By Admin 
Before the match, a coin is tossed on the field and in that very moment the direction of the entire match is decided. Sometimes batting becomes easy and sometimes the bowlers win. But have you ever wondered why only the captain is given the right to toss? Can any other player do this? And why were the rules of toss changed in a tournament like IPL? The answers to these questions are hidden in the rules of cricket. Let us find out.
Why is the toss so important?
In cricket, toss is not just a formality but is considered the first weapon of strategy. Things like pitch humidity, weather conditions, dew and light directly affect the outcome of the match. Therefore, the decision taken after winning the toss often changes the course of the match. This is why the toss is counted among the most decisive moments of the game.
Does only the captain have the right to throw the toss?
According to the rules of the International Cricket Council i.e. ICC, the process of toss is done by the official representative of the team, who is usually the captain of the team. The captains of both the teams come to the field for the toss in the presence of the match referee and umpires. The rule assumes that the captain is the responsible and decision-making person of the team, hence he is given this authority.
Who tosses the coin and who calls
Traditionally in most matches the captain of the home team tosses the coin, while the captain of the visiting team calls heads or tails. Although this is not a rigid rule. If the match referee wishes, he can also change this process. The real objective is to maintain fairness, so that no team gets an unfair advantage.
when is the toss held
According to the rules of cricket, the toss is usually done about 15 to 30 minutes before the start of the match. During this time both the captains have almost decided their strategy. Immediately after the toss, the captain who wins the toss announces whether his team will bat or bowl first.
Rights of the captain who wins the toss
After winning the toss, the captain has full right to decide whether to bat or bowl first. This decision is taken keeping in mind the pitch report, weather and team combination. In traditional cricket, both the teams had to declare their playing eleven even before the toss, due to which in case of wrong guess, they had to suffer losses.
Changed rules and Impact Player in IPL
A big change has been seen in the Indian Premier League from 2023. After the implementation of the Impact Player rule in IPL, teams were given the freedom to choose their final playing eleven after the toss. Its purpose was that the captain and the team management could create a better balance by looking at the pitch and conditions. However, the right to toss and take decisions still remains with the captain.
Can another player toss
According to the rules, if the captain is not available in special circumstances, such as injury or illness, the team’s vice-captain or official representative can throw the toss. But this is a situation of exception. Under normal circumstances, it is the captain who throws the toss and gives the decision.
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