Indian cricket has always been a spectacle, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) takes that excitement to a whole new level. However, there’s one thing that keeps irking bowlers, and it’s not just the monstrous sixes or sky-high run chases. Retired Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin recently pointed out a major bias in IPL presentation ceremonies—everything seems to be tilted in favor of batters! From the awards to the recognition, it’s almost as if bowlers are just there to feed deliveries for the next big hit.
Are Bowlers Being Sidelined in IPL?
IPL 2025 has already witnessed an explosion of high scores, and Ashwin humorously suggested that a day might come when bowlers will simply run away with the ball to escape the relentless hitting. With batsmen getting the spotlight at every stage, the role of bowlers is increasingly becoming a thankless job.
Statistically, things have changed dramatically. According to data from ESPN Cricinfo, batters' aggressive intent has skyrocketed from 32.6% in IPL 2024 to 54.3% in IPL 2025. If that isn’t alarming for bowlers, here’s more:
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Balls per boundary: Down to 3.9% in 2025 from 5.3% in 2024.
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Balls per six: Reduced to 9.9% in 2025 from 13.7% last season.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad almost broke their own record for the highest score in IPL history when they smashed 286 runs against Rajasthan Royals!
With numbers like these, it’s clear that IPL is becoming more batter-dominated, and Ashwin’s frustration isn’t misplaced.
Ashwin’s Take on IPL’s Presentation Ceremony Bias
Speaking to former cricketer Vivek Razdan and journalist Vimal Kumar, Ashwin voiced his concerns in his signature witty style. He pointed out that IPL presentations feature at least 10 different awards, and almost every player ends up with one. But what about the bowlers?
“IPL ke match presentation mein na kam se kam 10 award hote hain. 50% dono team ke players ko award mil jaata hai. Lekin agar kisi bowler ne accha over daala, usko ek bhi award nahi milta. Super striker, super four, super sixer sab milta hai, lekin super ball ke liye kuch nahi hai.”
(There are at least 10 awards in the IPL match presentation. 50% of the players from both teams get an award. But if a bowler bowls a fantastic over, he doesn't get a single one. There’s a Super Striker, Super Four, Super Sixer, but nothing for a Super Ball.)
He also took a hilarious dig at one of the few bowling-related awards that ever existed:
“Ek baar ek branding ka award diya tha, fastest ball of the day. Lekin agar woh ball chhakka kha gayi, toh bhi usko award mil jaata tha. Kamaal ki cheez hai!”
(Once, there was a branding award for the fastest ball of the day. But even if that ball got smashed for a six, it still won an award. Amazing!)
Is It Time for IPL to Introduce Bowling Awards?
Cricket has always been a batsman’s game, but IPL 2025 has taken that to another level. The shift in balance is clear, and it raises the question—should there be more awards to recognize bowlers? After all, without bowlers, there would be no wickets, no game-changing spells, and no breathtaking dismissals.
Imagine awards like:
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Super Yorker of the Match – For that unplayable toe-crusher.
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Best Death Over Specialist – Recognizing bowlers who excel in the most high-pressure situations.
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Most Economical Bowler – Appreciating those who keep the runs in check.
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Super Ball of the Match – Finally, an award for that one magical delivery!
Batsmen may hit the sixes, but bowlers create moments that define a match. So why not give them their due credit?
Ashwin’s Final Punchline – The Future of Bowlers in IPL
If things continue this way, Ashwin predicts a rather comical but all-too-real scenario:
“Woh din door nahi hai jab bowler ball leke bhaag jaayega ground se. Agar main ball hi nahi daalunga toh aap maaroge kaise?”
(That day isn’t far when a bowler will just run away with the ball. If I don’t bowl, how will you hit?)
While said in jest, his words highlight a serious concern. With every rule and format tweak favoring big-hitting, are we slowly pushing bowlers out of the game? It’s high time IPL rethinks its balance before it turns into a one-dimensional slugfest. Because at the end of the day, cricket is a battle between bat and ball, and both deserve their moment in the spotlight!
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