Mohammed Siraj bowled a dot ball in the last over. Gujarat Titans’ scoreboard lit up with a green tree.
That isn’t a graphics update. It means a sapling is being planted in India because of that one delivery.
The Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL is the BCCI and Tata Group’s way of linking what happens on the pitch to what grows in the ground.
It started as an eight-game experiment in 2023.
It now runs across every IPL and WPL match, with over 6.4 lakh saplings planted and counting.
What is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL?
Here’s how it all works.
What is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL?
Every dot ball in cricket means the batter scored zero.
Pressure ball, tight line, beaten edge. Whatever the reason, no runs came.
Under the Green Dot Ball Initiative, that ball also triggers a sapling allocation.
The number depends on the season and match stage. A green tree icon appears on the live scoreboard as confirmation.
The BCCI and Tata Group manage the planting program.
Selected sites across India receive the saplings, covering forests, river zones, and hill regions where conditions support survival and growth.
Sapling Rates: How the Numbers Work?
The per-ball count has shifted each season as the campaign grew.
| Season / Stage | Saplings Per Dot Ball |
|---|---|
| IPL 2023 Playoffs | 500 |
| WPL 2024-25 League Stage | 50 |
| WPL 2024-25 Playoffs | 100 |
| IPL 2025 Full Season | 18 |
| IPL 2026 League Stage | 19 |
| IPL 2026 Playoffs | 500 |
The 18-sapling count in 2025 was tied to the tournament’s 18th edition. In 2026, it moved to 19.
The playoff rate jumps sharply to 500 per ball, which is why the 2023 pilot generated over 3 lakh saplings from just eight games.
How the Initiative Grew: 2023 to 2026
- IPL 2023 Playoffs
Eight matches. 617 dot balls. At 500 saplings each, the total came to 3,08,500 saplings. That was the entire scope of the first rollout.
- Women’s Premier League (2024 and 2025)
The WPL brought the initiative into women’s cricket across 44 games. League-stage dot balls each triggered 50 saplings. Playoff dot balls triggered 100. WPL contribution: 2,22,550 saplings.
- IPL 2025: Full Season Rollout
All 74 matches were included for the first time. The 18-sapling rate across 5,562 dot balls produced 1,00,116 saplings over the full season.
- IPL 2026: Bigger Numbers, Fan Contest
The rate moved to 19 saplings per league dot ball. Playoffs stayed at 500. The SpotAnyGreenDot fan contest launched alongside the season, giving supporters a way to track and engage with the campaign live.
Total saplings through IPL and WPL 2026: 6,41,166.
Where Are the Trees Going?
Planting sites were chosen for ecological suitability, not just availability. Here’s how the saplings break down by state:
| State | Saplings Allocated |
|---|---|
| Assam | 3,51,937 |
| Kerala | 2,60,665 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 12,780 |
| Gujarat | 12,000 |
| Maharashtra | 10,000 |
| Karnataka | Previously allocated |
Assam and Kerala together hold well over 95% of all planted saplings.
Both states offer the river basins, forest land, and rainfall conditions that give planted trees the best chance of survival.
Top Green Dot Ball Contributors in IPL 2026
The more dot balls a bowler delivers, the more trees go in. As of May 13, 2026, here’s who’s leading:
| Rank | Bowler | Team | Dot Balls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammed Siraj | Gujarat Titans | 237 |
| 2 | Prasidh Krishna | — | 199 |
| 3 | Jofra Archer | — | 198 |
| 4 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | — | 195 |
| 5 | Arshdeep Singh | — | 191 |
Siraj’s 237 dot balls translate to 4,503 saplings from his bowling alone this season (at 19 per ball). That’s a forest plot from one bowler.
How to Participate in the Green Dot Ball Initiative?
Fans join through the SpotAnyGreenDot contest running across IPL 2026. No signup barrier beyond the contest itself.
During a match, watch the scoreboard. When a dot ball lands, the green tree icon appears.
That’s your real-time signal that the sapling count just moved.
The contest is built around spotting those moments and engaging with the campaign on the platform.
The bowlers do the planting work. Fans track, share, and celebrate it.
FAQs
- Q: What is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL?
A: A BCCI and Tata Group campaign that plants tree saplings across India for every dot ball bowled in IPL and WPL matches. The sapling count per ball varies by season and match stage.
- Q: How many saplings per dot ball in IPL 2026?
A: 19 saplings per dot ball during league stage matches. Each playoff dot ball triggers 500 saplings.
- Q: How did the Green Dot Ball Initiative start?
A: It launched during the 2023 IPL playoffs across eight matches, producing 3,08,500 saplings from 617 dot balls.
- Q: Which bowler has bowled the most dot balls in IPL 2026?
A: Mohammed Siraj leads with 237 dot balls for Gujarat Titans as of May 13, 2026.
- Q: Which states have received the most saplings?
A: Assam (3,51,937) and Kerala (2,60,665) have received the most, covering the majority of all saplings planted.
- Q: How can fans get involved in the Green Dot Ball Initiative?
A: Through the SpotAnyGreenDot contest in IPL 2026. Fans can also follow the green tree icon on the live scoreboard during matches.
Conclusion:
A dot ball was always about pressure.
The Green Dot Ball Initiative added a second layer. Pressure plus purpose.
Over 6.4 lakh saplings planted across five states since 2023.
A campaign that started with eight playoff games now runs through every IPL and WPL match of the season.
The next time a bowler beats the bat, there’s a tree going in somewhere in Assam or Kerala because of it.
Watch for the green icon. It means something.
