Give Us a Fair Chance: Shardul Thakur Urges BCCI to Remove ‘Entertainment Factors’ from IPL to Restore Balance
Star Indian pacer Shardul Thakur has made a strong comeback in the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) squad after going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction with a base price of INR 2 crore. He was later brought in as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan.
In just two matches, the 33-year-old has proven to be a key addition to Rishabh Pant’s team, taking six wickets at an economy rate of 8.83. He picked up two wickets against the Delhi Capitals (DC) and followed it up with a four-wicket haul against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), dismissing key batters like Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan.
Shardul Thakur Demands Fair Conditions for Bowlers
According to an ESPN Cricinfo report, Thakur has voiced his concerns over the overuse of flat batting-friendly pitches in the IPL, which favor batters excessively. Speaking on behalf of all bowlers, he urged the BCCI to ensure balanced pitch conditions that provide equal opportunities for both batters and bowlers.
“It’s not just about what I want, but what all bowlers want. Many of them might not get a platform to express their views. All we are asking for is pitches that create a fair contest, rather than one-sided conditions where batters dominate and bowlers struggle. We just want a fair chance to compete,” Thakur stated.
Additionally, the pacer criticized the Impact Player Rule, labeling it as an “entertainment factor” that has significantly altered the game. While acknowledging its role in high-scoring matches, he emphasized that the real reason behind 250+ scores is the batting-friendly pitches, rather than just the rule itself.
“The Impact Player rule adds entertainment value, but these massive scores aren’t just because of this rule. The way pitches are being prepared plays a huge role. As a bowling unit, we are simply asking for a fair chance to take wickets and contribute to our team’s success,” he added.
With bowlers struggling on flat tracks, Thakur’s comments highlight a growing concern in the IPL, where high-scoring games have become the norm. Whether the BCCI will take action to restore balance remains to be seen.
