Sunrisers Hyderabad’s emphatic chase of 244 against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 has reignited debate around the league’s batting dominance, with SRH Bowling Coach Muttiah Muralitharan attributing the surge in high-scoring matches to the tournament’s commercial and entertainment priorities. Speaking at the post-match press conference after Hyderabad secured a six-wicket win with eight balls to spare, he pointed to structural factors shaping how the modern T20 game is played and consumed.
Addressing the broader balance between bat and ball, he said, “I do not think pushing the boundary [ropes], when the ball is flying over the ropes everywhere, will change things. I think if we give fair wickets, the spectators will say it is becoming boring because the T20 followers want entertainment, so they want to see the fours and sixes. That is why the tournament is built like that an extra player to come and bat [impact player]. It is a big business at the moment, sponsors and everything, so you will lose the sponsors and interest of the people if you change it,” highlighting how the league’s format and incentives continue to favour aggressive batting.
Run-scoring trends underline shift in T20 cricket
The Hyderabad chase served as a clear example of that dynamic, as Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma combined for a 129-run opening stand before Heinrich Klaasen and others closed out the target with ease. Mumbai Indians had earlier posted 243/5, powered by Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 123 alongside contributions from Will Jacks and Hardik Pandya, yet even that proved insufficient on a surface offering minimal margin for error to bowlers.
Comparing eras, he added, “It is very difficult for a bowler because these days, because of every team, not only us [SRH], has an opening [pair] that does not care about in or out, they just go after the bowling. When we used to play, about 40 to 50 runs was a good score with one wicket losing in six overs, now the average is 70 to 80.” The contrast reflects how early-innings scoring has accelerated sharply in the current IPL cycle.
In previous eras, conceding 20–25 runs in a T20 spell was considered effective for a spinner, whereas in the current IPL environment, giving away around 40 runs is often viewed as a solid performance. This recalibration highlights how scoring benchmarks have shifted alongside evolving batting aggression.
He stated, “But nowadays, no, it is about how am I going to hit a six- that is their approach. Confidence levels have gone up because people have shown this is the way to play the modern game, and youngsters are following that,” pointing to a broader change in batting intent that prioritises boundary-hitting from the outset.
That approach was evident during the chase, including an audacious no-look six from uncapped batter Salil Arora off Jasprit Bumrah, prompting him to note, “Even a good bowler goes for a six, [even] Bumrah goes for one or two balls. Abhishek [Sharma], the way he hits, it is unbelievable, but when a new boy, Salil hits a six, it is unbelievable you do not think someone with the calibre of Bumrah comes and a young boy will hit a six off him because he will think about how am I going to survive Bumrah,” illustrating the reduced fear factor among emerging players.
Bowlers adapting to high-scoring conditions
For bowlers, the current environment has shifted expectations around performance, with containment often seen as success rather than dominance. He said, “So, for bowlers, there is not much to say; they have to practise a lot and be [as] accurate as possible. On your day, you might do well, even if you do well sometimes you are in the receiving end because of the wicket and the conditions.”
The challenges extend to spin bowling in particular, where he drew comparisons between effective spin and batting practice, saying, “If you are a really good spinner, if you can spin the ball, then you have a chance to beat them. But if you can’t spin, it’s like all the batsmen you see in the practices, (what) they do with the throwdowns and hit sixes,” illustrating how limited turn reduces uncertainty for batters.
Reflecting on how even elite bowlers would fare under current conditions, he added, “I have played about 170 T20 games, but because at that time the power [hitting] wasn’t as great as now, when we bowled, I would have got hammered only two times over 60-odd games, maybe more than 40 runs, and Shane also same. Nowadays, [conceding] 50 runs is a great deal for a spinner, 40 runs means you’ve bowled well. The game has changed, we can’t compare eras.”
Evolution set to continue
While the balance has shifted significantly towards batters, he expects the tactical battle between bat and ball to continue evolving as teams look for ways to respond. He said, “I think this will continue, but over a period, bowlers will try to adapt, it will take some time. Sunrisers started this [power-hitting] and now everyone is adapting, so now the bowlers will go back [from] this tournament, and figure out how we can contain. They will come up with something, and the batsmen will find something else – this is the way the modern cricketers are going,” underlining an ongoing cycle of innovation shaping the future of T20 cricket.
