IPL 2024: Ganguly Admits Bowlers Struggling on Flat Pitches, Impact Player Rule

On April 27, 2024, Sourav Ganguly, the Director of Cricket for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), admitted that the 2024 IPL season has been challenging for bowlers due to flat pitches and the Impact Player rule. Ganguly stated that the flat pitches have made it difficult for bowlers, as teams are regularly scoring over 200 runs per innings.

The former Indian captain also mentioned that the Impact Player rule has contributed to this imbalance between bat and ball, with many teams able to score 240-250 runs due to the extra batter. Ganguly called for the BCCI to find a way to get a perfect balance between the bat and ball, suggesting that the introduction of the two bouncer rule earlier in the IPL was a step in the right direction.

The first half of the IPL 2024 season has already produced several high-scoring records, with teams regularly scoring over 200 runs per innings. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also reacted to the situation, calling for measures to "save the bowlers". Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar had previously mentioned the grueling bowling environment in the tournament.

The Impact Player rule has increased teams' appetite for risks, allowing them to go 'hard' throughout the innings. Experts suggest that bowlers need to find innovative ways to counter the batters' dominance, such as bowling 'anti-skill' deliveries like short and wide balls, or surprising the batters with pace and variation.

Why this matters: The lopsided contest between bat and ball in IPL 2024 raises concerns about the future of bowling in T20 cricket. The high-scoring matches and record-breaking performances highlight the need for the cricket authorities to strike a balance and ensure a fair contest between batters and bowlers.

Ganguly acknowledged that the pitches need to have some help for bowlers to restore the balance between bat and ball. He also stated that Delhi Capitals players Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel are certainties for India's T20 World Cup squad, praising Axar's all-round abilities. The ongoing IPL edition has witnessed several 200-plus scores, with teams surpassing 250 on multiple occasions. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have broken the record for the all-time highest IPL total twice in IPL 2024, with 287 being the current record.

Key Takeaways

• Sourav Ganguly admits IPL 2024 pitches favor batters, impact player rule imbalances bat-ball
• BCCI urged to find balance between bat and ball, two-bouncer rule seen as positive step
• Bowlers need to innovate with 'anti-skill' deliveries to counter batters' dominance
• Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel certain for India's T20 World Cup squad
• IPL 2024 sees multiple 200+ scores, Sunrisers Hyderabad set new record of 287 runs