the silent match-winner — DEW 🌙💧
When IPL shifted to the UAE, dew wasn’t just a weather condition… it was a tactical game-changer. It showed up after sunset and quietly rewrote game plans, made bowlers slip, and turned modest chases into cakewalks.
Let’s unpack how dew influenced matches across IPL 2014, 2020, and 2021 held in the UAE 👇
💧 What is Dew in Cricket Terms?
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It’s the moisture that settles on the ground in the evening/night.
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Makes the ball wet and slippery, and the outfield damp.
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Causes reduced grip for bowlers, especially spinners.
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Harder to shine the ball = reverse swing dies.
🧠 Dew’s Role in UAE IPL Matches:
🧼 1. Spinners Lost Their Bite
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In UAE, where spin is usually king on slow pitches, dew took away that edge.
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Wet ball = no grip = no turn, no drift, no deception.
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Even mystery spinners like Narine or Rashid had to alter speeds or bowl darts.
📉 In 2nd innings with dew, spinners often had economy rates over 8+.
🏃 2. Batting Became Easier in 2nd Innings
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Ball skidded nicely onto the bat.
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Boundaries easier to hit as bowlers couldn’t vary pace much.
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Tracking the ball under lights + dew was tough for fielders too.
🌃 Chasing teams had a clear advantage — especially in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
🪙 3. Toss Became Overpowered
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Captains desperately wanted to bowl first.
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Winning the toss often = winning the match.
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Especially in IPL 2020, where:
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60%+ of night matches were won by chasing teams.
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MI, DC, RR preferred to chase when dew was expected.
🧤 4. Fielding Was a Mess
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Slippery ball = more misfields and dropped catches.
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Run-outs became harder — direct hits missed, throws slipped.
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Wicketkeepers struggled with takes, especially to spinners.
“The ball felt like a bar of soap,” one keeper joked in 2020.
🧪 5. Teams Adjusted Bowling Plans
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Seamers bowled more wide yorkers or went back-of-length instead of slower balls.
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Some teams pre-wet the ball in warm-up to mimic dew.
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Bowlers used towels constantly, slowing the game.
BCCI even discussed dew-reduction sprays in 2020, but with mixed success.
⚔️ Memorable Dew-Influenced Matches:
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🎯 RR vs KXIP, 2020 (Sharjah):
RR chased 223 — dew helped shots sail over short boundaries.
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🎯 DC vs CSK, 2021 (Dubai):
CSK struggled to defend 136 as dew neutralized spinners.
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🎯 MI vs DC, 2020 Final:
Dew + calm heads = MI chased 157 like a casual jog.
🎯 Dew Strategy Checklist:
| Team Tactic |
With Dew Present |
| Win Toss? |
✅ Bowl First |
| Spinner-heavy lineup? |
❌ Risky |
| Use Dry Towels? |
✅ Essential |
| Choke with pace upfront? |
✅ Works Pre-Dew |
| Save overs for end? |
❌ Not ideal |
🧠 TL;DR:
Dew in UAE was like a stealthy match influencer — invisible but decisive. It dulled spinners, boosted chasing teams, messed with fielders, and turned many IPL matches into dew-laced dramas 🌙💥
Want a “Dew Factor Power Ranking” by venue (Dubai vs Abu Dhabi vs Sharjah)? Or a fantasy XI of dew-proof bowlers? I got you.