In the IPL, a dot ball is always indicative of pressure. But now, a dot ball is not only indicative of pressure; it also indicates a sense of progression. As a part of the Green Dot Ball movement, for every dot ball delivered, there will be tree saplings planted throughout India. This is a concept introduced by the BCCI and the Tata Group, where discipline in bowling becomes an actionable step towards the environment. Every time the live scoreboard shows the presence of the green tree symbol, the process of planting saplings has become another reality.
This Green Dot Ball idea was initiated during the Tata IPL playoffs in 2023. Due to its immediate success, it has seen a quick expansion from being used in the Women’s Premier League to being implemented all through the IPL tournament. Since its implementation, thousands of dot balls have been translated into the planting of 6.41 lakhs of tree saplings.
Sapling Plantation Locations
The trees that are planted via the Green Dot Ball Campaign have been allocated to plantations that are well-selected in various parts of India. Selection of such sites was meant to enhance tree survival and foster ecological balance.
Amongst the states receiving the most saplings include Assam with a total of 3,51,937 saplings. Kerala ranks second in number with 2,60,665 saplings. Himachal Pradesh receives 12,780 saplings, while Gujarat and Maharashtra receive 12,000 and 10,000 saplings respectively. Previously, plantations in Karnataka were indicated.
Various landscapes, including forests, river basins, and hilly regions among others, have been considered for the planting of trees.
More Than 6 Lakh Trees Planted in IPL 2026
The Green Dot Ball campaign has progressed well since its inception. At the 2023 and 2024 IPL playoff and final stages, 617 dot balls were delivered in eight games. As per the calculations, there would be 500 saplings for each dot ball, totaling 3,08,500 saplings during the phase.
The project was extended to the Women’s Premier League in 2024 and 2025 seasons, covering 44 games. The dot balls in the league stage were responsible for planting 50 saplings, whereas those in the playoffs stage were responsible for planting 100 saplings. Consequently, 2,22,550 saplings were added.
In the 2025 season, the campaign became applicable to all 74 matches in the IPL. In honor of the 18th edition of the tournament, there were 18 saplings for each dot ball. As a consequence, there were 5,562 dot balls, resulting in 1,00,116 saplings being planted. Therefore, a total of 6,41,166 saplings had been planted by the end of the IPL and WPL campaign by the 2026 season.
For IPL 2026, the commitment has increased again. Every dot ball in the league stage now leads to 19 saplings being planted, while playoff dot balls are linked to 500 saplings. The “SpotAnyGreenDot” fan contest has also been launched to encourage supporters to join the movement.
Top Contributors
The bowlers are the main contributors to this movement. More dot balls the bowler bowls; more he contributes to the environment.
Mohammed Siraj currently tops the charts as per the statistics available till May 13, 2026, with 237 dot balls for Gujarat Titans in the current season. Hence, he is the largest contributor to the initiative.
He is closely followed by Prasidh Krishna with 199 and Jofra Archer with 198. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is at 195, and Arshdeep Singh at 191.
