Reaches unprecedented heights with batting dominance IPL 2026cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar started discussions about the future of the format. Totals past the 200 and even 250-run mark have gone from rare feats to routine performances, often leaving the bowlers with little room for error. Speaking at the ESPNcricinfo Awards, Tendulkar suggested a number of major structural changes aimed at restoring parity between the bat and the ball, sparking fresh conversations in the cricketing world.
Sachin urges IPL authorities to introduce new rules for better balance of play
Tendulkar took direct aim at the controversial Impact Player rule and publicly demanded that it be scrapped altogether. The arrangement, introduced ahead of the 2023 season, allows franchises to replace a member of the starting XI at any point in a match with one of five nominated substitutes. Although intended to introduce a layer of tactical flexibility, Tendulkar claimed to have stacked the deck heavily against the bowlers, expanding his batting lineup significantly.
“I feel that in the T20 format you just have to play 20 overs and then you add another batsman to that, where the bowlers are already challenged, I see that imbalance.“, Tendulkar explained.
His stance echoes the sentiments of modern leaders like the Indian captain Shubman Gill and ex-capt Rohit Sharma. Critics have long warned that the rule diminishes the traditional value of true all-rounders, as teams don’t need to rely on versatile players when they can simply follow a specialist powerhouse.
Also READ: Sachin Tendulkar makes up his mind on Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s future in Test cricket
Tendulkar redesigns power plays and bowling quotas for tactical parity
In addition to abolishing the substitution rule, the ‘Master Blaster’ proposed two innovative structural solutions to give field captains more agency. His first offering targets the traditional over-six mandatory power play. Tendulkar suggested splitting it into a mandatory over four”power play of strokes” at the beginning of the inning, while also allowing the field captain to choose exactly when to deploy the remaining two power plays. To further help the seeding side, these delayed passes will allow an extra fielder outside the 30-yard ring, turning the power play into a defensive weapon.
His final piece of advice is aimed at maximizing the team’s best bowling assets. Currently, bowlers are restricted to a maximum of four overs per match. Tendulkar questioned why the game’s best bowlers were locked down so heavily when the elite batsmen could theoretically hold the crease for the entire 20 overs. He suggested allowing each team to bowl one outstanding bowler.
By giving captains the option to throw in a batsman for an extra six balls, the amendment could serve as an important counterweight to the explosive power that has defined the current era. While the BCCI is yet to signal any immediate policy change, Tendulkar’s plan provides a concrete framework for fairer competition.
