On the field of cricket… you have seen many times that some players wear jackets or vests (कुछ बनियान जैसा). These are in multiple colors like Red, Pink, Green, etc and worn by non-players or staff members and this thing basically called Bib. So when a player wears a bib in cricket, it means that this player is not playing today’s game – though the player is part of squad but he/she is not part of active team or those who are playing today.
In short, there is a squad of 15 players… out of which 11 will play with regular team jersey… while the remaining 4 players are on the bench, whenever they enter the cricket field—whether to convey a message, deliver drinks, or hand an item to a player—they are required by the rules to wear a bib. This indicates that a non active player, doesn’t matter how experienced he is (senior / junior) – being a non-player he has to wear a bib in cricket.
This is how a Bib looks like, it is typically a blend of polyester and mesh fabric and a non-player wears it over their jersey. Let’s take a moment today to understand the true significance of the bib.
Why is the Bib Necessary? (Purpose & Rules)
The primary function of a bib is to easily identify players during practice matches or net sessions. In normal practice sessions, players usually wear white outfit and this creates a lot of confusion … that’s why the concept of Bib introduced and by doing a coach can easily identify players on the net.
Because… it was quite practical for a long time, ICC (International Cricket Council) introduced it as standardization, any non-playing member entering the field—whether carrying drinks, a physio, or a substitute—must be visually distinct. They all have to wear a vest aka Bib.
Fascinating Facts That Will Surprise You
- Are bibs worn in the IPL? No; however, during practice sessions, every franchise distributes bibs in two distinct colors to their players. Example: CSK’s practice sessions typically utilize yellow and green bibs.
- Does wearing a bib offer any tactical advantage? — Yes; it allows the coach to instantly identify which team is currently batting. I once witnessed a scenario at a cricket academy in Delhi where the coach completely overhauled his strategy simply by switching the colors of the bibs.
- Is there a penalty for wearing the wrong bib? — There are no match-related penalties, but management or coach might warn you don’t do this!
- Rishabh Pant Bib Case: In Champions trophy 2025, in one match Rishabh entered in the ground as non-player without bib and in that case Umpired warned him to first wear bib. He acknowledged and then he put on the ‘bib’ first, and then entered.
Apart from that, you know this is the game of cricket and management always look for how to get more and more sponsors from brands. So this is an extra piece of space that can we be used to show sponsors and when a non-player enters the field – these non-players are used to promote the brands and this makes the tournament more profitable.
So if you still think Why Bib introduced in Cricket? then my friend the final answer is – This is another small space where the brand’s logo and name can be displayed. Though it looks like we are standardizing the things in Cricket to next level but behind the scenes it is all money making tactics – show the brand image on bib, promote it, and get money from sponsored.
Final Words
In ICC based events or BCCI backed event IPL, the concept of bib is quite simple and it is – a non-player has to wear it before entering the ground. This indicates that this particular player is not playing today’s game and available to serve drinks, gear, or equipment. But guys behind the scene these non-players are used to promote brands that mentioned on bibs. Because in an international level games, or national level leagues where multiple camera available, 4-5 umpire available – the concept of bib doesn’t make any sense. There are 2 teams and each team has their own jersey so why bib required? Tell me in comments!
Now in local leagues or practice session or street cricket, mostly player wear white outfit. Here if a coach wants to make a team from existing available players then bibs are a good option as using this a coach can easily build Team A and Team B. Provide Red Bibs to Team A and Blue to Team B and start the game!
If you have been running a Cricket Academy then you can find good-quality bibs in the price range of ₹500 to ₹1500. And yes—opt for a slightly loose fit; wearing a tight bib while batting can leave you gasping for breath when running between the wickets (a lesson I learned the hard way!).
So, the next time someone asks, “Why are these players wearing bibs?” you can explain it to them: these bibs are essentially the “cheat code” of cricket—a tool worn not for the sake of winning the match, but for the sake of learning the game.
