Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has made a striking statement about the batting-dominated nature of IPL 2025. The former Team India star, currently playing in the league, believes that the way batters are taking control of the game, bowlers may soon require personal psychologists to cope with the mental stress.
Batsmen Dictating T20 Cricket
T20 cricket has always been batting-friendly, but recent IPL seasons have seen an explosive rise in big scores. New rules and innovations have further tilted the game in favor of batsmen, making it increasingly difficult for bowlers.
In IPL 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) stunned everyone by scoring 277 and 287 runs in separate matches. This season, they continued their aggressive intent, posting 286 runs in just their second match. The trend has sparked debates on whether a team could soon breach the 300-run mark in T20 cricket.
Ashwin Calls for Mental Health Support for Bowlers
Discussing the challenges of defensive bowling on his YouTube channel, Ashwin highlighted how tough it has become for bowlers to contain batters. He stated:
"I think soon bowlers will need a personal psychologist. I really think so. People are saying bowlers have become defensive. Let’s accept this argument, but on some occasions, bowling has become absolutely impossible."
Rabada Agrees: "Cricket is Becoming Just Batting"
Ashwin isn’t alone in his concerns. South African speedster Kagiso Rabada has also called for fairer playing conditions for bowlers. He warned that if high-scoring games continue, cricket will lose its essence and should instead be renamed "batting" rather than cricket.
Mind-Blowing Stats from IPL 2025
The early matches of IPL 2025 have showcased unprecedented batting dominance:
- 6 out of 6 matches have seen 200+ scores.
- 133 sixes and 205 fours have already been hit.
- 3 matches have had both teams crossing 200, proving the imbalance between bat and ball.
With bowlers struggling for survival, cricket experts and players alike are raising concerns over the future of T20 cricket. Will the game find a way to restore balance, or will it continue evolving into an all-out batting spectacle?
