With batsmen scoring runs for fun in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajasthan Royals star Rovman Powell has stated that the lack of competition between bat and ball is making the IPL boring.
His comments came before the game between Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Saturday (April 27).
Earlier on Friday (April 26), the apparent lack of competition between bat and ball in IPL 2024 went to another level when Punjab Kings chased down a record 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders with utmost ease at the Eden Gardens. It took PBKS less than 19 overs to chase down the improbable target.
Batsmen score runs for fun:
The ongoing IPL 2024 has turned out to be a nightmare for the bowlers while the batsmen are hitting fours and sixes for fun. Eight of the top-10 scores in IPL history have come this season. In 44 games so far this season, 26 200-plus scores have been already scored and it would not be surprising if the 300-run mark is breached in the coming days.
What makes the season even more absurd is that eight aforementioned eight of the top-ten scores have all been over 250. Sunrisers Hyderabad started it all by smashing 277/3 against Mumbai Indians to break Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s decade-old record of the highest IPL total.
Since then, the teams have been going all out with the bat. SRH themselves went on to break their 277-run record as well by scoring 287 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Here is a list of top ten highest totals in the IPL:
SRH 287/3 20 14.35 v RCB 15-04-2024
SRH 277/3 20 13.85 v MI 27-03-2024
KKR 272/7 20 13.6 v DC 03-04-2024
SRH 266/7 20 13.3 v DC 20-04-2024
RCB 263/5 20 13.15 v Warriors 23-04-2013
IPL getting boring:
While the fans have been enjoying the run-fest in IPL 2024, Rovman Powell is definitely not excited by what he has seen so far. The West Indies T20I captain made his feelings over the lack of competition between bat and ball as he said that it is getting boring.
“I think it is getting a bit boring now. It is getting boring in the sense there is not a lot of challenge between bat and ball, it is predominantly one-sided in favor of batters. Hopefully, through the competition it can become a bit even,” he said.
Reasons behind the lack of competition:
There are several reasons behind the lack of competition between bat and ball this season. The flat pitches and smaller boundaries are clearly not new reasons. The conditions and the rules are heavily tilted in the batsmen’s favour but one new rule that has made things worse for the bowlers is the impact player rule.
Introduced last year, the rule is fast becoming a big headache for the teams. Several high-profile names have already expressed their displeasure over the rule and have urged the officials to scrap it. Earlier this season, India captain Rohit Sharma pointed out that the rule is hampering the progress of the Indian allrounders.
Later, RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj called for the rule to be scrapped. There have been oppositions from other quarters as well.