So this week I got curious about the IPL Fair Play Award after watching Chennai chase that target. Everybody talks about Orange Cap and Purple Cap winners, but hardly anyone explains how teams actually win this honor. So I went digging.
First thing I did was pull up the IPL website on my phone late at night. Scrolled past all the flashy videos until I found the rules section buried under player stats. Took me three coffees to stay awake through the legal jargon!
Here’s How Points Actually Work
- Umpire ratings after every match – They judge each team on stuff like arguing less, accepting decisions fast
- On-field behavior matters BIG time – No over-the-top celebrations when opponents mess up, no sledging
- Over rates get tracked automatically – Finish overs on time or lose points
Next morning I called my cricket-nerd friend Rohan. He laughed saying “Bro, no team actively chases this! It’s like being employee of the month – you behave decently and sometimes win by accident.” Made me realize why Rajasthan lost points last season when Ashwin argued that wide call for 5 minutes straight.
Tried mapping this to my Sunday league games later. Got absolutely roasted by teammates when I walked without waiting for umpire’s signal after edging behind. “This ain’t IPL fair play trophy chasing time!” they yelled. Point taken – context matters!
Turned out the 2023 winners were actually decided weeks before playoffs through secret umpire votes. Gujarat won by consistently bowling their overs quick and Kohli’s team lost points for slow over rates. The trophy ceremony was over so fast most fans missed it!
Funniest part? My whole “research mission” took longer than watching all GT matches combined. But hey, now I know that understated sportsmanship stuff gets rewarded more than dramatic catches. Might actually try walking next time I nick one… if teammates don’t murder me first!
