Sourav Ganguly calls for balance between bat and ball in IPL, highlights challenges faced by bowlers

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has raised concerns over the imbalance between bat and ball in the ongoing Indian Premier League, urging the BCCI to address the issue. Ganguly highlighted the challenges faced by bowlers on flat pitches and the impact of additional batting firepower through Impact Players.

The pitches in this season of the IPL have heavily favored batsmen, with teams consistently posting scores over 200 runs. Ganguly emphasized the need to restore equilibrium in the competition to make it more competitive.

Ganguly stated, “Not easy for the bowlers. They are being carted all over and that’s one area that needs to be looked at in the future, the balance between bat and ball.”

To address the imbalance, the IPL governing body has introduced a rule allowing bowlers to deliver a maximum of two bouncers per over. However, some have pointed to the Impact Substitute rule as a reason behind the high-scoring matches, giving teams an extra batter and the freedom to attack bowlers aggressively.

The Delhi Capitals, led by Ganguly, have been one of the teams benefiting from the batting-friendly pitches. They have scored over 400 runs in two games at their home venue, showcasing the dominance of batsmen in the tournament.

Ganguly’s concerns for the bowlers are shared by other cricketing legends like Sunil Gavaskar, who have called for measures like bigger boundaries to restore balance in the game.

As the IPL continues to witness high-scoring matches, the BCCI will need to address the concerns raised by Ganguly and others to ensure a fair competition between bat and ball in the future.