Shardul Thakur has voiced strong concerns over the IPL's impact substitution rule, claiming it is contributing to unreasonably high scores in the tournament. The 33-year-old pacer expressed his frustration, suggesting that the balance between bat and ball is becoming skewed, making life harder for bowlers.
In the IPL 2025 fixture between SunRisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants, all eyes were on the possibility of Pat Cummins' Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) side setting a new record by crossing the 300-run mark. However, LSG put on a clinical performance, chasing down Hyderabad’s target of 190/9 and winning by five wickets. Thakur, who claimed four crucial wickets in the match—including that of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan—was named Player of the Match for his brilliant bowling performance.
RISING SCORES AND THE IMPACT SUBSTITUTION RULE
During the post-match presentation, Thakur highlighted the growing dominance of batters in the IPL, emphasizing how bowlers seem to have less and less to work with. He attributed this to the introduction of the impact substitution rule, which has led to increasingly inflated scores in the league.
“Bowlers don’t get much help from these types of pitches,” Thakur explained. “In fact, I mentioned before the last game that pitches should be prepared in a way that offers a challenge to both batters and bowlers. But since the introduction of the impact sub-rule, it’s become increasingly common to see teams posting totals of 250, 260, and even 270 runs. This isn't fair to the bowlers,” he added, underscoring his discontent with the current scoring patterns.
Shardul’s comments reflect the frustration many bowlers feel as the game continues to tilt in favour of the batters, especially with teams like SunRisers Hyderabad posting record-breaking totals, such as their massive 286/6 against Rajasthan Royals.
ZAHEER KHAN'S ROLE IN SHARD UL'S IPL RETURN
Shardul’s return to the IPL came after an unexpected phone call from LSG’s mentor, Zaheer Khan. Initially, the bowler went unsold in the IPL auction and had even signed a county contract with Essex to play in the County Championship. However, Zaheer’s call changed his course.
“I had made my own plans. I was ready to play county cricket if I wasn’t picked in the IPL. But during the Ranji Trophy knockouts, Zaheer Khan reached out to me. He said LSG was considering me as a replacement, and that I should stay ready. That was the moment I switched back to an IPL mindset,” Thakur shared, reflecting on how the phone call reignited his hopes.
Shardul, who is currently wearing the Purple Cap after two impressive matches for LSG, added, “Cricket has its ups and downs. Not getting picked in the auction was a setback, but I always believed in my talent. I stayed focused on the moment and kept pushing forward."
STRATEGIZING AGAINST SUNRISERS HYDERABAD'S TOP ORDER
In his post-match analysis, Thakur discussed his plans against the formidable top order of SunRisers Hyderabad, specifically targeting openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. He noted their aggressive style of play and how he saw it as an opportunity to take wickets with the new ball.
“Travis and Abhishek are aggressive and love to take risks, so I felt it was important for me to take my chances as well. With the new ball, there’s always a chance to get wickets if the conditions favour swing. I tried to capitalize on that,” said Thakur, acknowledging how crucial early breakthroughs can be in the high-scoring Hyderabad pitches.
Despite the high totals in the match, Thakur’s disciplined bowling made all the difference, leading his side to a comfortable victory and showcasing his skill as one of the standout performers in IPL 2025.
