Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) all-rounder Shardul Thakur has urged for a fairer playing field in IPL 2025, emphasizing the need for balanced pitches that provide equal opportunities to both batters and bowlers. With bowlers struggling to make an impact on batting-friendly tracks, Thakur believes the competition should not be skewed heavily in favor of the batters.
Speaking to the media ahead of Lucknow’s first home game against Punjab Kings, Thakur highlighted the concerns of bowlers who rarely get a say in pitch discussions. IPL 2025 has already witnessed multiple high-scoring encounters, with teams breaching the 200-run mark in 10 out of 11 matches, making it challenging for bowlers to execute their plans effectively.
“It’s not just about what I want; this is something all bowlers would agree on,” Shardul Thakur said. “Many of them don’t get a platform to express their concerns, but the request is simple—pitches should be prepared in a way that keeps the game competitive, rather than making it one-sided in favor of the batters.”
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Thakur’s comments come after a string of high-scoring thrillers, including Sunrisers Hyderabad’s record-breaking 286/6 in their opening game. The LSG all-rounder stressed that cricket is at its best when both bat and ball have an equal say in the contest.
🚨Shardul Thakur Voices Bowlers’ Concerns: “Many Are Not Outspoken, but We All Want Pitches That Offer a Fair Contest Between Bat and Ball”@ThumsUpOfficial @imShard @LucknowIPL #LSG #ShardulThakur #ImpactRule@mishraABH1SHEK #IPL2025 #Lucknowsupergiants pic.twitter.com/KkJ8PsCLkS
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) March 30, 2025
In Lucknow’s previous game, Thakur played a pivotal role in restricting Hyderabad to 190/9, finishing with impressive figures of 4/34. His efforts earned him the Player of the Match award, further reinforcing the need for pitches that reward skillful bowling rather than just power-hitting.
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“Bowlers get very little assistance on such pitches. Before the last game, I had mentioned that the surface should allow both batters and bowlers to compete on equal terms,” Shardul Thakur reiterated at the post-match presentation.
With LSG set to face Punjab Kings on Tuesday, all eyes will be on the pitch conditions in Lucknow. Last season, the venue witnessed a mammoth total of 235/6 by Kolkata Knight Riders, further fueling concerns about the dominance of batters in IPL 2025.
