Former Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar has raised concerns about the increasing dominance of batters in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 and suggested changes to restore balance between bat and ball.
With several high-scoring matches already this season—including six 200+ scores in the first 11 games and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) posting over 250 in their opening match—Gavaskar believes that bowlers need more support from ground conditions.
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Push Back the Boundaries for a Fair Contest
Gavaskar has urged IPL organizers to extend boundary lengths, pointing out that there is unused space behind the LED advertising boards that could be utilized.
“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.”
The former India opener explained that small boundaries allow for marginal sixes, which could have been wickets if the ropes were moved back by a few meters.
“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. This could well give the bowlers a wicket instead of a six against their names,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.
Time to Increase IPL Prize Money?
In addition to larger playing areas, Gavaskar also advocated for higher prize money for individual awards. Despite IPL’s exponential growth in sponsorship and broadcast revenue, the prize money for the Player of the Match remains similar to what it was 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?” Gavaskar questioned.
With the IPL continuously evolving, Gavaskar’s suggestions may spark discussions on making the game more competitive and rewarding for players. Whether the boundary sizes or prize pools see any changes remains to be seen.
