On Friday, Punjab Kings chased a score of 262 in the IPL. This edition has not been for the bowlers. Here, we take a look at the list of three ways IPL can make the tournament friendly for bowlers again.
While it is entertaining for the fans, the quality of the game is dropping because of the distance between the bat and the ball. Hence, ways need to be identified to bring more balance between the bat and the ball.
1) Remove the Impact Player rule
Yes, the bowling department also gets an additional hand with this rule. However, unlike the batters who can switch on the fearless mode, bowlers cannot take too many risks. This rule is more helpful for the batters. Removing this rule will help the bowlers as the batters will be more conscious of taking risks.
2) Free Hit must be only for waist-high no-balls in IPL to help the bowlers
Giving a free hit for only waist-high no-balls is one of the ways IPL can make the tournament friendly for bowlers again. Even a slight margin over the line penalises a bowler. Giving an extra ball and a delivery is okay but it could be unfair to hand a free hit to the batters. May be, giving a free hit only in the case of a waist-high no-ball will be more fair for all the parties involved.
3) Allow one bowler to bowl 5 overs
If a bowler is in good flow, he can have more impact on the game. For instance, if a bowler like Bumrah is given 5 overs, we might see more balance between the bat and the ball. This rule will also place more focus on the skills of the bowlers. Hence, it is an interesting option for the stakeholders to consider.
