In conventional cricket, the stumps are stuck in the ground. As this won’t be possible indoors, you need to place a set of plastic spring-back stumps at each end of the pitch. These stumps will immediately spring back to the standing position when knocked over. For bowling, a modified cricket ball, with a softer centre is used. Unlike the red or white ball used in the traditional format, a yellow ball must be used in indoor cricket so that it is clearly visible indoors against varied backgrounds. For an amateur match, you could just use a tennis ball. For batting, traditional outdoor cricket bats and specialised indoor cricket bats that are lighter are both acceptable. The gloves may also be lightweight cotton with no protective padding on the outside. Team uniforms and additional protective gear (like elbow guards) can also be worn.
Hitting the ball in Zone A (the front net, i. e. , the net behind the wicket keeper) won’t get you any bonus runs. If the ball hits the net in Zone B (side nets between the striker’s end and halfway down the pitch), you get 1 bonus run. If the ball hits the net in Zone C (side nets between the bowler’s end and halfway), you score 2 bonus runs. Hitting the ball in Zone D (the back net, i. e. , the net behind the bowler) allows you to score 4 or 6 bonus runs depending on how the ball hits the back net. If the ball hits the net after bouncing, you get 4 bonus runs. If the ball hits the net without bouncing on the ground, you score 6 bonus runs. If the ball hits Zone B or C onto Zone D, you score 3 bonus runs. Remember that at least one physical run must be taken for any bonus runs to be scored. Whatever bonus runs you get will be added to the physical runs. For example, if you strike the ball into the front net for 1 bonus run and take 2 physical runs, you score a total of 3 runs off the ball.
Unlike conventional cricket, the batsman continues to bat after getting dismissed in indoor cricket. Each pair of batsmen will bat for 4 overs, no matter how many times you dismiss them. However, 5 run will be deducted from the batting team’s total for each dismissal. If the player is dismissed, the physical or bonus runs that might have been awarded on that ball won’t be counted. The batsman is declared out if he/she strikes the ball and a fielder catches it before it touches the ground, just like in outdoor cricket. In addition to this, a player can also be dismissed if the ball is caught after rebounding off a net, as long as it has not previously touched the ground (except when a “six” is hit). The batsman can also be dismissed through the method of Mankad, which is much less common in outdoor cricket. This happens when the bowler completes the bowling action without actually releasing the ball and breaks the stumps at the bowling ending without letting go. If the non-striker is out of the crease, he/she is declared out. Leg before wicket (lbw) is a valid form of dismissal in indoor cricket but is does not occur as often as it does in outdoor cricket.
If you strike the ball and it straightaway hits the back wall (“boundary wall”) behind the bowler without touching the floor or any part of the wall or roof, you will score six runs. If it touches the floor but not any other wall or the roof, you get four runs. If the ball is struck to hit one or more of the side walls, one run will be awarded, even if the ball subsequently hits the boundary wall. If you strike the ball in such a way that it directly hits the roof, it would be immediately declared a dead ball. This means that there will be no dismissal and no runs scored on that delivery. The ball won’t be re-bowled. However, if the ball hits the roof after it hits a wall, it’s still in play. When the batsmen complete a run physically, that is, run from one crease to the other, two runs will be scored. These two runs can be scored on top of a run for hitting a side wall but are not counted when a boundary (six or four) is hit. After reaching a personal total of twenty-five runs, the batsman must retire. However, if the rest of the team is dismissed before ten overs are completed, the batsman is allowed to return. If five wickets are lost within ten overs, the last player will continue batting and the fifth player who was out will remain as a runner.
