Indoor Cricket: Rules, Format, and How It Differs from Outdoor Cricket

Indoor cricket arena: the game is played in a rectangular netted enclosure (typically 30m × 12m). The floor is usually artificial turf. Netting lines all six sides — ceiling, floor, and four walls. The wickets are standard cricket stumps on an indoor pitch (approximately 18m length — slightly shorter than outdoor's 20.12m). Teams: 8 players per side (compared to 11 in outdoor cricket). All 8 players must bat and field. The reduced team size reflects the indoor space constraints. Innings: each team bats for 16 overs in the standard format (some competitions use 12 or 20 overs). Each batting pair bats for 4 overs (2 overs each) — then the next pair comes in, regardless of whether the previous pair was dismissed. This is the most fundamental difference from outdoor cricket: dismissals in indoor cricket don't end the pair's time at the crease but cost the batting team runs (penalty runs deducted). When a batsman is dismissed, the pair loses 5 runs from their total and the dismissed batsman immediately returns to the crease. There are no traditional 'innings collapses' — all 8 batsmen always bat for their allocated time. The bowling side wants to take as many wickets as possible to reduce the batting team's total via the 5-run penalty; the batting side is never 'all out.'

The Net Run Scoring System

How runs are scored in indoor cricket (net scoring): indoor cricket uses a zone scoring system based on where the ball strikes the netting — not by running between wickets. The scoring zones are: (1) Ceiling net above the batting end: 4 runs if the ball hits the ceiling directly behind the batsman (the 'high ceiling'). (2) Back net (behind the batsman): if the ball reaches the back net on the full (without bouncing), 4 runs. On the bounce: 2 runs. (3) Side nets: 1 run for reaching the side nets. (4) End nets (behind the bowler's end): 6 runs for reaching the far end net on the full; 4 runs on the bounce. Running between wickets: batsmen still run between wickets to score. Each completed run adds to the total. However, the ball is 'dead' once it hits the netting — so the ball must be retrieved and play resumes. The combination of net bonus runs + running means scores are typically much higher than outdoor cricket. A typical indoor cricket innings might total 150-200 runs in 16 overs. Wides and no-balls: wides and no-balls concede 2 runs (vs 1 in outdoor ODI/T20). Bouncers above shoulder height are wides. Bowling is typically underarm (in some versions) or overarm — depending on the competition format. In the most common format, overarm bowling is used and the wicket is a standard-size target.

Key Rule Differences vs Outdoor Cricket

Summary comparison of indoor vs outdoor cricket rules: (1) Team size: indoor 8 players vs outdoor 11 players. (2) Dismissals: indoor — batsman immediately returns after dismissal, team loses 5 runs. Outdoor — batsman leaves the field permanently for the innings, team loses a wicket. (3) Innings length: indoor typically 16 overs per innings (all formats fixed). Outdoor: 50 overs (ODI), 20 overs (T20), 5 days (Test). (4) Boundary: indoor — netting walls/ceiling form the boundary; no 4s or 6s by running, but net zones award fixed run bonuses. Outdoor — a rope boundary at which the ball is dead; 4 runs for ball crossing on the ground, 6 for over the rope on the full. (5) Fielding restrictions: indoor — 3 fielders maximum on each side of the pitch, no other formal restrictions (the arena constrains positioning naturally). Outdoor — specific powerplay fielding circles with mandatory fielder positions. (6) Ball: indoor cricket typically uses a softer indoor cricket ball (less hard than the outdoor red or white ball) — reducing injury risk on the enclosed surface. (7) LBW: many indoor formats do not use LBW (because it would be difficult for umpires to adjudicate reliably in the indoor environment and would slow down the fast-paced game). The indoor game has no DRS. (8) Replacement: once a player is dismissed and returns, there is no replacement — the same players bat for the full allocated time regardless of dismissals. This makes the 5-run penalty the only consequence of wicket loss.