IPL 2026 | ‘Roads’, rule change and record-shattering batters

‘Roads’, rule change and record-shattering batters

The Indian Premier League has turned into a boundary-hitting exhibition in recent years with fielders becoming spectators and spectators becoming fielders.

Flat surfaces, which are often described as ‘roads’ in this part of the world, short boundaries across venues and use of the much-debated Impact Player rule are allowing the batters to be uber-aggressive from the get-go.

Since the pitches are largely demon-free for the willow-wielders and offer little hope for the bowlers, the fielding teams are forced to look to the heavens to avoid being sent on a leather hunt. But their prayers were hardly answered in the 2025 and 2024 IPL seasons as the 200-run mark was breached 52 and 41 times respectively.

The trend of high-scoring matches could well continue in the upcoming edition if glimpses from the intra-squad games are anything to go by.

Certain factors help us understand why teams are inclined towards beefing up their batting units and outbatting their opponents.

There is a depletion of top-quality bowling resources in sides like Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, who have been hamstrung by injuries and unavailability of some key players.