Veteran off-spinner R Ashwin, who plays for Rajasthan Royals (RR), has said that that the tendency toward extreme power-hitting in modern batting is gradually making the size of cricket stadiums unimportant. He stated that he feared this might make the game more one-sided.
This comes in light of IPL 2024 seeing tremendous batting efforts by teams with Sunrisers Hyderabad posting totals of 277 and 287 while scores of 250 have been surpassed by teams this season. The impact player rule has given the teams the liberty to play 8 batters, aiding in big totals.
"The stadiums built back in the day are not relevant in the modern day. The bats that were used back then were also used for gully cricket. With LED boards of the sponsors being used, the boundary has come in by 10 yards. It is tilting too far on the other side, which will make someone's misery your great time. Bowlers will need a mental boost," Ashwin said at an RR promotional event.
However, Ashwin is equally adamant that a talented bowler will establish himself and differentiate himself from the rest of the field with his inventions.
"Game shifts balance and you have to find answers. There's a clear window to differentiate yourself," Ashwin said.
The off-spinner also said that he is amazed at the batter’s ability to hit the ball, and he is pleased that the bowling attack of the Rajasthan Royals has not suffered as much as that of some of the other teams.
"If you look at the Industrial rate (average runs conceded by teams in IPL), we have gone for less. We defended 180 in Jaipur in one game which was huge. But you are certainly marveled at ball-striking. At the end of the day, spectators come to watch fours and sixes.
The ground in Jaipur, the boundary is huge. When I saw that, Dhruv Jurel said: "Bhaiyya this is so big" and I told him "Dhruv, atleast let it be somewhere". Watching that, I felt at this stage of my career, I would need a bicycle to reach the (Sawai Man Singh) boundary,” Ashwin said.
"Then in the next stadium, I felt I could walk and the next I could run, and then in one I felt if I spit my Chewing gum, it would cross the boundary rope for a six," said Ashwin.
(PTI inputs)
