Cricket's New Over: Every Ball to Be Written on Blockchain

On the night of April 23, 2026, at Eden Gardens, during an IPL match, the big screen flashed Block #8,329,114 Verified. It was the first public demonstration of the BCCI's blockchain initiative — the Hawk-Eye tracking data from a DRS appeal was written onto a public blockchain. The BCCI has announced that from IPL 2026, every match's ball-by-ball data, scorecards, DRS calls and fitness reports will be stored on a public blockchain. Proponents argue it ensures transparency and helps prevent match-fixing; smart contracts can automate player bonuses and fees. However, the author cautions against the oracle problem — if incorrect data is fed in, it becomes permanently sealed. The real test is not the technology but the integrity of the people using it. This experiment will run till the 2028 T20 World Cup.