IPL 2025: Should pitches be more balanced?

[BouncerGuy]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been a spectacle of explosive batting, but as we approach IPL 2025, concerns are growing over whether the pitches have become too one-sided. Shardul Thakur, the experienced Indian pacer, recently voiced his frustration, calling for fairer conditions for bowlers.

After a high-scoring match, Shardul Thakur didn’t hold back after LSG vs SRH game:

“I feel bowlers get very little on this kind of pitches.”

“Even in the last game pre-match, I said that pitches should be prepared in such a way that the game hangs in the balance for batters and bowlers. Especially after the Impact Player rule, it’s not fair on the bowlers if a team scores 240-250 runs.”

His comments highlight a growing issue—bowlers are becoming mere bystanders in matches dominated by monstrous totals.

Why This Matters for IPL 2025

Impact Player Rule Amplifies Batting Dominance: With an extra batter available, teams are posting (and chasing) 250+ scores more frequently.

Pitches Lack Variety: Most surfaces are flat, reducing the tactical battle between bat and ball.

Bowlers’ Morale at Stake: If every match turns into a batting slugfest, will quality bowlers struggle to stay motivated?

IMO, Spinners and pacers should have surfaces that reward skill, not just power-hitting.

 

[Devadwal]

Yesterday MI didn't cross 170 and a day before CSK haven't chased 196 .

Pitches are good ,no need for low scoring match in the T20 cricket .

 

[Bhaijaan]

Pitches quality has been excellent. It’s just that the batting quality is such in IPL runs are flowing. The only way to stop the flow of runs is to actually prepare poor quality pitch offering uneven bounce and assist to spin which I don’t think is a great idea for player development. It is what it is. Good bowlers will find a way.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

It's only IPL and then some dismiss the same blatant hypocrisy in the ICC events....

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

It's only IPL and then some dismiss the same blatant hypocrisy in the ICC events....

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Whate are you even taking about?
It was a home game for LSG but curator cannot change the nature of the pitch overnight.
There is different kind of soil all over the country and nature of pitches reflect that. Generally pitches for LOI in India have always been batting friendly with some assistance for spin.
Curator is not going to create a minefield for a one day or T20 match.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Whate are you even taking about?
It was a home game for LSG but curator cannot change the nature of the pitch overnight.
There is different kind of soil all over the country and nature of pitches reflect that. Generally pitches for LOI in India have always been batting friendly with some assistance for spin.
Curator is not going to create a minefield for a one day or T20 match.

Ask Zaheer and Rahane then why are they complaining

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Ask Zaheer and Rahane then why are they complaining

They can complain all they want. Players always complain. It's not like a black Vigo is waiting for them. It's a ploy to put the curator under a bit of pressure. It's kind of gamesmanship.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Ask Zaheer and Rahane then why are they complaining

Ganguly wanted a spin friendly raging turner vs Australia in 2005 and curator told him to take a hike. I have interacted with a couple of these curators in Mullanpur and Mohali and they have a mind of their own as per local conditions. They will not put any fan or any other thing.. no matter what anyone says. These guys take pride in their work on the pitch with their own soil. Zaheer and Rahane will be told to take a hike.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Ganguly wanted a spin friendly raging turner vs Australia in 2005 and curator told him to take a hike. I have interacted with a couple of these curators in Mullanpur and Mohali and they have a mind of their own as per local conditions. They will not put any fan or any other thing.. no matter what anyone says. These guys take pride in their work on the pitch with their own soil. Zaheer and Rahane will be told to take a hike.

Does all Indian curators toe their line or what some board says? ...

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Does all Indian curators toe their line or what some board says? ...

The guidelines from board and this is only by speaking to 2 persons, is to make home advantage spin friendly pitches for test matches and flatter wickets for LOI. But some pitches have a basic nature e.g. Mohali has bounce due to harder soil, Chennai has sharp turn due to red soil, Lucknow has a bit of slowness due to black soil, Bangalore has minimal turn.
In 2005 even Anil Kumble, had a go at curator after losing to Australia and if you look at that match there was very minimal amount of turn on that pitch and Clarke played beautifully. The curator told Anil Kimble to bowl better .
These pitches are not some automated surfaces where you change their nature overnight, unless you blow industrial fans and dig up the pitch