NEW DELHI: In IPL 2024, there has been a visible discrepancy between batsmen and bowlers with batters scoring big without much fight from the bowlers.
Anil Kumble, an Indian cricket legend in his attempt to equalize bat and ball, suggested that boundary sizes be increased and white balls given more seam so as to give bowlers better chances in the sport.
Presently, the run rate in IPL 2024 is at 9.57 which is its highest ever across all editions of the tournament with over 250 scores crossing eight. Moreover, IPL 2024 has seen a total of 1133 sixes which have broken the record for most number of sixes hit in a single edition of IPL.
“It’s been really hard on the bowlers, especially the first half of the tournament. I certainly believe you have to maximise the boundaries at every venue and give batters the biggest possible boundaries. You can start by moving your dugouts into your stands. I know you will lose a few seats but whatever.”, he said.
“Then another thing could be looking at white-ball perhaps that should have bit more pronounced seam so it does move around bit more there. After one over or less than that no longer moves it anymore. With slightly pronounced seam there is going to be some movement with ball along with maximising boundaries this will help bowlers because you need balance between bat and ball.”
“You can’t just come running up and get into fifth gear otherwise after couple of years you won’t see many guys who want to bowl as everyone wants to become batter,” Kumble said during an interaction with former India opener Aakash Chopra on Thursday. And then? “You need bowlers engaged in game ad it’s very important for tipping it back in favour of bowlers. I am sure it will be addressed in coming years”, explained Kumble Thursday during JioCinema’s select virtual interaction.
Mumbai Indians, five time winners, have had one of the worst seasons so far. As a result, they are at the bottom of the points table and have been eliminated from playoff contention. Kumble who was Mumbai Indians chief mentor from January 2013 to March 2016 is of the opinion that a leadership transition from Rohit Sharma to Hardik Pandya could not occur smoothly and even changing captaincy for the star-studded side might have happened next year.
“Personally, I thought it was quite glaring – you know Ro (Rohit Sharma) has led MI for ten years and won five championships with them. Maybe in hindsight they could have looked at Rohit managing this team this year and then may be Hardik comes in as captain next year,” said Kumble while speaking exclusively on JioCricket on Thursday.
“Having said that, they haven’t played good cricket – they were inconsistent with the bat and that showed in the matches they played. With kind of quality and capability Mumbai Indians batters possess; I certainly expected them to make it into playoffs because when I chose four teams who would make playoffs before start of season, Mumbai Indians were definitely one of them.”
“There is an opinion of yes, different captain and players not being in their best form – this one too also didn’t help. Hardik leading GT is dissimilar to Hardik leading MI because he is again going into a fresh set-up and a fresh bunch of players,” Kumble said.
The Gujarat Titans are also out of the race for playoffs and Kumble believed that Shubman Gill did well in his maiden year as an IPL skipper. “It is the same with GT really, every captain takes time. You cannot really evaluate Shubman as I thought he was very much attacking when it comes to captaincy and wanted wickets.”
“Unfortunately, GT had few injuries – they missed a big trick with Shami, David Miller got injured and wasn’t at his best like the last two seasons. So, if you see all squads in that manner then due to form, injuries or some games don’t go your way you miss out on T20s. That’s what happens and it went well for my first season as a leader I think Shubman learned from this term so he will be better positioned moving forward.”
Already having qualified for playoffs are Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals. However the side has been out of form losing four back-to-back matches mainly due to middle order not firing along with changes in personnel due to injuries at times. While admitting current form isn’t encouraging him either, Kumble hoped Samson & Co will bounce back by next week’s playoffs.
“GT can’t afford entering into semi-finals after suffering four defeats; they need to tighten up their belts,” declared Kumble.“ This occurs because it is a long tournament; I’m convinced there must be some fatigue setting in.” However on the other hand some of it is entirely their fault since apart from openers Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag they have fiddled about with other batters.”
“They have kind of moved their batters around them up and down, and not played all of their overseas players, which they had. They have made some changes – mostly tactical, that haven’t worked out for them. Yesterday, they played at a new venue in Guwahati, where the first match was being played. But the pitch wasn’t ideal for a team that had batters who were looking to get runs and gain confidence especially openers.”
“So you would expect them on a flattish deck when they play KKR (on Sunday). But if it is a slowish wicket like we saw yesterday then Rajasthan will struggle on that one.” It’s a part of their own fault but sometimes you try too hard and things don’t work out.
“Maybe it’s time to relax a bit actually, take two days off or so then come back with more energy and be ready for playoffs. They are already into playoffs so I don’t see them being too much worried but yes as team form is bit of worry. You know all it takes is one or two spells or one innings by somebody to take them through,” he concluded.
