Ravichandran Ashwin, the seasoned cricketer, dismisses the significance of traditional stadium sizes in contemporary cricket, asserting that they are increasingly irrelevant. R Ashwin highlights the evolution of batting techniques in modern-day cricket, suggesting that stadium dimensions hold less sway in today’s game.
R Ashwin, India’s “off-spin maestro,” is a legend. He boasts a phenomenal Test record, becoming the fastest Indian bowler to reach both 500 and now 516 wickets, with an impressive average of 23.65. Currently the highest-ranked Test bowler in India, his impact is undeniable. However, his recent white-ball form, including a dip in the IPL, has seen him overlooked for the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Despite this exclusion, Ashwin remains a vital pillar of India’s Test bowling attack.
Stadiums in India reflect a mix of modern and traditional designs. Iconic venues like the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai blend historical charm with modern amenities. However, newer stadiums such as the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad boast state-of-the-art facilities and innovative architecture, symbolizing India’s progression in sports infrastructure.
IPL 2024: A Run Fest
IPL 2024 has been a run-fest. Sunrisers Hyderabad holds the record with a whopping 287/3, while Kolkata Knight Riders and several other teams have posted totals exceeding 260. Even Royal Challengers Bangalore, despite being on the wrong end of the record-breaking score, showcased their firepower with a 262/7. There have been a whopping 7 instances where teams have crossed the coveted 200-run mark, making it a true hitters’ paradise. This run-fest has also seen a flurry of boundaries, with an estimated total of over 500 sixes and over 700 fours smashed across all matches so far.
What Ravichandran Ashwin Said
Ravichandran Ashwin, one of the world’s premier off-spinners, expressed concern on Saturday that the evolution of power-hitting in modern cricket is making stadium sizes irrelevant, potentially leading to one-sided matches. Ashwin’s remarks come in light of the high-scoring games seen in this year’s IPL, with Sunrisers Hyderabad posting totals of 277 and 287. Additionally, teams have consistently surpassed scores of 250 this season, often aided by the presence of an extra batter through Impact Substitutions.
During a promotional event for his IPL team Rajasthan Royals, Ravichandran Ashwin said,
“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,”
Ravichandran Ashwin believes that if this trend persists, cricket could become increasingly one-sided in the future. Ravichandran Ashwin said,
“It is tilting too far on other side, which will make someone’s misery your great time. Bowlers will need mental boost,”
Ashwin firmly asserts that a skilled bowler will distinguish himself from the rest by employing innovative strategies and techniques as he said,
“Game shifts balance and you have to find answers. There’s clear window to differentiate yourself,”
India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests is content that Rajasthan Royals’ bowling lineup has remained relatively unscathed compared to some other teams, despite his admiration for the exceptional batting prowess displayed by players over the years. He added,
“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 hug,”
“But you are certainly marvelled at ball-striking. At the end of the day spectators come to watch fours and sixes.”
Known for his sharp sense of humor, Ashwin offered a comical perspective on the size of boundaries this season and continued, “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, atleast 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.”
Shane Bond On The Topic
Royals’ bowling coach Shane Bond aptly summarised the situation.
“For bowlers now, if you can bowl well, you can make a lot of money. Batting has evolved, and bowling is catching up,” noted the former New Zealand speedster.