The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to get underway on March 22. And a fresh media report confirms that the tournament is all set to introduce a smart replay system for quicker and more accurate reviews. The entire idea is to increase the speed and accuracy of the decision making process this season onwards as there will be more split screens and better frame rates. While there has been no official confirmation on the same, a report carried by ESPNCricinfo has confirmed the same.
As per a carried by the aforementioned sports news website, the Smart Replay system will see the TV umpire receive direct inputs from the Hawk-Eye operators who will be sitting in the same room to help them with the images captured by eight Hawk-Eye high-speed cameras all around the venue. In what will be a major difference from the previous technology, TV director will no longer be involved in the communication between the third umpire and the Hawk-eye operator.
Smart Review System In IPL Expected To Speed Up Speed Of Play
Meanwhile, the said report also confirms that the Smart Replay System will allow the TV umpire to have more visual inputs than was previous on display to arrive at a decision, which includes split-screen images. An example cited in the report suggests that while previously the broadcaster was not able to give a split-screen view of a fielder's hands and feet at the same moment when the ball was caught mid-air during a cathc, now it would be possible to make it as clear as possible whether or not the feet or any part of the fielder's body touched the boundary rope.
While the Smart Review System will allow visuals of the exact moment when the fielder released the throw and the position of the batters at that point in time, it will help with stumping decisions as well as provide more clarity in the case of a catches taken inches off the ground. The Smart Review System is also expected to speed up the pace of the game and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) even conducted a 2-day workshop on the new system with about 15 umpires, including both Indian and overseas professionals, set to use the same in the seventeenth edition of the T20 tournament.