The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to introduce HawkEye ball-tracking technology to improve the accuracy of wide-ball decisions starting from the 2025 season. This decision was finalized during the captains' meeting in Mumbai, ahead of the tournament’s opening match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata.

“HawkEye and ball tracking will be used to determine wides based on height and those outside the off-stump," a source informed PTI.

While ball-tracking has long been a staple for LBW decisions, HawkEye was first integrated into the IPL last year to assess waist-high no-balls. The system underwent years of testing, during which the waist height of all players was measured. Using this data, combined with ball-tracking, HawkEye helped determine whether a ball's trajectory exceeded waist height, even if a batter made contact.

In 2023, no-balls and wides were both included in the Decision Review System (DRS), allowing players to challenge these calls. However, while technology improved no-ball adjudication, wide-ball decisions still relied on slow-motion replays, requiring third umpires to analyze a batter’s movement and the ball’s proximity to the tramline. This manual process led to inconsistencies and slowed down play.

The move to automate wide-ball tracking has sparked debate among cricketing experts. Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar criticized the review process for wides and bouncers, arguing that it disrupts the game’s flow.

“The referrals for wides and bouncers should be scrapped because they disrupt the rhythm of the match. Unlike an incorrect out or not-out decision, they don’t significantly impact the game. Their removal is necessary,” he wrote in his Sportstar column.

With HawkEye set to take over wide-ball calls, IPL 2025 could mark a significant shift in the league’s approach to umpiring and technology integration.