• Sportzyverse
• IPL 2024
• 04/21/2024
• 0 Comments

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League has witnessed an unprecedented spree of high-scoring matches, leaving cricket enthusiasts astounded by the sheer dominance of the batters. With teams breaching the 250-run mark on five occasions in a single match, the tournament has showcased a batting spectacle unlike any other, and it hasn’t even reached its halfway stage yet.

In the latest showdown of IPL 2024, Match 35 saw the Sunrisers Hyderabad rewriting the record books with a flurry of monumental achievements. Notably, they scored the fastest team hundred in IPL history in just 5 overs, registering the highest powerplay score of 125/0 and the highest score after 10 overs at 158/4. However, amidst the batters’ brilliance, concerns have been raised regarding the equilibrium between batsmen and bowlers.

Sunil Gavaskar voices to increase ground lengths by at least 3-4 meters

Former Indian cricketing icon Sunil Gavaskar voiced his concerns over the lopsided battle between bat and ball during the match between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. While acknowledging that cricket bats are within regulations set by the ICC, Gavaskar advocated for a significant alteration to the playing field – increasing the size of the boundary at every venue.

Gavaskar emphasized that expanding the boundary fence by a couple of meters at each ground could tip the scales in favour of the bowlers, providing them with a fair chance to combat the onslaught of boundaries and sixes. He specifically pointed out the Arun Jaitley Stadium, suggesting that there was ample space to push the boundary ropes back, thus narrowing the gap between a catch and a maximum.

Sunil Gavaskar said, "this kind of hatting is entertainment to some extent, but it's too much after that. I don't want to use that word, but the boundaries should be extended to 3-4m, it'll make a difference". pic.twitter.com/005Ce2NKZB

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 20, 2024

“I wouldn’t suggest any changes to a cricket bat because they are all within regulations, but I have been saying this for a long time, increase the size of the boundary at every ground. Look at this ground today, there is enough space to take it back a little more by a couple of metres. It can often prove to be the difference between a catch and a sixer. You can push that LED or advertisement boards even further so that the boundary rope can go back by 2-3 metres, and that will make a difference. Otherwise, the bowlers are the only ones who will suffer,” the 74-year-old said.

Also read Pat Cummins Reflects: ‘I Wish I Was a Batter’ Amid SRH’s Dominance in IPL 2024

Drawing parallels to the repetitive nature of batters relentlessly swinging their bats in the nets during practice sessions, Gavaskar expressed his dismay over the lack of excitement when witnessing such one-sided batting displays. He stressed the need for balance in the game and called for measures to restore justice between batsmen and bowlers in T20 cricket.