On behalf of all bowlers participating in the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Shardul Thakur, an all-rounder for the Lucknow Super Giants, has called on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to eliminate "entertainment factors" such as high-scoring pitches and the impact-player rule, advocating for a "fair and square chance" for bowlers in the competition.

During a press conference prior to Lucknow's inaugural home match of the season against the Punjab Kings, Shardul emphasized the need for the BCCI to move away from one-sided contests and provide bowlers with equitable opportunities against batsmen.

"This is not merely my desire; it reflects the wishes of the bowlers," he stated. "Many may not voice their concerns or have the opportunity to address the media regarding pitch conditions. All we are asking for is that the pitches be prepared in a way that maintains a balance in the game, rather than allowing batters to dominate and overpower us. Our goal is simply to have a fair chance and a genuine opportunity in the match."

So far in the IPL 2025 season, the 200-run mark has been surpassed in 10 out of 11 matches, with Sunrisers Hyderabad achieving an impressive total of 286 for six in their opening game. This score was just one run shy of their record for the highest team total in IPL history, which was set in 2024, a season that saw 41 instances of teams scoring over 200 runs in 74 matches.

'Impact Player rule is an entertainment factor but…'

Commenting on the widely discussed Impact Player rule, Shardul expressed his criticism while suggesting that the prevalence of high-scoring matches is largely due to batting-friendly pitches.

"We have already witnessed the implementation of the rule change with the introduction of the Impact Player, which allows every team to effectively field an additional batsman, particularly when chasing runs. Even if a team is batting first, they approach the game with greater depth, as they now have the option to substitute a batter for a bowler while defending, or the other way around," he stated.

"The Impact Player rule adds an element of entertainment and significantly alters the dynamics of the game. However, the occurrence of these 250-run scores cannot be attributed solely to this rule change; it is also a reflection of the nature of the pitches being prepared. As a bowling unit, we are simply asking for a fair opportunity to dismiss a batsman."

Shardul did not attract any bidders during the IPL mega auction last year but received a contract from Lucknow after fast bowler Mohsin Khan was sidelined. In the two matches he has participated in thus far, he has taken six wickets, including four against SRH in his most recent game.

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