Now, a localised ultra-abridged cricket format to whip up excitement

Siblings playing backyard cricket with strange sets of rules, often necessitated by a lack of space, is nothing new.

The emergence of a relatively new format, which goes by names like ‘Double Dhamaka’ or ‘Double Wicket’, played two overs a side between teams with just two players, may turn one nostalgic about innumerable such backyard contests. But the organisers and players involved vouch that it is a testing format giving a high of its own to both players and spectators.

The ultra-abridged version was officially introduced by the Kerala Tennis Ball Cricket Association (KTCA) with district- and State-level tournaments in Ernakulam last year as if the high of T20 format of cricket was not enough. The second edition of the day-long district-level knockout tournament organised by the Ernakulam district committee of KTCA on a turf in Vennala here on Sunday (August 24, 2025) witnessed the participation of 64 teams split into 16 pools of four teams each.

“Two-a-side games test the individual players in terms of endurance, fitness, skills, and ability to withstand pressure like no other formats where the performance is more collective. Here, two players have to do everything from bowling, batting and fielding and the winning side ends up playing up to seven back-to-back matches. Then there is the tricky choice of whether to go with one bowler and batsman or two all-rounders,” said Roshin Thankachan, secretary, KTCA, Ernakulam.

A batsman can play out both the overs by strategically changing strike at the end of the first over. But he will be forced to change strike if he gets dismissed while also leading to deduction of four runs from the side’s total. Similarly, a single bowler can bowl both the overs if he is fit enough.

“Initially, tennis ball matches were played for 10 to 15 overs before it came down to six and even five overs a side. This latest abridged version helps assess one’s fitness levels while also testing your ability to hit out as a batsman and how to avoid getting hit as a bowler. It also improves one’s ability to cope with pressure,” said S. Sivaraj, whose side won the inaugural district tournament and emerged runner-up in the second edition. Incidentally, he has played for the State in age group cricket.

The format is catching up in other districts with tournaments being held in Thalassery, Idukki, etc., with minor tweaks. For instance, in Idukki, it was three overs a side and called Triple Dhamaka, said K.A. Mansoor, joint secretary, KTCA, Ernakulam.