Anupam Mittal’s Fiery IPL Take Sparks Debate on Bat-Ball Imbalance

Introduction: When Cricket Becomes a One-Sided Show

As cricket fans buckle up each year for the spectacle that is the Indian Premier League, the 2025 season has reignited a familiar controversy: is the balance between bat and ball being lost? This time, it’s not just ex-cricketers or analysts weighing in, but entrepreneurs like Shark Tank India judge and People Group founder Anupam Mittal, who added his voice to the growing concern that IPL matches are becoming too skewed in favor of batsmen. His remarks have struck a nerve online and spurred a new wave of discussion about the future of the sport’s most lucrative tournament.

Original

Anupam Mittal, the well-known entrepreneur and judge on Shark Tank India, recently voiced his criticism of the IPL 2025 season, pointing out that the game now seems overly tilted toward batsmen. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mittal joked, “Everything is a wide, no(ball), 4 or 6,” and even went as far as to say that bowlers should be replaced with bowling machines. His remark reflects growing frustration among fans and critics who feel that the excitement of a well-balanced game is being lost.

The IPL 2025 season, which kicked off on March 22 and runs until May 25, features 74 matches across Indian cities. The inaugural match saw the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens.

Mittal’s post triggered mixed reactions. Some users agreed wholeheartedly, calling the game “rigged in the batsman’s favour” and likening it to “a video game.” Others took a more humorous approach, with one user quipping, “Ap shaddi karvate karvate cricket expert kb se ban gaye?” Meanwhile, another tried to balance the argument by pointing out that top-paid players in IPL 2025 still include many bowlers and all-rounders.

In a separate post, Mittal also advocated for using India’s UPI infrastructure to challenge global giants like Visa and Mastercard. Praising UPI for enabling cost-free, frictionless digital payments, he questioned why Indian innovation couldn’t disrupt the global payments space, which is currently dominated by companies that charge high fees on transactions.

What Undercode Say:

Anupam Mittal’s criticism of IPL 2025 highlights a deeper issue that has plagued T20 cricket over the past few years: the fading contest between bat and ball. His statement, while laced with sarcasm, touches on a reality that even cricket purists and former players acknowledge—pitches, rules, and playing conditions now disproportionately favor batting spectacle over strategic bowling.

There’s commercial logic behind this shift. High-scoring games with towering sixes and dramatic chases are crowd-pullers and great for broadcast ratings. The IPL isn’t just cricket; it’s an entertainment franchise. But in the pursuit of entertainment, the integrity of the game suffers. When 200+ scores become routine and bowlers are reduced to damage-control roles, the narrative shifts from “who will win?” to “how high can they score?”

While some fans still revel in fireworks-filled matches, a growing section finds the predictability of outcomes off-putting. The charm of T20 cricket was in its volatility—where a single over could flip the script. Now, it feels like bowlers are just sacrificial pawns in a batsman’s showreel.

It’s also worth examining the economic dimension. One user rightly pointed out that bowlers still earn hefty contracts. That’s true, but many are picked for their utility in death overs or as all-rounders, not pure bowling prowess. The fact remains: rules like flat pitches, small boundaries, two-bouncer limitations, and field restrictions hamper bowlers’ effectiveness. Add to that the newer Impact Player rule, and the scales tip further in the batter’s direction.

Mittal’s comments may seem out of place coming from a businessman, but his platform has amplified a valid conversation. His unrelated remarks on UPI versus Visa/Mastercard further show that he isn’t shy about challenging existing power structures—be it in finance or cricket.

What’s perhaps most telling is the way fans reacted. The blend of humor, sarcasm, and genuine concern suggests that people are passionate but also conflicted. They want thrilling cricket but not at the expense of fairness. If IPL organizers continue to ignore these signals, they risk alienating a segment of their core audience.

🔍 Fact Checker Results:

✅ IPL 2025 indeed kicked off on March 22 and features 74 matches across India.
✅ Anupam Mittal did make the quoted remarks about bowlers and the IPL on X.
✅ UPI’s growing reputation as a low-cost digital payment tool is factually accurate and has been praised globally.

📊 Prediction:

If the IPL continues to prioritize high-scoring thrillers over balance, we can expect several developments:

Bowlers might opt out or renegotiate contracts due to performance-related mental stress.
Viewer engagement could dip among purists, affecting long-term loyalty.
New rules may be introduced by 2026 to restore balance—such as bigger boundaries or relaxed bowling restrictions.

The IPL has always evolved—now it must evolve fairly.

References:

Reported By: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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