For the display car, it is positioned beyond the boundary ropes at IPL games as part of the sponsorship activations (currently Tata Motors). If a batter hits the ball cleanly onto the car, it is treated as a boundary, just like any other shot.

When this happens, it counts as 6 runs to the batting side and there are no punishments for the batter or the side involved. It's just a normal shot, treated like one that would fly for a six.

Beyond the 6 runs being awarded, that shot also brings into play a charitable aspect of the event, and this season, that ball striking the display car would count towards a charitable donation of 5 lakh for each occasion towards providing cricket kits to grass root level in India.

Donation, Ball Replacement and Other Rules

The car-hit is more than entertainment. Many causes over the years have been helped in a similar way; in past seasons donations were given to environmental projects or wildlife protection if display car was hit. Basically exciting events in a game help some causes.

From a match point of view a couple of minor technicalities exist. If the ball is damaged after hitting the car, the umpire can replace it with another equally fit ball from their bag of reserve balls.

Players will not be held financially liable for damage done to display cars (despite what some claim), because the whole setup is part of a sponsor arrangement.

The case of a ball hitting a vehicle on the road outside the stadium is not as clear-cut, since according to standard ticket terms and conditions, no damage to the spectators car will be borne by the organisers as it is reasonable for the spectators, including car owners, to assume that they will be at some risk when near a cricket ground.

This was what happened on Cameron Greens hit which seemed to provide all the theatrics but at the end, had only the normal result: 6 runs, and a donation