R. Ashwin of Rajasthan Royals during match 50 of the Indian Premier League season 17 (IPL 2024) between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on the 2nd May 2024.(Photo by Pratik Khot / Sportzpics for IPL)
Rajasthan Royals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that the size of stadiums have become irrelevant in modern-day cricket due to the evolution of power-hitting.
This season of the IPL has seen the highest score in the history of the league breached twice, with Sunrisers Hyderabad breaking their own record of 277 against Mumbai Indians by pillaging 287 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The Pat Cummins-led team has also struck 125 in the powerplay against Delhi Capitals, the highest in IPL history.
“The stadiums built back in the day are not relevant in the modern day. The bats that were used back then were also used for gully cricket. With LED boards of the sponsors being used, the boundary has come in by 10 yards,” Ashwin said during a promotional event for his IPL team Rajasthan Royals.
“It is tilting too far on other side, which will make someone’s misery your great time. Bowlers will need mental boost,” he added.
Ashwin was also happy that his franchise’s bowling attack hasn’t suffered a lot unlike some of the other teams even though he marvels at the ball striking abilities of the batters over time.
“If you look at the Industrial rate (average runs conceded by teams in IPL), we have gone for less. We defended 180 in Jaipur in one game which was huge. But you are certainly marvelled at ball-striking. At the end of the day spectators come to watch fours and sixes,” he said.
“The ground in Jaipur, the boundary is huge. When I saw that, Dhruv Jurel said:”Bhaiyya this is so big” and I told him “Dhruv, at least let it be somewhere”. Watching that, I felt at this stage of my career, I would need a bicycle to reach the (Sawai Man Singh) boundary. Then in the next stadium, I felt I could walk and the next I could run and then in one I felt if I spit my Chewing gum, it will cross the boundary rope for a six,” he added.
Rajasthan Royals who suffered just their second loss in the league this season in the match against Hyderabad will play Delhi on Tuesday.
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