Does IPL need time-outs in the first place?

The brains behind the Indian Premier League have done something about the widespread criticism of the mid-innings strategic time-out being too long.

Now, the teams who had a 10-minute break after every 10 overs of the innings would have access to just five minutes per innings, which means four strategic breaks instead of the controversial two.

Notice the stickerless mineral water bottle as Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi speaks to the media during a news conference in Mumbai yesterday. PIC/RANE ASHISH

Time to think
"The bowling side will have an option of taking the first tactical 2.5-minute strategic time-out between the sixth and the eighth over helping them manoeuvre their game plan after the power play," IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, said.

The batting side would also be allotted a time-out between the 11th and 16th over to work out their game plan in the later half of the innings.

Former international umpire Piloo Reporter, who has umpired World Cup matches, didn't feel the need for a time-out in the first place. "In an innings that only lasts 85 minutes, I don't see the need to have any breaks. I don't think it is good for the game and should not be allowed," said Reporter, obviously a supporter of getting on with things in a game of cricket.

Even some of the cricketing greats would endorse his view. At a function yesterday, West Indies cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers, while relating an anecdote, mentioned how he walked up to his fellow batsman swiftly because he didn't want to give his opponents the impression that he was wasting time. Good players always think about wasting minimum time so it was not surprising to hear that from Sobers.

Meanwhile, Modi said that this decision was taken keeping in mind the practices followed by other major sporting bodies in the world like the NHL and the NBA.

However this reduction of interval would cut short the time period for advertisers and sponsors who aimed to enhance their brand promotion in every season of the IPL.