. “It empowers the bowlers,” he says. “For a bowler, constructing a spell is paramount. In T20s, there is no space for it. So they break into constructing it over–over. They don’t need to go on the defensive, they can be attacking as well. And the middle-overs which are traditionally marked for spinners, will also see pacers coming in even if a match-up allows you or not. Which is why I feel this rule will definitely empower the bowlers,” Balaji adds. How bowlers exploit the rule to their advantage and how batsmen counter it could be a defining feature of the season.