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Is it really a good decision to play a sport in the Indian summer? These kinds of questions are very normal, given that India is having the most number of cities ranking in the top 100 places with the hottest temperature.

 

This period in the calendar is undeniably the best time for IPL when it comes to the financial gains. Schools stay closed due to summer vacations, and host cities see a huge spike in tourism, with flight bookings rising by up to 25% and hotel occupancy by 15–20%- it sounds like the perfect window for BCCI to bag the cash.

 

But the weather looks horrendous, especially the day games. Today, Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium saw mist sprays stationed at different corners in the stands, trying to cope with the scorching sun. It was lucky that the Punjab Kings did not face any injury concerns, but KL Rahul from DC walked out in the second innings in the middle of his keeping. 

 

That man batted for around 115 minutes, scoring over 150; he stood not out and came to bat. While Lungi Ngidi suffered the horrific head blow, Rahul was seen hydrating, but he eventually walked out, failing to fight the sin.

 

In a mid-innings interview, he stated he had "taken a beating" due to the scorching conditions and expressed a hope that he would not suffer late-match cramps. After the innings, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer too acknowledged how the 45.3°C heat in Delhi took a toll on the players. 

 

Read also: Not Injury! Real Reason Behind MS Dhoni’s CSK Absence in IPL 2026 Revealed

 

Notable players who got defeated by the heat

 

Chennai Super Kings, who were already battling multiple injuries, lost Aysuh Mhatre. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mhatre suffered a cramp while stealing a run. Despite the cramp, he tried to continue, which caused him a left hamstring tear. Khaleel Ahmed got ruled out due to a quadriceps injury.

 

Last night, against Gujarat Titans, RCB bowler Rasik Dar collapsed in the final due to severe cramps and walked out. Krunal Pandya, who was ultimately given the bowl in the final over, faced the same but somehow managed to complete it. Rasik, meanwhile, had a similar situation against MI a few matches before.

 

Against RCB, DC Captain Axar had to retire hurt after multiple bouts of cramps. Rohit Sharma got retired hurt against RCB due to a hamstring pull and is yet to come back. And today, against SRH, Vaibhab Sooryavanshi walked out after a painful cramp.

 

Read also: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi salutes the RR dugout after scoring a record 36-ball century against SRH

 

How does hot weather affect a cricketer?

 

There are some obvious immediate effects of high temperature in a human body. It is said that when the temperature of a human body exceeds 40°C, it shows severe issues like confusion, seizures, organ damage, and even death if not treated within minutes. 

 

For a cricketer, these can be more problematic given the heavy protective gear they wear. The core temperature rises by around 1°C every minute, creating a humid "microclimate" around the body, severely hindering the evaporation of sweat—the body's main cooling mechanism.

 

Excessive sweating often drops sodium-potassium levels, resulting in debilitating muscle cramps and disruptions in blood circulation. For a bowler, especially a fast bowler, things are tougher. They undergo intense physical bursts that lead to rapid metabolic heat buildup, causing muscle tears.

 

And with the air quality India has, it makes it tougher for players to survive it. Last year, reports showed a sharp rise in these symptoms among the players.

 

Read also: Lungi Ngidi Injury: Delhi Traffic Police Create Green Corridor, DC Pacer Reaches Hospital in 11 Minutes | WATCH

 

What can be done to combat the heat?

 

Something that becomes bothersome in the IPL is the frequent traveling. Even if the body gets adapted to the rush, it's always better to cool down. Keeping the scheduling relaxed is the first thing the board can do rather than rushing matches. It helps the players get enough recovery time. Apart from that, these are some ways to combat the heat:

 

Night-dominant fixtures: This means to scratch off the unbearable heat during the afternoon that players dwell on during the 3:30 pm matches. The night matches have lower risks of heat, but the humidity issue stays no matter what.

Flexible "Phased" Scheduling: The BCCI can use phased scheduling to adapt fixtures based on weather and shift matches away from heatwave zones.

 

These are some options the board can apply if they are too picky on their window for their league. 

 

Read also: KL Rahul becomes the third player in IPL to score 150 runs in a match

 

What measures do teams use?

 

To beat the heat, teams often use multiple methods on and off the field to keep the system running. These are:

 

SIS Drinks: Unlike sugary sodas, these are specialized electrolyte drinks to balance the Na-K balance in the body.

Hydration monitoring kit: Recently, the Lucknow Super Giants were seen using this kit. A small handy device with an antenna on the top, which is normally placed on the tip of the tongue to read the real-time fluid quantity of the individual.

Ice treatments: coaches and physios often carry ice bags or ice towels that are placed on the head or around the neck, respectively. Physios also use ice baths for bowlers immediately after their spells to bring down core body temperatures.

Substitute fielder: While "impact player" is a new addition, players often walk out to take a breather in the dugout. Some other player walks in as a substitute. Normally, a bowler can stay outside for 8 minutes without serving a penalty time.