'Nothing wrong with changing manufacturer': Gautam Gambhir suggests dumping Kookaburra ball amidst high-scoring IPL matches

SportsTak Desk

• Wed • 17 Apr 2024

Gautam Gambhir and Kumar Sangakkara after the clash between KKR and RR (Getty Images)

Highlights:

Gautam Gambhir feels there is nothing wrong with changing ball manufacturer.

There have been several high-scoring encounters in the ongoing IPL.

This Indian Premier League (IPL), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have broken the record for highest scored in franchise cricket twice. There have been three 270-plus totals in IPL 2024 so far. The impact rule has helped teams make their batting lineup longer and pitch conditions, smaller grounds haven't helped bowlers either. 200-plus scores have become more common and it has led to an argument whether the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) should look to replace the 'Kookaburra' white ball with the 'Duke' ball. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir feels the same too as he doesn’t see anything wrong with changing the manufacturer.

"If a manufacturer cannot produce a ball which can last for 50 overs, might as well change the manufacturer. There’s nothing wrong with changing the manufacturer. What is this compulsion with only using the Kookaburra?" Gambhir said on the 180 Not Out podcast.

On April 16, Rajasthan Royals (RR) chased down the joint-highest target of 224 in IPL history against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Jos Buttler nullified Sunil Narine’s maiden T20I century with his seventh IPL ton.

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Bhogle suggested the same

Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle also batted for a better balance between bat and ball too. He wants more help for pacers as the duke ball does move around more in the air making it tough for batters to premeditate and swing their bats on every delivery.

"I will reiterate this. We need greater balance between bat and ball and in a situation where the pitches aren't helping, the ball must do more in the air. How about a Duke ball, a ball with a more pronounced seam, that allows more lateral movement and ensures batters can't just hit through the line at will. Love to hear expert opinions on this," Bhogle wrote on X.

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However, there was an attempt to bring more balance with the two bouncers per over rule. The new rule did benefit the bowlers as they hurried the batters with a barrage of short balls. But smaller dimensions did not help bowlers’ cause as top-edges flew over the ropes.

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