IPL 2025: Bowlers vs Batters – Shardul Thakur demands an end to the run-fest

Run-fests? More like bowler bloodbaths. IPL 2025 has turned into a six-hitting circus, and bowlers are the unwilling entertainers. With 200+ scores already recorded 10 times this season, frustration is brewing in the bowling camp, and Shardul Thakur has finally had enough.

Speaking ahead of Lucknow Super Giants’ home clash against Punjab Kings, Thakur voiced what every bowler has been feeling: “All we want is a fair chance and fair opportunity in the game.” Right now, that balance is nowhere to be found. The pitches have turned into batter’s paradises, and bowlers are struggling to survive.

Batsmen Feast, Bowlers Suffer

It’s no secret that T20 cricket has increasingly tilted in favor of batters. Flat pitches, shorter boundaries, and high-powered bats have made it a nightmare for bowlers, and 2025 has taken it to another level. Just look at the numbers—10 scores above 200 already, and we’re only a few weeks into the season.

Even franchises like Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, known for their spin-heavy attacks, are pleading for more balance. The game is supposed to be a contest, but when 200+ scores become routine, where’s the challenge for the batters?

Will Curators Listen?

The question now is—will pitch curators take note? The demand isn’t for seaming monsters or raging turners, but for a balanced surface where both bat and ball can compete.

Thakur’s call isn’t just personal; it represents a larger concern across the bowling community. Some bowlers stay silent, but the discontent is real. If this trend continues, are we heading toward an era where bowlers become obsolete, and T20 cricket turns into a boundary-hitting exhibition?

For now, all eyes are on the IPL curators. Will they adjust, or will bowlers continue to be nothing more than bowling machines serving up six-hitting practice? Time will tell, but one thing is certain—the bowlers have spoken, and they want their game back.