8 runs for 85-metre six? Things that could change the dynamics of IPL & International cricket

The Decision Review System (DRS) made a tremendous impact in its debut season in the IPL 2018. The BCCI's decision to introduce the DRS has been welcomed by the players and has altered the course of numerous matches in the recently-concluded T20 extravaganza.

The IPL, over the years, has seen various innovations such as the Spidercam, umpire vision cameras, LED stumps, miked-up players to add more spice to the action in the middle. Here are a few things which could further engage the viewers and cricketers in making the game even more entertaining.

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8 runs for 85-metre sixes and 10 runs for 100-metre sixes

Remember Shahid Afridi smashing 12 runs in one ball in an exhibition match played at an indoor stadium! Why not have such a rule in the IPL or in T20Is?

Former Aussie batsman Dean Jones too voiced his opinion stating that he would love to see eight runs being awarded when a batsman hits the ball over 85 metres.

"The only innovation I’d like to see is that we are very good with technology, so every six hit over 85 metres should be an eight," he stated recently.

When a batsman knows he can get 8 runs or 10 runs in a ball, then the match is certainly not over till the last ball is actually bowled! How many times has ABD hit the ball out of the ground for six runs? Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, MS Dhoni, Kieron Pollard... these guys can be lethal. It's a reward for the risk a batsman takes. ABD shuffles across and deposits the ball out of the ground, while a tail-ender top-edges a ball and both get the same six runs. Isn't it a touch unfair?

While the boundaries, most of them being 60-65m, are small in most venues, this rule would make it even more interesting for the viewers and the players as well. One ball, 10 to win, it's game on and it's edge of the seat stuff.

If this rule comes on board, then we would be talking about the possibilities of an 8-ball fifty or a 15-ball 100!

More bouncers, please!

The boundaries are short, pitches are flat, many batsmen are always on 360-degree mode armed with modified bats, the wide line to belongs to the umpire, free hits on offer, helmets on, thigh pads, inner thigh guards and what not? The game is loaded in favour of the batsmen. And the ball is still the same old five and a half ounce.

Bowlers can't bowl more than one bouncer in T20s and two in ODIs. Batsmen know there can't be more than that and the umpires are stringent on those calls. How about increasing the bouncer count per over? Won't that make things a bit better for quick bowlers? Not all can be as crafty as Bhuvneshwar Kumar in executing the knuckleball.

The bowler can slip in that extra bouncer and a few wide Yorkers and can hope to get away, at least just hope.

Line call technology for umpires

The spotlight this IPL has been more on the umpires for all the wrong reasons. When an umpire warned a bowler for running on the danger area, a commentator on air stated that given the umpires' blunders this season they need to focus more on the line calls and other aspects rather than worry about the danger area, which in no way would affect the nature of the pitch given it's a T20 match.

That raises a question. Like tennis, isn't there a way to provide a sensor or Hawkeye line call technology of sorts to the umpires when no part of the bowler's foot is behind the line? Because the line always belongs to the umpire.

However, there are a few practical problems which technocrats would face. There are quite a few bowlers who have their heel lifted behind the line while delivering and it's a legal delivery. How would you tackle that? What about the cost?

Despite all these issues, if technology can have a say on the no-ball calls, then the umpires can have certainly their chin up as the bowler runs in.

How about an IPL Star XI Vs IPL Champions match?

Andrew Tye, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, AB de Villiers, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, Kane Williamson... these guys were great but their teams had lost out in the initial phase itself.

The cricketing fraternity saw Rahul and Pant with a microphone in hand rather than a willow when CSK and SRH played this IPL final.

Imagine Dhoni's men in yellow taking on an IPL star XI led by Virat Kohli. That would be some contest. The best team of the tournament taking on the best individuals of the tournament as a group in a high-voltage contest would be an ideal way to end a season of IPL.

Fans can have the opportunity of witnessing their favourite players from various franchises out on the field in one evening. If it happens, it'll certainly be a good contest and one that fans would enjoy.