"Climate Change poses a significant threat to the sport of Cricket"
In cricket-loving regions worldwide, including India, the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat days pose a significant threat to the sport. According to recent expert analysis and calls to action, published in July 2025, cricket governing bodies are urged to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change on player safety and overall game conditions.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a prime example, with nearly half of its 2025 matches played under "Extreme Caution" or "Danger" on the Heat Index. Mumbai, in particular, has seen its high-risk heat days jump by 125% from 1970 to 2025, as revealed in the report "Hit for Six: The Danger Zone."
Players and fans are at risk as the world reaches temperatures that were expected in 2050. The Heat Index, while easy to calculate, underestimates the impact of heat on the body due to factors like latent heat, wind, and radiation. "Danger" heat index temperatures range from 103F to 124F (39.4C to 51C) and can be unbearable for players to endure during matches. Dehydration can cause cramps, and overall performance deteriorates the longer athletes are in the heat, exerting themselves.
To combat these challenges, cricket governing bodies are urged to implement new heat policy guidelines, similar to those adopted by Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board. These guidelines are designed to protect player safety during increasingly frequent and intense heat conditions. Additionally, an Air Quality Index (AQI) cut-off point should be established to suspend play when pollution levels endanger players’ and fans’ health, as recommended for adoption by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The report also emphasizes the need for cricket powers to sign up to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, which encourages sports organizations to take concrete action on climate change through sustainable practices and advocacy. Enhancing player safety protocols is also crucial, recognizing that rising temperatures and humidity are pushing human physiology to dangerous limits.
The IPL, similar in scale and quality to the English Premier League and the NFL, faces an uncertain future due to increasing heat, humidity, and air pollution. Last summer, the T20 World Cup was disrupted by unpredictable and devastating thunderstorms. To secure the sport's future, recommendations include reducing carbon pollution, playing games at cooler times or indoors, publishing guidelines for playing in extreme heat, reviewing commercial sponsors, and investing in eco-conscious infrastructure.
Thiruvananthapuram in India's southern Kerala region recorded more than 100 hazardous heat days in 2024 alone, increasing the risk of heat-related illness. Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action, emphasizes the need for major cricket powers to play their parts in tackling the root causes of the climate crisis.
Cricket, the second most popular sport in the world, is being played in dangerously hot and humid conditions that put players and fans at risk. The new report "Hit for Six: The Danger Zone" analyzes the increase in extreme heat and humidity in cricket-loving regions like the Indian subcontinent, the UK, West Indies, and Australia. As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, cricket authorities must act swiftly to ensure the safety and longevity of the sport.
- The increasing impact of climate change, as evidenced by the rise in extreme heat days, is a growing concern in the scientific community, particularly in the field of environmental science and health-and-wellness.
- As the world faces the consequences of climate change, medical-conditions, such as heat-related illness, are becoming more prevalent in sports, including cricket, highlighting the need for sports organizations to implement new policies and practices to protect the health of athletes and fans.
- In the face of the climate crisis, the adoption of sustainable practices and advocacy, as outlined in the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, is crucial for sports organizations, including cricket bodies, to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure the long-term health and success of their sports.
