The Indian Premier League, which was established by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 2008 after India won the T20 World Cup in 2007, is one of the most cash-rich sports leagues in the world. From players being offered contracts worth lakhs to crores, to sponsors paying the BCCI thousands of crores, everything about the tournament is huge sums of money.
The IPL’s brand value was estimated at $11 billion in 2022. In 2023, it crossed $10 billion in valuation. The IPL’s media rights deals are a major source of its financial success.
Interestingly, even the stumps used in the IPL are super expensive. Here’s everything you need to know about the stumps used in the tournament.
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Stumps Used in the IPL
Before we talk about the stumps used in the IPL, let us understand what stumps are. Cricket stumps are three vertical posts that stand at each end of a cricket pitch. They are part of the wicket, which includes the stumps and two bails resting on top.
- Batters aim to hit the ball and run between the wickets, and the stumps mark where they run to. Bowlers, on the other hand, try to hit the stumps with the ball to dismiss batters. If a batter misses the ball and it hits the stumps, they can be bowled out.
- Now coming to the stumps used in the IPL. In the IPL, LED stumps are used. LED stumps are a new technology in cricket. They light up when the stumps are hit or the bails are knocked off. Each bail has a tiny computer that senses when it leaves the stumps, causing them to flash almost instantly (in just a thousandth of a second).
- These stumps help umpires make better decisions in close situations, like runouts or stumpings. They also make the game more exciting for people watching in the stadium or on TV because of the quick light-up effect.
- It can be noted that LED stumps are not something new in cricket. They’ve been around for a while now. Big Bash League was the first cricket tournament in which these stumps were used. In international cricket, these stumps were used for the first time in the T20 World Cup 2014. Two years later, in 2016, the IPL also started using these stumps. Cricket stump price in IPL, however, is quite high.
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IPL Stump Price
While a precise figure isn’t available, the price of a complete wicket set (including bails) can range from Rs 8 Lakh to Rs 30 lakh. The exact cost of LED-enabled equipment mainly depends on the company, design, level of technology, and advanced sensor systems in the stumps.
- The exact price of an LED cricket wicket set, which includes the stumps and bails, isn’t fixed, but it usually costs between Rs. 8 lakh and Rs 30 lakh. The cost varies based on the company making it, the design, and how advanced the technology and sensors inside the stumps are. The more high-tech the stumps, the higher the price.
- In an IPL 2023 match between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, pace bowler Arshdeep Singh broke the middle stump not just once but twice.
- The reason LED stumps used in the IPL are so expensive is because of the advanced light sensors inside them. These sensors are designed to be very accurate, so the stumps light up perfectly when they’re hit or the bails are knocked off.
- Before being used in matches, each set of stumps goes through strict quality checks to make sure they work without any mistakes during the game. Because of these high-quality materials and testing processes, the cost of making these stumps becomes very high. That’s why the stumps price in IPL matches are much more expensive than regular ones.
- LED stumps were invented by a former Australian grade cricketer, Bronte Eckermann, who was inspired by one of his daughter’s toys and thought of the idea of LED stumps. His daughter’s toy was nearly the size of a cricket bail and had LED lights.
“They can be vibrated, knocked, rained upon, but will only flash when both ends are completely dislodged from the stumps,” Eckermann told the BBC.
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FAQ’s about IPL Stumps Price
Q) When did the IPL start using LED stumps?
A) The IPL started using LED stumps in 2016. This technology was first introduced in the Big Bash League, and later, it made its international debut during the T20 World Cup in 2014. The IPL adopted the advanced stumps two years after that.
Q) What is the price of IPL stumps?
A) The price of an LED cricket wicket set, including the stumps and bails, ranges between Rs 8 lakh to Rs 30 lakh. The cost depends on factors like the company, the design, and how advanced the technology and sensors inside the stumps are.
Q) Why are LED stumps used in the IPL so expensive?
A) The high cost of LED stumps comes from the advanced technology they contain. These stumps have light sensors designed for precise and quick response, lighting up when hit. Each set undergoes strict quality checks to ensure they work without errors during matches. The high-tech materials and testing processes contribute to their high price.
Q) Who invented the LED stumps used in cricket?
A) The LED stumps were invented by Bronte Eckermann, a former Australian grade cricketer. He came up with the idea after being inspired by one of his daughter’s toys, which was similar in size to a cricket bail and had LED lights.
