‘Worst IPL’ hashtag began to trend after PBKS and KKR were involved in a run fest last night, with India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin making a crucial point.
R Ashwin’s plea after Punjab Kings and KKR combined to score over 520 runs(Getty-PTI)
What will happen in the IPL now? 300 or even 350 on the test? Alternatively, how about 350 being pursued? Are batsmen making double hundreds or centuries in 25 balls? That appears to be the direction the league is taking, after all. The match between the Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders last night set the precedent for an excessive number of 200-plus runs this season. With eight balls remaining, PBKS successfully chased down KKR’s 261 to set a record for the greatest chase in T20 cricket, much alone the IPL.
As PBKS crossed the finish line by eight wickets thanks to centuries from Jonny Bairstow and Prabhsimran and Shashank Singh, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin of India expressed empathy for the bowlers and mirrored the sentiments of many Indians watching the IPL. He wrote on X, “Save the bowlers, someone please,” and included SOS emojis. “It’s run a ball for the last two overs of a T 20 game in a chase of 260+,” he added to his post. Give that some thought.
His message is thought-provoking. Teams have scored more over 200 runs twelve times in the past twelve IPL games. This season, the 250 mark has been reached seven times, and bowlers have all but become robots. 200 is not a secure sum. The days of 180 being a difficult goal are long gone. We’ve left them far behind. This year’s IPL has been less exciting than previous due to flat wickets, the feared Impact Player rule, and the imbalance between bat and ball. For this reason, fans who believe that 2024 will be the “worst IPL” ever aren’t wholly incorrect—a hashtag that has been trending since last night.
Without diminishing the incredible pursuit undertaken by the Punjab Kings, history is not created every day, which is why it is necessary to make it exceptional. Some have drawn comparisons between yesterday night’s run-fest and the historic ODI between South Africa and Australia in Johannesburg in 2006, where the Aussies were the first side to surpass 400 and record 434, but the Proteas were able to close the gap. Don’t make a mistake. This is a far cry from that. Sure, it will be remembered as an IPL era, but the Impact Player rule, the way wickets are made, and other factors are making the world’s best franchise cricket league less enjoyable.
If there are concerns, there’s support too
Many cricket players, both past and present, have openly expressed their opposition to the Impact Player rule. Leading the way was Rohit Sharma, who explained why, in essence, adding a 12th player to the team is ineffective. The ability to add players to a squad during or after an innings has reduced the value of all-rounders and increased the batting arsenal of the team. The likes of Aaron Finch, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Mukesh Kumar, and, to a lesser extent, Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting, supported Rohit’s remarks.
“The Impact subrule is not one of my favorites. All rounders will eventually be held back because cricket is ultimately played by 11 players, not 12. The former captain of Australia said, “You are removing so much from the game to make it entertaining for people nearby.” And with good reason.
But this isn’t how everyone feels. As for the Impact Player rule, AB de Villiers believes it does little harm, while Irfan Pathan praises the hitters for displaying a lion’s heart. Tennis has evolved. The mindset of batters has evolved,” he wrote on X. Aakash Chopra, a former teammate in India, believes that bowlers in the IPL need to find a method to advance.
“How would you characterize such a game? I suppose the only word to characterize this is “historical.” 262 wickets with 8 deliveries and 8 wickets remaining were successfully chased. What other options exist? Batters now have access to their full ability. It’s up to the bowlers to do what they do best, which is adapt and change, better than hitters.”
Even if it’s a fantastic concept, bowlers would require the government’s cooperation, beginning with something as simple as making the IPL more equitable. The game of cricket has always involved a bat and ball match. You’re playing with it if you offer someone an edge just for amusement (which, incidentally, isn’t ensured by publishing large totals).
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