One issue at a time: BCCI limits scope of IPL DRS reviews

The BCCI has issued new instructions to IPL teams on Decision Review System (DRS) usage, making it clear that there will be no automatic secondary checks during a review. The review will now be confined only to the specific point raised on field, and any additional aspect will be examined only if the other side separately opts for a review within the allowed time.Under this system, if the fielding side reviews an appeal for caught-behind, the third umpire will not independently check other factors such as wides. Those will be looked at only if the batting side takes its own review.As per a Cricbuzz report, BCCI officials presented visual examples to franchises to explain how the rule will work under match conditions. These included scenarios involving catches and wides to set clarity around the playing conditions.In one example shown to teams, a bowler appeals for caught-behind after a short delivery. The on-field umpire rejects the appeal, and the bowling side takes a review. The replays show no bat involved, but officials clarified that the third umpire will not automatically check whether the ball was a wide for height. That point will be reviewed only if the batting side uses a separate review within 15 seconds.The batting side will not get extra time after seeing replays from the first review. The BCCI says the batting side already has enough information about the delivery height to decide within the existing time limit.These rules were explained to franchises by BCCI head of match referees Javagal Srinath and umpires head Nitin Menon during a recent captains’ meeting.Innings Timer and 60-second clockA new innings timer will now appear on the broadcast scoreboard from the third ball of each innings and after every over. A 60-second countdown will also be shown on the big screen at the end of each over.Fielding teams will get up to two warnings if the bowler is not ready to start the run-up before the timer ends. A third violation will lead to a penalty of five runs to the batting side.Concussion replacementsFor head or neck injuries, teams will be allowed to name a like-for-like replacement from their squad of substitutes. If a wicketkeeper suffers a concussion, a replacement can be brought in from the squad. If a team has already used four overseas players and one of them suffers a concussion, the replacement must come from Indian substitutes.Post-toss team sheetsTeam sheets will now be exchanged only after the toss. Captains will carry separate sheets for batting and bowling XIs. After the toss result, they will submit final team sheets to the match referee. Team managers will then submit remaining copies to the assistant venue manager and exchange sheets between teams.