The issue of the modern T20 game has taken a rather unexpected turn after the famous spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan came up with a statement during the 2026 IPL season. In his view, the league had become “a big business” aimed at entertaining the spectators and not balancing the cricketing side of the sport. Evidence for that he found numerous scores above 200 and fearless batting. The league, in his opinion, is organized so that people stay hooked through boundaries and sixes despite the fact that bowlers suffer and the fundamentals of the sport are ignored.
Muralitharan’s viewpoint on the issue is formed by what he witnesses on the ground. Flattish pitches, aggressive batting starting from ball one, and changing rules make scoring ever higher. The important point here is that nobody thinks about the loss of wickets anymore, everyone goes for attacking shots from the very beginning.
Is The Impact-Player Rule Hurting Bowling Units?
“The big difference is the Impact Player rule,” he said. With this new law, one team can have batting reinforcements without any danger. Regardless of how many early dismissals they suffer, teams can always introduce another batsman to keep up the attack. Consequently, there is no chance of losing momentum and scoring runs becomes easier, often crossing 200 with ease.
Fearless Batting
One of the obvious differences is the mindset. Previously, batters had to construct their innings wisely. But now, they plan to take control right from the beginning. Powerplay runs have increased dramatically from 40-50 to 70-80 routinely. No young player thinks of survival anymore. Instead, they look at how many sixes they can hit, even when facing the best bowlers.
Muralitharan captured this shift, saying, “When we used to play, about 40 to 50 runs was a good score with one wicket in six overs, now the average is 70 to 80.”
Spin Bowling Losing Its Edge
Muralitharan also hinted that traditional skills, especially spin bowling, are losing impact. Even legends, he said, would struggle in current conditions. Flat pitches offer little help. Batters attack spinners without hesitation. While wickets may still come, controlling runs has become far harder. The balance between bat and ball is clearly tilted.
Entertainment Over Balance
At the heart of his opinion lies the concept of entertainment. The league was structured to cater to fans that enjoy seeing some excitement in their games. A low-scoring game can be perceived as boring, which can, in turn, affect the sponsors and viewership. Therefore, the environment favors scoring. As he points out, even if there are “fair wickets,” they might not match the needs of today’s audience.
Muralitharan made the point about entertainment directly, stating, “If we give fair wickets, the spectators will say it’s becoming boring… it is a big business at the moment, sponsors and everything, so you will lose the sponsors and interest of the people.”
To sum up, Muralitharan’s opinion shows one of the major trends in modern T20 cricket. On one hand, despite the rising excitement, the battle between the bat and ball is declining. However, he also implied that the circle would go on, with bowlers adapting, and batters developing a strategy to counteract them. Nevertheless, for now, the IPL remains a high-scoring extravaganza, with business and entertainment leading the game.
