Indian Premier League (IPL) management formed strict rules to counter the slow over-rate issues in the IPL 2021 as matches would take more than four-hours to complete on some occasions.
The rule stated that the bowling team had to complete their 20-overs within 90 minutes, this is excluding all the stoppages in the play. If not, then the captain of the team is fined Rs.12 Lac on the first instance for not adhering to the time restrictions.
The fine is doubled to Rs. 24 lac along with one-match ban on the captain for failing the second time. Furthermore, the entire team is fined 25 percent of the match fee on each instance.
Former Sri Lanka captain and Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardena opined that IPL cannot have such strict rules regarding time limits for completion of innings. He reasoned that the reduced turnaround time for the bowlers affects the quality of the game.
Jayawardena was reflecting on the rule that stipulates having an extra fielder in the 30-yard circle in The Hundred in case the bowling side does not finish their innings on time. He pointed out that the IPL cannot be compared to The Hundred.
"What might happen if you shorten it too much is that the quality of the game might reduce because the bowlers don't have time to think through certain things. It's a fine line. I like the fact we're being pushed here and that you get penalized during the game rather than a fine or a warning afterwards,” Mahela Jayawardena said to ESPNCricinfo.
"It's good for this competition as a domestic tournament, but it's tough to compare it with the IPL - the viewership and the content and requirements are quite different," Jayawardena said.
The former Sri Lanka skipper said that the game will have tactical quality only if the bowler has enough time to think and strategize.
"If a product requires that quality and needs bowlers to take their time, then tactically that might be better for the viewers rather than rushing through. I see the two quite differently," he added.
Jayawardane is currently in the United Kingdom serving as the head coach of Southern Brave in The Hundred.
