In yesterday’s match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), you might have noticed green dots appearing in place of regular dot balls, accompanied by a tree-like graphic forming whenever a bowler delivered a dot ball. This change, first introduced in last year’s playoff games, is part of the BCCI’s Green Initiative. Under this initiative, the BCCI, in collaboration with the Tata Group, pledges to plant 500 trees for every dot ball bowled during the playoff games. Thus, whenever the over chart is displayed, trees are shown in place of dot balls.
Last year, Jay Shah tweeted that 84 dot balls were bowled in the GT vs CSK playoff, leading to the planting of 42,000 trees. This initiative is commendable, but is it enough? Let’s delve deeper.
One cricket match generates the same amount of carbon emissions as approximately 2 million households do in a single day. Contributing factors include stadium lighting, team and staff travel, hotel stays, and the presence of millions of spectators either in the stadium or watching from home. Planting trees during playoff matches alone cannot compensate for these emissions. To mitigate the carbon footprint of a single cricket match, around 20,000 trees would need to be planted.
This IPL season comprises 74 matches. The total carbon emissions for the season equate to those of 150 million households. To offset this, at least 1.5 million trees would need to be planted. Assuming an average of 80 dot balls per playoff match, only 120,000 trees will be planted—less than 10 percent of the required amount.
What more can be done? While cricket is making strides toward environmental responsibility, it is insufficient. To achieve a carbon-negative season, we need more responsible sponsors like Tata, and teams must engage in individual initiatives such as the Rajasthan Royals’ programs for women in Rajasthan and RCB’s Go Green initiative. Cricket fans also need to participate, so that every IPL match can become carbon negative.
Ultimately, if every household takes environmental responsibility seriously, we can preserve our beautiful world for future generations. Educating children about love and respect for the environment from a young age is crucial. Books can be an excellent way to instill these values. For instance, Ashwattha Tree Books has published numerous environment-related books that teach children the importance of ‘Mother Nature’ through engaging stories.
By combining efforts at the individual, community, and organizational levels, we can make significant progress in reducing the environmental impact of events like the IPL and contribute to a healthier planet.
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