An interesting trend is often seen during the evening matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It has been seen in this trend that batting becomes much easier in the second innings. The same pattern is expected to be seen in IPL 2026 also. The main reason for this is dew, which affects both the field and the ball at night. Due to which it becomes easier for the batsmen to bat.
Dew has been the most significant environmental factor in the history of IPL. As the sun sets and the temperature drops, moisture begins to accumulate on the grass of the field. Which makes the ball wet and slippery. This is why in matches starting at 7:30 pm, winning the toss is considered equivalent to winning half the match.
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Why does batting become easier in the evening?
The time of the match plays an important role in the decision of the toss. Dew has almost no effect on matches starting at 3:30 pm, so captains often prefer to bat first. But in matches at 7:30 pm the situation is completely opposite. Due to dew here, batting becomes easier in the second innings, so most of the teams win the toss and decide to bowl first. This is why in such matches the team chasing the target has the upper hand.
Dew affects the bowlers the most. It becomes difficult to grip the wet ball, causing fast bowlers to lose their line and length. At the same time, spin bowlers are unable to get turn, which reduces their effectiveness. Especially in the death overs where accurate bowling is necessary, the conditions become challenging for the bowlers.
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The conditions become quite favorable for the batsmen in the second innings. The wet ball hits the bat faster, making it easier to hit big shots. Apart from this, the fielding team also remains under pressure because the chances of missed catches and misfields increase due to wet ball. This effect is more visible on humid grounds like Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
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