Phatta is the IITK "junta" version of cricket, played with a tennis ball. Matches are usually shorter than in regular cricket, and the play is fast and furious. If you've ever played club cricket, school cricket, gully cricket, bandh cricket (on the empty roads during strikes), hand cricket or even book cricket, you should turn up for phatta.

Venue: Hockey Field (opposite Swimming Pool)

Teams:

• Men: 11 players per team.
• Women: 7 players per team.
• You may change your team before a match, or have substitute fielders during a match. However, no player who is registered in or has played for another team can play in your team.

Rules:

• The matches will be played on a mat, with a heavy tennis ball.
• The first round of matches will be of 12 overs per innings. Later rounds may have 15 overs per innings depending on the time at hand.
• A match has to finish within 90 minutes, excluding the break. Each team will be given 45 minutes to bowl the overs. If the team bowling first fails to bowl the overs in 45 minutes, they will be chasing the target in exactly the same no. of overs they finished bowling in 45 minutes. If the team bowling second fails to do so, a penalty of 10 runs per over will be added to the batting side's score.
• A bowler can bowl a maximum of 3 overs.
• A ball over the head is adjudged a no ball.
• One Bouncer Per Over is allowed (a bouncer is defined as a ball above shoulder height but below the top of the head).
• No leg-byes.
• Don't leave the crease during the over without informing the umpire.
• A team can NOT have more than 5 players patrolling the boundary.
• Go through this carefully. Last year it caused a huge fight. Six runs shall be scored if
  • the ball having been struck by the bat pitches beyond the boundary line
  • a fielder has any part of his person touching the boundary or grounded beyond the boundary when he catches the ball on the full.
  • a fielder catches the ball and subsequently touches the boundary or grounds some part of his person beyond the boundary while carrying the ball but before completing the catch.
  In case it's not clear, if a bowler manages to pitch the ball beyond boundary without pitching on the ground and without any other contact, it's NOT a 6, it's a 4.
• The women's tournament may have slight modifications of the above rules to suit the playing conditions. These will be declared in advance. The women's matches will probably be held on the GH basketball court.

How Does a Team Lose the Match Without Playing?

• By not coming BEFORE the match start time (a walkover will be given to the other team). The time slot shows the time when the match begins, NOT when you have to arrive at the ground.
• By arguing over a decision with the umpires (the match will be awarded to the other team regardless of the situation).
• By coming to the field drunk.