IPL business first, cricket next? Sri Lanka great's massive claim on run-fests

Sunrisers Hyderabad spin bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan explained why bowlers have been under pressure, with teams routinely posting 200-plus totals, saying the Indian Premier League is designed to keep fans entertained. The Sri Lanka legend added that the IPL is viewed more as a business and entertainment product rather than a platform focused on developing cricket.

This follows another match where a 200-plus total proved insufficient for victory. On Wednesday night, April 29, SRH chased down a massive 244 target set by Mumbai Indians with eight balls to spare. It marked the second consecutive night of a successful 200-plus chase, after Rajasthan Royals defeated Punjab Kings on Tuesday, April 28. Earlier, PBKS had chased a record 265 against Delhi Capitals with six balls remaining.

MI vs SRH, IPL 2026: Highlights | Scorecard

Teams are now attacking aggressively in the powerplay rather than easing into the innings, which has driven totals significantly higher. Top-order batters are scoring at a much quicker rate compared to middle-order players and even designated finishers.

“I think it is the wickets,” Muralitharan told reporters after SRH’s clash with MI, when asked whether smaller boundary sizes were making it tougher for bowlers. “If we can give fair wickets, but then the spectators will the say its boring ”

Muralitharan stressed that bowlers should not be blamed for conceding runs so freely, pointing instead to pitch conditions and the broader IPL structure, which he believes is tailored to maximise entertainment.

IS IMPACT PLAYER RULES ADDING TO THE WOES?

He also pointed to the impact player rule and how it contributes to high-scoring matches, ensuring fan engagement remains high and sponsors stay invested. The Impact Sub rule has added greater depth to batting lineups and lessened the risk of early wickets, as teams can reinforce their batting later. This allows sides to continue playing attacking cricket even after a poor start, since they often have an extra specialist batter available through the substitution option.

“The 2020 followers are very entertainment (oriented), so they want to see fours and sixes, so that's why the tournament is built like that, and the extra player to come and bat, and (teams) not to go low on scores,” he continued. “So making it an entertainment. This is not looking at like you are developing cricket or not. So it is a big business at the moment, right? Sponsors and everything. If the game gets boring, you lose the sponsors and interest of the people.”

After 40 matches, IPL 2026 has already seen 31 instances of teams crossing the 200-run mark. Such totals have frequently been chased down, with nine successful 200-plus pursuits so far.

Despite the high-scoring games, SRH’s Eshan Malinga is now in possession of the purple cap with 15 wickets to his name and Muralitharan believes the balance could eventually tilt back towards bowlers, as they reassess and adapt their skills after the tournament in response to the challenging conditions.

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Published By:

Naman Suri

Published On:

Apr 30, 2026 12:15 IST

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