The conclusion of the Champions Trophy in March will usher in another highly anticipated season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). As fans gear up for the 2025 edition, IPL 2024 left a lasting impression, particularly in the way batters dominated the tournament. The season saw multiple 200+ totals, and in a groundbreaking moment, the record for the highest total in IPL history was shattered.
Former Indian cricketer and renowned analyst Aakash Chopra weighed in on this dramatic shift in T20 cricket, highlighting how the fearless approach of batters has transformed the shortest format of the game. Citing the high-scoring thriller between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chopra emphasized how modern batters have redefined aggressive stroke play.
“IPL 2024 was all about the batsmen. We’ve had a glimpse into the future of T20 cricket, and it’s only getting more explosive. Players are clearing boundaries effortlessly, sixes are raining down, and any target seems chaseable. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 277—who would have imagined such a score in T20 cricket?,” Aakash Chopra said on JioHotstar.
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He further added, “It put Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan under immense pressure, but then they stepped up. As Rohit took his stance and Ishan started attacking, the game’s complexion changed. It felt like anything was possible.”
Chopra marveled at how the relentless aggression never ceased. “One batter gets out, another comes in and continues the onslaught. The pattern just repeats. What’s fascinating is that in this particular game, the team that hit more sixes actually lost. Mumbai cleared the ropes 20 times, while Hyderabad hit 18, yet it was SRH who came out victorious. That’s the beauty of this format—it’s unpredictable, yet exhilarating,” he added.
Reflecting on this aggressive evolution, Aakash Chopra pointed out that even during the ODI World Cup in India six months ago, such high scores were a rarity. However, the pace of the game has changed drastically in just a short span.
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“Six months ago, 277 was an unimaginable score, even in ODIs. Even in a World Cup played in India, we didn’t see this level of aggression. But suddenly, batters have unlocked a new dimension. Pitches are conducive to stroke play, the impact player rule gives teams more options, and batting depth has improved. But the biggest change isn’t in skill—it’s in mindset. Batters have realized that with a fearless approach, the sky’s the limit,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
As IPL 2025 approaches, one thing is clear: modern T20 batting is undergoing a revolution, and this fearless mindset is here to stay.
