Former India player Mohammad Kaif has questioned the notion of blaming pitches for the dominance of the batters in the Indian Premier League 2024. The teams are regularly posting big totals, with 287/3 being the highest. It was achieved by Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Punjab Kings chased down 262 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders, a new world record in the history of T20 cricket.
Former players, fans, and current cricketers are pleading for mercy for the bowlers as the ongoing onslaught could end careers. The bowlers are leaking runs at an alarming rate. Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, and others have spoken against the tracks and the Impact Player Rule. Sourav Ganguly, Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals, has urged the BCCI to restore the balance between the bat and ball.
However, Kaif is unhappy with such statements. He feels batters deserve credit for the way they have played fearless cricket.
“Batters should be credited for their dominance in this year’s IPL. They are risking their wickets by playing innovative strokes in the games. It is not easily accessible to play a reverse scoop or a lap shot. The batters are not worried about the consequences.
“However, all the talks revolve around flat tracks and sympathy for the bowlers. This is wrong as batters have found new ways to score runs and remain one step ahead of the bowlers,” Mohammad Kaif said.