The evolving dynamics of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have left bowlers grappling with a new breed of batting. Harshal Patel, one of the leading bowlers, provides a candid insight into the high-scoring madness that has taken over the league. Despite being second on the purple cap list with 17 wickets and an economy rate of 9.78 in this year’s edition, Harshal acknowledges the pressure on bowlers amid an era of power-hitting.
The introduction of the “Impact Player” rule hasn’t necessarily shifted the game in favor of batsmen, Harshal notes. Instead, it’s a combination of several factors that have made high scores a common sight. “Pitches in the IPL have always been flat. The boundaries are never more than 60-65 meters, and the ball doesn’t swing,” Harshal explains. “It’s just that mindset change that has happened in batting units; you can go hard from ball one and keep going till the 120th ball. More often than not, you’ll be fine because the pitches are so good.”
This power-hitting trend has set new challenges for bowlers. Harshal believes that a bowler’s benchmark for a good performance must be reevaluated. “Until 2022, giving away 30-35 runs in four overs and picking up a couple of wickets was considered a great performance,” he says. “But now, with scores reaching 250, bowlers, especially those in the power play and death overs, need a new metric. Consistency becomes tricky when you can be hit for 25 runs in one over, even if your previous over was nearly perfect.”
Harshal acknowledges that the batter’s skill level has increased significantly, with players perfecting range hitting in practice sessions. “Most of the batters in our team don’t want to face bowlers; they just want to face side-arm slingers. Their skill level in hitting the ball consistently and picking up lengths early has improved,” he shares.
Reflecting on his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Harshal recalls receiving the news of not being retained. Despite the disappointment, he took it in stride, acknowledging that retentions and auctions are part of the business. “I got a call from RCB’s director of cricket, Mo Bobat, who told me they weren’t going to retain me. I thought, ‘I’ll still get a team to play for,’ and that’s exactly what happened,” he recalls.
With the new reality in IPL cricket, Harshal’s perspective encapsulates the evolving nature of the game, where power-hitting has become the norm, and bowlers must adapt to maintain their edge.
