- As a cricket crazy enthusiast, and there are innumerable such enthusiasts in India, one of the most glaring aspects of the way the shortest format of T20 has evolved is the unfair advantage accorded to the batters as compared to the bowlers. As every edition of the extremely popular Indian Premier League (IPL) suggests since its introduction, the batting-friendly conditions, with the bat allowed to dominate the proceedings, mean the fielding side is always forced to do the catch-up. The flat pitches, short boundaries, heavy bats, and the impact substitute rules have made the IPL mostly a batter’s paradise, with sixes and boundaries galore forming the highlight match after match. The average cricket lover may not complain much about the power hitting on display.
PC: The Hindu
- However, what about the keen contest that must be the cornerstone of any competitive sport, though? The IPL has almost rendered the contest between bat and ball irrelevant, since the bat is allowed to dominate from the word go, with all the yardsticks favouring the former. With the ball coming on nicely onto the bat in the absence of any lateral and/or seam movement on offer, the batting becomes extremely easy. The bowlers are forced to become defensive rather than aim to take wickets in an attacking manner. Little wonder that of late, the IPL offerings have become too monotonous and one-sided, with scores more than 225 in 20 overs becoming the norm rather than an exception. Is the IPL headed in the right direction is a question the BCCI must contemplate.
PC: SportsTak
- As we know, the IPL performances have become a critical component for Team India’s selection, as talented players like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Prince Yadav, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – just to name a few – among more established all-format players have made it to the senior team on the back of superlative performances in the league. Note how the senior T20 Team India is touring the United Kingdom and has been under the pump in the last few matches. The most shocking outcome must be the tame capitulation against the lowly ranked Ireland, comprehensively losing the two-match T20Is. The poor form of the team has continued against England too, with the hosts already winning the five-match series without breaking into a sweat.
PC: Outlook India
- As is their wont, the Team India management has come under severe scrutiny for making selection blunders. The unceremonious dropping of batter-keeper Sanju Samson to make way for the hugely talented Vaibhav has garnered huge attention. Nonetheless, what must be worrying is the way the Indian batters are finding it extremely difficult to score freely on conditions offering some help to the bowlers. The Indian batters have been repeatedly found wanting when the Irish and English fast bowlers have bamboozled them with short stuff, finding no answers whatsoever. The free scoring hasn’t happened anywhere as desired by the Indian batters simply because the pitches here are so dissimilar to the ones on offer back home. How will Team India bounce back?
