The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to integrate cutting-edge Hawk-Eye technology to adjudicate off-side and head-high wides in the 2025 season. The decision, formally approved on Thursday, was conveyed to all ten franchise captains during a crucial meeting in Mumbai. With the tournament kicking off on March 22, the move is expected to remove subjectivity from wide ball decisions, ensuring greater accuracy and consistency. This technological leap follows the successful implementation of ball-tracking for over-the-waist no-balls in IPL 2024. The same system will now determine whether deliveries soaring over a batter’s head should be deemed wide. The Hawk-Eye mechanism will assess the ball’s trajectory at the popping crease and compare it with the pre-recorded head height of the batter in an upright stance. If the ball crosses this threshold, it will automatically be classified as a wide, eliminating the need for on-field judgment. To streamline the process, player head heights will be stored in a centralized database, allowing for automated and error-free assessments. This ensures that bowlers, batters, and match officials operate under a uniform and transparent system, reducing contentious calls in high-stakes matches. Read also: IPL 2025: Seven New Indian Umpires to Officiate This Season Dynamic wide guideline for batters’ movement The off-side wide rule is also undergoing a transformation. Unlike previous seasons where the guideline remained static, it will now adjust dynamically based on the batter’s lateral movement. If a right-handed batter shuffles a foot outside off-stump, the wide marker—traditionally depicted in blue—will shift accordingly. This adaptation eliminates the subjective nature of wide-ball calls, making the rule more batter-centric. Hawk-Eye’s automated measurement system will track the batter’s movement and realign the wide marker instantaneously. The TV umpire, equipped with real-time visuals, will determine whether a delivery breaches the adjusted guideline. However, these measurements will remain exclusive to match officials and will not be broadcasted on television. The return crease will stay fixed, and the revised system will not apply to leg-side wides. This innovation cements IPL’s status as a pioneer in cricketing technology. From introducing DRS for wides and no-balls in 2023 to deploying Smart Replay Systems last season, IPL continues to refine its decision-making framework. The 2025 edition promises enhanced fairness, where precision triumphs over ambiguity.