ARE CRICKET PITCHES TOO BATTER-FRIENDLY??

If someone had been asked in the early 2000s how cricket would look twenty years later, few would have imagined the extent to which the game would shift towards batters.With massive totals and frequent boundary-hitting becoming increasingly common in T20 cricket.

Cricket pitches, which were supposed to be the centre of battles between bat and ball, are merely just a flat surface for the bowlers.It is the main reason why the Indian batters struggled to score good runs against overseas teams like England, South Africa, or even Ireland, as they are habituated to flat pitches, consistent bounce, shorter boundaries, and the dew factor, which somehow we do not find on overseas pitches.

Since October, the Indian team has played 11 matches (t-20) away from home, with an average innings score of 166.1. But, on the other hand, the numbers are quite different and bigger: 14 matches have been played at home, with an average innings score of 206. The figures are clearly showing that it is a matter of concern for our bowlers. Being too expensive because of the flat pitch might put the careers of some bowlers at stake as well.

The matter is not to reduce scoring, but to maintain a balance where batters are rewarded for good shots and bowlers for skill, accuracy, and smart variations. Ultimately, the question is not how many runs a pitch produces, but whether it gives both batters and bowlers a fair chance to influence the game.