Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s batting coach and mentor, Dinesh Karthik, commended the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season for redefining T20 cricket with towering scores becoming common. Teams are fearlessly chasing down 200-plus targets due to flat pitches, short boundaries, and the impact player rule. Recently, Punjab Kings set a new record by successfully chasing down 265 against Delhi Capitals.
Karthik acknowledged the challenging nature of the game, noting the inhuman batting approach at times and the need for aggressive play. He highlighted the evolving landscape of T20 cricket, with run-making in power-plays exceeding 10 runs per over and a decrease in dot-ball percentage. The impact player rule has significantly influenced team strategies, leading to high-scoring matches.
The balance between bat and ball in the IPL remains a topic of debate, but Karthik believes the T20 format is in a good place. He emphasized the positive changes in cricket due to innovations like added reviews and the impact player rule. Karthik expressed satisfaction with the competitive nature of IPL matches, where teams push each other to excel, raising the game’s standards.
Karthik described how the game has transformed, with 220 becoming the new 180 in T20s and batting power driving this change. He highlighted the bowlers’ challenges on flat pitches against power-hitting batters and emphasized the need for more variations in bowling strategies. The evolving nature of pitches will continue to influence whether matches become run-fests or not.
Shot-making in T20s has evolved into power-driven strokes, focusing on adding more power to traditional shots to clear boundaries. Karthik noted the increased power and clever positioning of batters during power-plays, leading to consistent high scores. He credited the role of impact players and analytics in shaping team strategies and enhancing performance.
