FAIR PLAY Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada (right) has voiced his concern over the batsmen-dominated pitches in the 2025 IPL, urging for more balanced competition between bat and ball to maintain the excitement in cricket. Picture: Punit Paranjpe/AFP
Image: Punit Paranjpe/AFP
With a number of games in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) already seeing completely one-sided clashes in favour of the batsmen against the bowlers, Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada has called for more fair competition between willow and leather.
With just seven matches played of this year’s edition, there have already been three games where there has been in excess of 400 runs scored across both innings.
On the opening weekend, Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 286/6 and Rajasthan Royals bashed their way to 242/6 only to lose by 44 runs.
On Monday, Lucknow Super Giants set Delhi Capitals 210 to win, which they did by one wicket with three balls remaining.
A day later, Gujarat Titans (GT) lost by 11 runs as they failed to chase down the imposing 244 victory target set by Punjab Kings.
Rabada was part of the GT attack which was carted around the park, as he conceded 41 runs in his four overs while picking up just one wicket.
Speaking about the current state of batting-friendly conditions, Rabada told Indian Express: “The game has to progress somehow, but I don’t think it can just get too flat, like every single game. It would take the fun out of it.
“You know, then you might as well call our sport batting, and not cricket. I have no issues with a few records being broken; that’s fine.
“High-scoring games are good, but so are low-scoring games. But you can’t have it tilting either side too dramatically, there needs to be a balance that is maintained between bat and ball.”
There had to be a way to make the contests more even between bat and ball, hoped Rabada.
“The most exciting games are the ones which hang in the balance, requiring batters to apply themselves when wickets fall and play really well to win matches for their teams, or bowlers to step up in the same manner. It shouldn’t be about just survival for either.”
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