IPL Stays Ahead in Tech Adoption and Execution
As part of two DRS reviews in the IPL in 2023, it let teams to report wides and no-balls. The league was the first to establish over-the-waist no-balls using ball-tracking technology last year.
This season, the Smart Replay System—which made its debut in the IPL 2024—will be utilized to improve the speed and precision of decision-making.
Hawk-Eye Technology in 2025
Hawk-Eye technology will be used by the Indian Premier League (IPL) to call wide balls starting in 2025.
At a preseason meeting in Mumbai, the 10 team leaders were informed of the decision.
Additionally, head-high wides will be called using the state-of-the-art system, which represents a major breakthrough in the league’s use of technology for decision-making.
In the IPL 2024, head-high wides will now be measured using Hawk-Eye technology, which was previously used to measure over-the-waist no-balls.
- The technique measures the height of a ball as it passes the batter at the popping crease using ball-tracking equipment, according to ESPNcricinfo.
- Batter’s predetermined toe-to-head height when standing erect is then contrasted with this.
- The ball is deemed wide if its height is greater than the measured head height.
- The head heights of each player will be entered into a database, removing the need for subjective assessment from the selection process. An automated system will be used for all measurements.
- The IPL has also decided that the broad guideline, which is customarily blue, will henceforth follow the batter. For instance, the wide guideline changes and is used to determine a wide if a right-handed hitter advances one foot to the right outside of the off stump.
Robot Dog in IPL
With the introduction of a robotic dog that can walk, run, jump, and even stand on its hind legs like a real dog, this year’s IPL 2025 production has taken an interesting turn. A camera is installed on it as well. Danny Morrison introduced the robotic dog in a video broadcast that was broadcast via the official IPL X (formerly Twitter) account.
The robot dog engages with players from a number of teams, including the Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, in the film. Even a heart emoji is produced. The Tata IPL broadcast crew now includes this robotic dog.
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This comes up as sports broadcasting develops and gets better. The way we watch football, basketball, Formula One, and cricket contests is changing. Thanks to technological advancements like better cameras, sharper graphics, ball tracking, and higher quality film, sports coverage is more in-depth and engaging than ever.
The magazine did not, however, provide the robotic dog’s precise camera specifications. We looked at the video to gain a better understanding of this, and this is what we found.
If you pay great attention to the video, you’ll see that the artificial dog is interacting and playing with players like Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya. We don’t see any POV (point of view) images from the robotic dog’s camera until midway through the video.
Our observations show that it has a quite wide field of vision, similar to that of an action camera like a GoPro, which makes it appropriate for these kind of photos. As Hardik Pandya and Danny Morrison go about their usual pranks, the dog can be seen filming practice sessions in the nets. The camera mounted on the robot dog took these point-of-view pictures. It is unclear, though, what kind of footage it will be suitable for and how well the IPL broadcast crew will use it.
Tech Improvements in Umpiring
Technological developments have also made umpiring decisions far more accurate and dependable. Among the noteworthy developments are:
- By adding reviews for wide balls and no-balls, the Decision Review System (DRS) has been extended to reduce umpiring errors and ensure a more level playing field. By reducing incorrect calls in a fast-paced competition, this extension aims to improve match integrity.
- Ball Tracking and Snickometer: To describe the ball’s trajectory and determine whether or not the ball made contact with the bat, the DRS uses instruments like ball tracking and the Snickometer. Umpires can make precise LBW and edge detection calls with the aid of these technology.
Ultra-Edge: This technology helps in edge detection by determining if a ball touched the bat’s edge prior to being caught.
Smart Bails: By illuminating when they come into touch with the ball, smart bails help umpires make more accurate run-out judgments.
Tech Improvements in Fan Engagement and Experience
The IPL 2025 is planned to use a variety of technological advancements to give viewers a better viewing experience:
Features of AR and VR: Fans may watch games from a number of views, including those of the players, thanks to Augmented Reality (AR). Through the display of 360-degree videos and player data, virtual reality (VR) headsets offer an immersive viewing experience.
AI-Powered Customization: By providing team-specific content, real-time polls, and interactive elements, AI revolutionizes the fan experience. In order to keep fans interested in the league, they are also informed about their favorite players.
Digital Collectibles and NFTs: To improve their immersive and interactive IPL experience, fans can buy and trade IPL-related digital goods and NFTs.
Smart Stadiums: Modern stadiums offer immersive experiences that boost crowd excitement with AI-generated highlights, AR overlays, and real-time analytics.
The IPL 2025 is more than just another season thanks to the integration of these technical advancements; it is a step towards the next era of cricket, offering teams and fans a viewing and playing experience that is unmatched.