Every dot ball in the IPL does something beyond creating pressure.
Thanks to the Green Dot Ball Initiative, it also plants a tree.
Launched by the BCCI and the Tata Group, this campaign turns disciplined bowling into direct environmental action.
Each time a bowler beats the bat or forces a defensive shot, a green tree symbol appears on the live scoreboard.
And somewhere in India, another sapling goes into the ground.
What is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL?
So what exactly is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL, and how has it grown since 2023?
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL?
The Green Dot Ball Initiative is an environmental campaign tied to the IPL.
It was introduced during the Tata IPL playoffs in 2023.
The idea is simple. For every dot ball bowled during a match, a fixed number of tree saplings are planted in selected locations across India.
The BCCI partnered with the Tata Group to run this program, and it has expanded steadily with each passing season.
The campaign links on-field performance directly to off-field impact.
Bowlers who keep batters quiet aren’t just helping their team. They’re also adding to India’s tree cover.
How Does It Work?
A dot ball is any delivery where the batter scores zero runs.
No wide, no no-ball, just a clean delivery that produces nothing for the batting side.
When a dot ball is bowled, the live scoreboard shows a small green tree icon.
That icon signals that the sapling count has gone up.
The number of saplings per dot ball changes depending on the stage of the tournament and the season.
In IPL 2025, each dot ball in the league stage triggered 18 saplings, chosen to mark the 18th edition of the tournament.
In IPL 2026, that number rose to 19 for league matches, while playoff dot balls are each linked to 500 saplings.
Green Dot Ball Campaign: From 2023 to IPL 2026
- The Beginning (IPL 2023 Playoffs)
The initiative started small. It covered only the IPL playoffs and finals in 2023. Across eight games, 617 dot balls were bowled. At 500 saplings per dot ball, that produced 3,08,500 saplings.
- Expansion to Women’s Premier League
In 2024 and 2025, the program extended to the Women’s Premier League. Across 44 WPL games, dot balls in the league stage each triggered 50 saplings, and playoff dot balls triggered 100. The WPL added 2,22,550 saplings to the total.
- Full IPL 2025 Rollout
For the first time, the 2025 IPL applied the campaign to all 74 matches. The 5,562 dot balls across the season produced 1,00,116 saplings.
- IPL 2026
In 2026, the per-dot-ball count moved to 19 saplings for league games. Playoff matches remain linked to 500 saplings each. A fan contest called SpotAnyGreenDot was also launched to get supporters more involved in the movement.
Total saplings planted by the end of IPL and WPL 2026 campaign: 6,41,166.
Where Are the Trees Being Planted?
The saplings are allocated to specific sites across India. These locations were chosen to support ecological balance and improve sapling survival rates.
| State | Saplings Planted |
|---|---|
| Assam | 3,51,937 |
| Kerala | 2,60,665 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 12,780 |
| Gujarat | 12,000 |
| Maharashtra | 10,000 |
| Karnataka | Previously indicated |
The planting sites cover a range of terrain, including forests, river basins, and hilly areas.
Most Green Dot Balls in IPL 2026: Top Contributors
Bowlers are the driving force behind this initiative. The more dot balls they bowl, the more trees get planted.
Here are the top contributors as of May 13, 2026:
| 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 |
Mohammed Siraj leads the list with 237 dot balls for the Gujarat Titans, making him the biggest individual contributor to the initiative in IPL 2026.
How to Participate in the Green Dot Ball Initiative?
Fans can join through the SpotAnyGreenDot contest launched in IPL 2026.
The campaign invites supporters to engage with the movement while watching matches.
Look for the green tree symbol on the live scorecard during matches. Each one represents a sapling being planted in real time.
There is no formal registration process for fans beyond participating in the contest.
The bowlers do the heavy lifting. Supporting your team and watching closely is enough to stay connected to the campaign.
Why It Matters?
India has committed to planting billions of trees as part of its climate goals.
Tying that effort to something as visible as the IPL brings it into millions of living rooms.
The numbers are real. Over 6.4 lakh saplings planted across five states.
Forests, river basins, and hill regions have now carried a small contribution from every dot ball since 2023.
It also changes how fans see a dot ball. It isn’t just a defensive moment. It’s a productive one.
FAQs
- Q: What is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL?
A: It is a campaign by the BCCI and Tata Group where a set number of tree saplings are planted for every dot ball bowled during IPL and WPL matches.
- Q: How many saplings are planted per dot ball in IPL 2026?
A: 19 saplings per dot ball in league stage matches. Playoff dot balls each trigger 500 saplings.
- Q: How many total saplings have been planted so far?
A: As of the end of the IPL and WPL 2026 campaign, 6,41,166 saplings have been planted.
- Q: Which states have received the most saplings?
A: Assam leads with 3,51,937 saplings, followed by Kerala with 2,60,665.
- Q: Who has the most green dot balls in IPL 2026?
A: Mohammed Siraj leads with 237 dot balls for the Gujarat Titans as of May 13, 2026.
- Q: How can fans participate in the Green Dot Ball Initiative?
A: Through the SpotAnyGreenDot fan contest launched in IPL 2026. Fans can also follow the green tree icon on live scoreboards during matches.
Conclusion:
The Green Dot Ball Initiative turns one of cricket’s quietest moments into something genuinely useful.
A dot ball used to mean nothing happened. Now it means a tree is going somewhere in Assam, Kerala, or Himachal Pradesh.
With 6,41,166 saplings planted and IPL 2026 still ongoing, the campaign has moved well beyond a branding exercise.
It’s a working environmental program with a scoreboard anyone can follow.
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