You’re watching the IPL. A bowler beats the outside edge. Zero runs. And a small green tree flashes on the scoreboard.
That icon isn’t a decoration. It’s confirmation that a tree sapling has just been allocated for planting somewhere in India.
This is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL, a campaign run by the BCCI and Tata Group that ties bowling discipline to real environmental action.
It started quietly during the 2023 playoffs. By IPL 2026, it will cover every match in the tournament, including the Women’s Premier League.
What is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL?
Here’s the full picture.
What is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL?
A dot ball is any delivery where the batter scores zero runs. Clean delivery, no runs, no extras.
The Green Dot Ball Initiative assigns a sapling count to each dot ball bowled during IPL and WPL matches.
When that ball is bowled, the live scoreboard shows a green tree symbol.
Behind the scenes, saplings are logged for planting at designated sites across India.
The BCCI and Tata Group jointly run the program.
It began at the 2023 IPL playoffs as a limited pilot, then expanded season by season until it covered the full IPL 2025 schedule and was carried into 2026 with higher per-ball targets.
How Many Saplings Per Dot Ball?
The sapling count per dot ball isn’t fixed. It changes by season and match stage.
| 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 chosen to mark the tournament’s 18th edition.
In 2026, it moved to 19. Playoff matches carry a much higher rate, which is why the 2023 playoff-only rollout still produced over 3 lakh saplings from just 617 dot balls.
Green Dot Ball Campaign: Season by Season
- IPL 2023 Playoffs
The program launched across eight playoff and final matches. Bowlers delivered 617 dot balls. At 500 saplings each, that added up to 3,08,500 saplings.
- WPL 2024 and 2025
The initiative moved into the Women’s Premier League across two seasons and 44 games. League-stage dot balls each triggered 50 saplings; playoff dot balls triggered 100. Total from WPL: 2,22,550 saplings.
- Full IPL 2025
For the first time, the campaign applied to all 74 IPL matches. Across the season, bowlers delivered 5,562 dot balls. At 18 saplings per ball, that came to 1,00,116 saplings.
- IPL 2026
The rate increased to 19 saplings per league dot ball, with playoffs back at 500. The SpotAnyGreenDot fan contest was introduced to bring supporters into the campaign directly.
Running total through IPL and WPL 2026: 6,41,166 saplings.
Where Are the Saplings Planted?
Planting sites were selected to support tree survival and ecological balance. The program distributes saplings across forests, river basins, and hilly terrain.
| 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 account for the large majority of plantings, reflecting suitable conditions for tree cover growth in those states.
Most Green Dot Balls in IPL 2026
Bowlers who keep batters scoreless are the backbone of this campaign. More dot balls mean more trees. Here are the top contributors as of May 13, 2026:
| Rank | Bowler | Team | Dot Balls (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammed Siraj | Gujarat Titans | 237 |
| 2 | Prasidh Krishna | — | 199 |
| 3 | Jofra Archer | — | 198 |
| 4 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | — | 195 |
| 5 | Arshdeep Singh | — | 191 |
Siraj leads by a clear margin. His 237 dot balls for the Gujarat Titans make him the single biggest contributor to the initiative this season.
How to Participate in the Green Dot Ball Initiative?
Fans can join through the SpotAnyGreenDot contest in IPL 2026.
The campaign is designed for supporters watching live or on broadcast.
During a match, watch for the green tree icon on the scoreboard each time a dot ball is bowled.
Each symbol represents a logged sapling. The SpotAnyGreenDot contest gives fans a way to engage with the initiative in real time.
There’s no complex registration. The bowlers do the actual work. Fans follow along and track progress through the live scoreboard.
FAQs
- Q: What is the Green Dot Ball Initiative in IPL?
A: It is a campaign by the BCCI and Tata Group that plants tree saplings for every dot ball bowled in IPL and WPL matches. The number of saplings per dot ball varies by season and match stage.
- Q: When did the Green Dot Ball Initiative start?
A: It began during the IPL 2023 playoffs as a limited pilot covering eight matches.
- Q: How many dot balls were bowled in IPL 2025?
A: 5,562 dot balls across all 74 matches, resulting in 1,00,116 saplings planted.
- Q: Which state has received the most saplings?
A: Assam, with 3,51,937 saplings. Kerala is second with 2,60,665.
- Q: Who has bowled 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 take part 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 the live scoreboard during matches.
Conclusion:
The Green Dot Ball Initiative has moved from a playoff-only experiment in 2023 to a full-tournament campaign covering both the IPL and WPL.
Over 6.4 lakh saplings planted across five states.
Real numbers, verifiable locations, and a scoreboard anyone watching can follow.
A dot ball used to be a non-event. Now it counts twice.
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