Cricket Faces Existential Threat from Climate Change, New Report Warns

A recent report titled "Hit for Six: The Danger Zone," released on July 21, 2025, has highlighted the grave risks posed by climate change to the sport of cricket. Commissioned by non-profit organizations such as FrontRunners, The British Association for Sustainability in Sport, Climate Central, and The Next Test, the report reveals alarming trends regarding rising temperatures and their impact on cricket at all levels, from grassroots to international competitions.

Former West Indies captain Daren Ganga, who contributed to the report, emphasized the existential nature of this challenge, stating, "Forget concerns around different formats, TV deals or the battle for eyeballs in a multi-screen age. This challenge is an existential one and it comes in the form of a rapidly changing climate."

The report is a follow-up to the original "Hit for Six" document released in 2019, which initially underscored the vulnerabilities of cricket players to extreme weather conditions. According to the findings, over half of the matches played during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) occurred under conditions classified as either "Extreme Caution" or "Danger" on the Heat Index, a measure that evaluates heat-related risk based on temperature and humidity.

In 2024 alone, India recorded 52 days with temperatures at or above 37 degrees Celsius, a significant increase from the five-year average of 46 days. Australia similarly reported an average of 46 days exceeding this temperature threshold, while Pakistan faced an alarming average of 83 days annually above that mark. These statistics indicate a concerning trend that poses risks not only to players' performance but also to their health and safety.

Dr. Mike Tipton, Professor of Human & Applied Physiology at the University of Portsmouth's Extreme Environments Laboratory, noted, "Players are now being asked to perform in environments that are not just uncomfortable, but potentially dangerous, with rising temperatures and humidity levels pushing human physiology toward its upper limits. This isn't just about performance — it's increasingly a question of player safety."

The report also highlighted the case of Ishant Sharma, a veteran Indian bowler who suffered heat illness during the 2024 IPL, and the hospitalization of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan due to heat stroke while attending the IPL Final. These incidents underline the immediate dangers associated with excessive heat during matches.

Additionally, air quality has emerged as a critical concern. Research from The Next Test indicated that none of the 75 IPL matches in 2025 were played in air quality deemed "good," with 47% classified as "poor" and several matches occurring under "unhealthy" conditions.

Ashton Turner, an Australian cricketer, stressed the widespread impacts of climate change on cricket, stating, "Without change, the next generations will be faced with insurmountable challenges. Ever-increasing temperatures are putting the game at risk and it’s affecting everyone from players to coaches to umpires to spectators and everyone in between."

The report recommends that national federations collaborate with organizations like Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board to develop and enforce new heat policy guidelines. Furthermore, there is a call for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to adopt an Air Quality Index cut-off point for match play and to join the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.

In conclusion, the findings of the "Hit for Six: The Danger Zone" report serve as a wake-up call for the cricket community. If immediate actions are not taken to address the implications of climate change, the future of cricket as a sport and its ability to engage players and fans alike could be jeopardized. The report emphasizes the urgent need for adaptive strategies to ensure the sustainability of cricket in the face of a rapidly changing climate.