11 July,2026 09:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
Salil Ankola, former selector; (right) Surendra Bhave, former selector
Former national selectors Salil Ankola and Surendra Bhave believe that the shorter boundaries and flatter pitches in the multi-million dollar franchise-based Indian Premier League are creating a false confidence among Indian batters which is why the reigning T20 world champions have suffered two back-to-back overseas series defeats recently.
Having lost 0-2 to Ireland, the Shreyas Iyer-led India team are 0-3 down to England after four matches with the fifth and final game to be played in Southampton today.
"In the IPL, the boundaries are small and pitches are flat, so our batters are used to these shorter distances and unresponsive pitches. But in overseas conditions, the ball is moving and has a different bounce, so it's totally different. This is not to criticise the IPL, but it creates a false confidence because it helps the batter a lot. But when you go outside the country you struggle," Ankola told mid-day on Friday.
Ankola, who represented the country in one Test and 20 ODIs, insists batters should value their wickets like skipper Shreyas Iyer (scored 49-ball 80 not out) did in the fourth game, which the visitors lost by nine wickets at Bristol on Thursday.
"Yesterday [Thursday] I felt that the batters were not interested in protecting their wicket at all. You won't get to hit every ball and that too on those pitches. Singles and doubles were missing, and everyone was going for big shots, gifting away their wickets. But, see Shreyas was the only batter to graft his innings. You should value your wicket, only then can you score runs. Shreyas is scoring runs because he's a technically correct batsman. You have to choose the ball wisely [to play shots] and you can't take the bowler lightly," added Ankola.
Former Maharashtra skipper Bhave echoed similar feelings. "T20 cricket is a tough format when it comes to playing on different pitches. The conditions make a huge difference. I've always believed that we should leave something in the IPL pitches for bowlers. We haven't got the results in our favour in England, so I'm sure our analysts, coaches and everyone is thinking about this now," Bhave told mid-day, adding that the series defeat against Ireland was shocking.
