The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season will witness a new technology in the form of Smart Replay System. The Smart Replay System is one of the couple of new rules introduced this IPL season, with the other being that the bowlers will now be able to bowl two bouncers in an over.
The Smart Replay System is said to help umpires in making quick and accurate decisions, but how does that work? We explain:
Smart Replay System explained
As mentioned earlier, quick and accurate decisions will be made during the Smart Replay System. In this system, the role of the TV broadcast director will be completely eliminated. Earlier, the TV broadcast director used to act as a mediator between the TV umpire and the Hawk-Eye system operator.
Under the new system, the TV umpire will directly receive images from the two Hawk-Eye operators, that are captured from eight high-speed cameras that will be placed on the ground. This even includes split-screen views so that will enable in making prompt decisions. Additionally, the operators will be seated in the same room as the TV umpire.
IPL 2024 | Teams, venues, fixtures, live streaming and everything you need to know
This rule will be useful during an instance of an overthrow. For example supposing the fielder throws the ball towards the stump, but that eventually results in an overthrow. The batters tend to take quick singles or doubles.
Under the Smart Replay System, it can now be determined if the batters crossed each other during an overthrow. The high-speed cameras at the ground will capture moments of that accurate time when the fielder released the ball, as well as the batters’ position.
Those images are then sent to the TV umpire for reviewing, who eventually takes the final call after consultation with the Hawk-Eye operators.
The IPL 2024 season gets underway in Chepauk on Friday with a game between defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).