IPL: How game shifted from batting power in 2024 to bowling dominance in 2025

Leading up to the 2025 IPL season, expectations were excessive for another run-fest edition after the 2024 season had set stunning batting records, including 1260 sixes, 41 200-plus totals, 14 centuries, and Sunrisers Hyderabad's highest-ever team total of 287/3.

When SRH smashed 286/6 in their first game this year, it was expected to be a repeat. But after a blistering start by the batters, bowlers have bounced back with smart plans, and suddenly, 2025 is telling a very different story.

The first five matches of IPL 2025 continued 2024’s batting heroics with six 200-plus totals, including three scores over 240, and a run rate of 10.7. However, over the next six matches, the scenarios changed. The average run rate dropped to 9.07, a dip of over 15%. The six-hitting percentage also came down, after a 32-six lead in the first five games, with the 2025 season now only surpassing the 2024 edition by seven (221 vs 214) after 11 games.

Despite many concerns raised regarding pitches by the franchisees, the BCCI opened up regarding the same issue and mentioned that there needs to be better communication between the franchise and the pitch curators.

“The pitches have been good so far. Hence, they may be asking for pitches that have more help for bowlers. But there needs to be better communication between the franchise and the curators. It can't happen within a week of the IPL season," The Times of India quoted a BCCI source as saying.

The death overs, which were a gold for batters last season, have seen a dip too, from 11.82 runs per over in 2024 to 11.35 in 2025. There were six 50-plus deaths over efforts last year by this point, compared to only four this season.  Another striking indicator is the number of 20+ run-outs. There were 20 overs in the first five games of 2025, four per match. But in the next six games, it went to just one, which involved four overthrows.

One of the biggest changes this season has been the dominance of spin. In the first 11 matches, spinners have picked up 62 of 137 wickets (45.3%) compared to only 24.6% in the same period last year.

Pitches have also played a role. Many surfaces, including the black soil wicket in Lucknow, have been on the slower side, making batting difficult. A similar pattern this year is teams losing momentum after solid starts in the first innings. In 13 of the 29 games played so far, the team batting first has collapsed in the back 10 overs. In 11 of these, the team that controlled the second half went on to win.