IPL 2023 Playoffs: What does a tree on bowling timeline during playoff matches signify?

Playoff matches in IPL 2023 are going on. Chennai have stormed into the final, beating Gujarat Titans by 15 runs. Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians are playing against each other in Eliminator at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today (May 24).

IPL enthusiasts who have watched the first qualifier might have noticed that in place of the sign of dot balls on the screen during Live telecast, broadcasters are showing a tree's symbol. Have you thought about what does this symbol mean?

What's with the tree on the bowling timeline?

The symbol signifies BCCI and Tata Group's initiative of plating five hundred trees for each dot ball bowled in the playoffs. In the match between GT and CSK, a total of 84 dot balls were bowled. It means, the Board of Control for Cricket in India along with Tata Group will plant 84x500= 42,000 trees for those balls.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah also confirmed the development through his tweet. "We are proud to partner @TataCompanies in planting 500 saplings for each dot ball in the @IPL playoffs. Qualifier 1 #GTvsCSK got 42,000 saplings, thanks to 84 dot balls. Who says T20 is a batter’s game? Bowlers’ it’s all in your hands #TATAIPLGreenDots" 

We are proud to partner @TataCompanies in planting 500 saplings for each dot ball in the @IPL playoffs. Qualifier 1 #GTvsCSK got 42,000 saplings, thanks to 84 dot balls.

Who says T20 is a batter’s game? Bowlers’ it’s all in your hands #TATAIPLGreenDots 

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) May 24, 2023

Former cricketer and TV pundit Irfan Pathan also tweeted about this initiative during the match between Chennai and Gujarat but he was not sure about the accurate number of trees that were to be planted for each dot ball.

Pathan tweeted: "Jitne Dot ball utne ped. Well done @BCCI @IPL", implying that the cricket board will be planting a tree for every dot ball bowled in the matches.

Jitne Dot ball utne ped. Well done @BCCI @IPL

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 23, 2023

This is a great initiative by the highest governing body of cricket in the country towards the betterment of the environment