IPL NOT CRICKET. BOWLERS MERE PUNCHING BAGS

MORE BOUNDARIES, MORE SIXES, MORE ENTERTAINMENT – MORE VIEWERSHIP, MORE Ads, MORE MONEY

The Indian Premier League (IPL) may be one of the most popular sporting events in the world, but let’s be clear—it is NOT real cricket. It’s an entertainment-driven spectacle where bowlers are mere punching bags for six-hitting batters. If cricket is meant to be a contest between bat and ball, then IPL has completely tilted the scales in favour of batters, turning bowlers into mere extras in a run-fest circus.

Let’s see how IPL has turned Bowlers into Punching Bags

1. PITCHES ARE BATTING HIGHWAYS – BOWLERS FACE ROADBLOCKS

IPL curators deliberately prepare flat, lifeless tracks that allow batters to swing through the line without worrying about movement off the pitch. Gone are the days when a bowler could rely on seam, swing, or turn. Today’s IPL wickets are designed for one thing: more boundaries, more sixes, more entertainment.

What’s Wrong?

• No real bounce or seam movement for pacers.

• No grip or turn for spinners unless they’re bowling in Chennai or Lucknow.

• Even mishits clear the boundary—thanks to the flat decks and small grounds.

  
  

Big Question: Where’s The Fairness? If a bowler goes for 40 runs in 4 overs, it’s “normal.” But if a batter scores 10 off 15 balls, he’s considered a failure.

2. FIELDING RESTRICTIONS FAIL BOWLERS

T20 cricket was already tough for bowlers, but IPL takes it to another level. The power play restrictions force captains to leave vast gaps in the field, making it almost impossible to contain batters.

Why Unfair?

• First 6 overs: Only 2 fielders outside the 30-yard circle—batters have a free license to hit through or over the infield.

• Batters just swing through blindly because even mis-hits clear the ring and go for four.

• Bowlers have to rely purely on luck, hoping batters mistime a shot into the hands of a fielder.

  
  

Big Questions: Why are Batters Advantaged? Why not let bowlers have 3 fielders outside in the powerplay? Why stack all the odds against them?

3. BATTERS REWARDED. BOWLERS PUNISHED

IPL has introduced rules that constantly favour batters, while bowlers are expected to "adjust" and "cope."

Let’s Look at Some Absurd Rules:

• Free Hits: If a bowler oversteps by a fraction, the batter gets a free license to slog with no risk of getting out (except run-out).

• Short Boundaries: Some IPL venues have 60-meter boundaries. Even an edge off the bat can fly for six.

• Impact Player Rule: Teams can bring in an extra batter, making it even tougher for bowlers to make an impact.

  
  

Big Question: Why Are Only Batters Given Lifelines? Imagine if bowlers got an “impact player” who could bowl 2 extra overs when things got tough.

4. DEATH OVERS - SUICIDAL FOR BOWLERS

Bowling in the last 4 overs of an IPL game is a nightmare. No matter how good you are, you will get smashed.

Why Bowlers Have No Chance:

• No assistance from the pitch—Yorkers have to be pinpoint perfect.

• Batters come with nothing to lose—every ball is a six-hitting attempt.

• Even a half-decent connection flies for six because of modern bat technology.

  
  

Big Question: Why Double Standards? A bowler conceding 10-12 runs per over in death overs is strugglingly accepted. But when was the last time a batter was praised for a strike rate of 120?

5. THE COMMERCIAL SIDE – BIG SCORES & BIG SCORES. TIGHT CONTESTS DO NOT MATTER

At its core, IPL is not about cricket—it’s about entertainment and money. High-scoring thrillers bring in more viewers, and viewers = advertisers = big bucks.

Why Does This Hurt Cricket?

• Broadcasters push for flat pitches to ensure 200+ scores become the norm.

• Fans love sixes, so rules favour batters hitting maximums.

• Any rule changes that could help bowlers (like two bouncers per over in death overs) are ignored.

  
  

Big Question: Are Bowlers Disposable Assets? They are there to get smashed, and only a handful of elite pacers/spinners manage to survive. The system is designed to destroy them.

FINAL VERDICT: IPL IS NOT REAL CRICKET – IT’S AN UNFAIR CIRCUS

The core essence of cricket is a battle between bat and ball. In IPL, this battle is rigged. Batters hold all the weapons—flat decks, shorter boundaries, fielding restrictions, and batting-friendly rules—while bowlers are expected to "innovate" just to survive.

The Fix? 

If IPL truly wants to be a fair cricketing contest, it needs to:

• Make pitches more balanced—stop curating highways.

• Allow an extra fielder outside the circle during power plays.

• Increase boundary sizes to 75+ meters minimum.

• Allow bowlers an extra over if they take multiple wickets early.

• Regulate bat thickness—mistimed shots shouldn’t fly for six.

  
  

Until then, let’s call IPL what it really is—a batter’s playground where bowlers are just bowling machines serving deliveries to be hit out of the park.

Would love to see the day when a bowler gets as much respect as a six-hitting batter. Until then, IPL is NOT cricket—it’s a six-hitting reality show.