'Could give the bowlers a wicket instead of a six' - Sunil Gavaskar wants boundaries moved back in IPL 2025
"So often we see sixers just clearing the boundary line, which could well result in a dismissal if the LED boards were pushed back," wrote Gavaskar in his column for Mid-Day.
Former Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar has called for changes to pitch and ground conditions to create a more balanced contest between bowlers and batters in the ongoing 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). Batters have largely dominated the tournament so far, with bowlers struggling to make an impact in most matches.
Gavaskar highlighted the need to increase ground dimensions by pushing the boundary ropes back. The opener pointed out that there is available space behind the LED advertising boards, which could be utilised to extend the playing area.
Of the 22 innings played in the first 11 matches this season, six have crossed the 200-run mark. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) even surpassed 250 in their opening match, reflecting the heavy bias toward batting friendly conditions.
“While the batters’ approach in the Powerplay has changed drastically, what hasn't changed is the size of the boundaries, This despite there being more space beyond the LED advertising boards which can be pushed almost to the fence. So often we see sixers just clearing the boundary line, which could well result in a dismissal if the LED boards were pushed back and with it the boundary lines by a few metres, which could well give the bowlers a wicket instead of a six against their names,” wrote Gavaskar in a column for Mid-Day.
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The Mumbai-born batter also emphasised the need to increase the prize money awarded to players at the end of matches. The top-order batter pointed out that while sponsorships and other revenue streams have grown significantly over the years, the prize money for players has remained unchanged since the inaugural IPL season in 2008.
"Another thing where the size has remained the same is the cash awards from sponsors at the end of the match. While the title sponsorship and other sponsorships, plus broadcast revenue has grown incredibly, the Player of the Match is getting pretty much the same he got way back in 2008. Now that IPL has entered its adulthood, will the prize money also increase like our parents increased our pocket money when we finished school and started college," he added further.
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