Australia women’s team captain Alyssa Healy has expressed concerns over the increasing imbalance between bat and ball in the Indian Premier League (IPL), emphasizing how the tournament prioritizes entertainment through high-scoring matches. The introduction of the Impact Player rule and teams embracing ultra-aggressive batting have further tilted the competition in favor of batters.
Speaking on the Willow Talk podcast (via Yahoo Sports), Healy highlighted the challenge bowlers face in the IPL. “I mean, when you play a competition and there’s a sponsor for the number of sixes that are hit in the competition, you know you’re in strife as a bowler. The wickets are going to be flat, that’s what they think people want to see… I feel for the bowlers out there, it’s going to be a tough old year.”
Her comments come amid record-breaking run-fests in the 2025 IPL season. In just the first four matches, the league nearly saw its highest-ever total of 287 runs surpassed. SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) combined for a staggering 528-run contest, with SRH smashing 282 on March 25. In that match, Jofra Archer endured the most expensive spell in IPL history, conceding 76 runs in four overs.
The trend continued in other games. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) comfortably chased 175 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with 22 balls to spare, while Delhi Capitals (DC) successfully chased 210 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The growing expectation of a first-ever 300-plus IPL total seems more realistic than ever, given the batting firepower teams have assembled during the mega-auction.
Healy questioned the role of bowlers in such a high-scoring environment. “I just don’t know why you’d want to be a bowler in the IPL. Honestly, what is the point? Especially if you bowl fast because there’s no room for error if you slightly miss, it’s going for six,” she remarked.
Her husband, Delhi Capitals pacer Mitchell Starc, experienced firsthand the harsh reality of IPL bowling conditions. Making his debut for DC on March 24, Starc finished with figures of 3-42, conceding multiple boundaries against his national teammate Mitchell Marsh during the powerplay.
SRH, in particular, has maximized the batting-friendly conditions by preparing flat pitches at their home venue, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Healy acknowledged their strategy. “They’ve got to set it up that way in Hyderabad because of the power they’ve got in that squad and ability to hit teams out of fixtures. It’s pretty incredible but they’re going to play to their strengths and we’ll see how that goes for them around the country,” she said.
SRH’s batting dominance isn’t limited to home games. Last season, two of their three 250-plus totals came away from Hyderabad, including their record 287-run innings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Their highest-ever powerplay total of 125 runs was achieved at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
With batting fireworks becoming the norm, the IPL continues to push the limits of high-scoring cricket, leaving bowlers with an increasingly uphill battle.
Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
