Over the years, cricket has survived because of the flexibility it has endorsed without losing its soul. From Test cricket to the new-age T20 cricket, the game has grown by leaps and bounds. New rules and regulations coupled with new techniques and skills have come into the game. As the game of cricket continues to honour the fast-paced modern world, players need to be on their toes to remain competitive throughout the course of the match.
Unlike earlier, fitness has become a prerequisite for any cricketer who wants to represent his nation in the international arena. With matches going down the wire and finishing off on the last ball, the T20 format of the game has made its place in the heart and minds of young fans across the world. Talking about T20 cricket, it has seeped a robust revolution since the past decade. From playing attacking and aggressive cricket with the bat to looking for quick fall of wickets with the ball, this latest trend has ushered a paradigm shift to the traditional nature of the game.
Therefore, plenty of new T20 rules and regulations have been established to advance the legitimacy of the short-format game. The T20 cricket rules remain interesting and enthralling which adds excitement to the cricket matches. Therefore, questions like what is T20 cricket rules & regulations are answered below in a simple and lucid manner.
What is T20 Cricket?
Fans wondering ‘what is T20 cricket?', it is a twenty-over format that is played between two teams of eleven players on each side. Generally, a T20 match time duration is not more than five hours. Played with the white ball, batsmen have traditionally dominated this format. With a clear mindest of playing shots, bowlers have the job to prove their skills in demanding circumstances.
Players who boast of muscle power and master the art of improvised shots are the most valuable players in this format. However, with a plethora of T20 leagues that continue to take center stage, a general trend suggests that stronger bowling line-ups have attained far greater success than batting powerhouses.
What is T20 cricket: Rules & Regulations
Like every other game, T20 cricket has also a basic set of rules and regulations which makes it different from other formats of the game. Here's a list of all the T20 rules and regulations:
1. The Free Hit
The Free Hit is considered one of the most innovative tools introduced in the T20 format of the game. The rule states that if the bowler bowls a no-ball, the batter gets ‘Free-hit' on the next ball. On the free hit, the batter cannot be ruled out except for the run-out. It is often seen that free-hit delivery is dispatched out of the ground by the batter for a boundary.
2. The 5-run penalties
Interestingly, the cost and the time duration of the T20 match are a matter of significance. In order to ensure that the matches complete on time without any hassle, umpires are in full capacity to take stringent actions against teams who are found wasting time.
So, if a team is found violating the codes, the opposition will be given 5 runs to their scoreboard and put the team in the position of strength. Also, 5 runs will be deducted if the batting team is found destroying the natural flow of the match.
3. 75-minute team limits
According to rules, 75 minutes is the time limit for an innings to finish before the other team steps into the cricket ground. What can be surprising to everyone is the fact that six runs bonus is given to the batting team if the bowling side succumbs to begin its twentieth over before their 75 minutes is up. Interestingly, this rule again aims to maintain the natural ebbs and flow of the Twenty20 game.
4. Bowling restrictions of Twenty20
This move has been apparently established to give batsmen an upper hand throughout the course of the match. The t20 rules allow only four overs can be bowled by a single bowler. Eventually, if a bowler is in his optimum form, the batsmen can survive his spell and opt for a massive batting show against another ordinary bowler.
After this rule was implemented, teams had to chalk out their right strategies to keep a couple of overs of their bowling superstars in the death overs of the innings.
5. Field Restrictions in T-20 overs – Powerplay Rules
The t20 powerplay rules allow only two fielders can stand outside the inner-30-yards in the first six overs. It gives a benefit to the batsmen to charge up and smash the ball in the air for their respective teams. Field restrictions have increased keeping in view of the batting-friendly order of the match. Batsmen can take their tough shots, rotate the strike, and keep moving the scoreboard. Interestingly, the t20 powerplay rules ensure that wickets also fall rapidly as high-risk taking shots fall under the safe hands of fielders.
6. 90-second rule for batsmen
After the fall of every wicket, the next batter is allowed a time limit of 90 seconds to reach the crease. However, failing to do so might lead to some serious actions. A batter can even be debarred from batting in that innings.
7. Super Over format of the game
Super over format is hailed as the most sacred to cricket fans all across the world. In a match that is declared a draw by an umpire, teams need to face off each other for a solitary over against one another. The team that is able to defeat the opponent is declared the winner of the match. Over the years, this method has become immensely popular among fans and experts of the game. As T20 cricket popularizes beyond the national boundary, Super over heroes is remembered by their respective fans for perpetuity.