In 80 overs, more than 900 runs were scored in a single day across two IPL matches

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a competitive T20 domestic tournament since its inaugural season in 2008. And until a few years ago, it remained competitive, keeping alive a balance between the batters and bowlers. In the last few years, the tournament slowly started being labelled a batters’ paradise, but in 2026, it seemed like gully cricket, with batters playing against plastic balls and hitting centuries or scores above 200 in every single game, as if they were part of EA Cricket 07.

Over 900 runs

75 ovrs 986 runs..... 😭😭😭🤯💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀...... What in the góra pakora runs are that........ 9fucking86 runs 😭😭😭😭😭💀💀💀.... This day will not be beaten https://t.co/1zpdUJW4Yr

— 🇮🇳Telangana Scouser (@KittuLFC) April 26, 2026

The recent tournament saw over 900 runs scored in 80 overs across two games. In T20 cricket, scores like 265 and 288 were easily chased, and in a format where centuries are expected to be rare, the centuries of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and KL Rahul went unrecognised. If we compare the IPL's 200+ cores to the Big Bash League, the IPL has had over 100 matches with 200+ scores, whereas the BBL still has only 77 200+ matches in the tournament’s history. In the Caribbean Premier League, this number stands at 55.

No contest between ball and bat

75 ovrs 986 runs..... 😭😭😭🤯💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀...... What in the góra pakora runs are that........ 9fucking86 runs 😭😭😭😭😭💀💀💀.... This day will not be beaten https://t.co/1zpdUJW4Yr

— 🇮🇳Telangana Scouser (@KittuLFC) April 26, 2026

This IPL season, there is no contest between the bat and the ball. For example, the Orange Cap leaders in eight matches have already reached close to 400 runs. The contention is such that as many as nine players have breached the 300-run mark, and anybody out of these nine could win the cap. One must ponder how many runs these players will score to reach the 600-run milestone in the remaining six games. After all, there have been 10 occasions in the IPL so far where Orange Cap winners have scored only 500-600 runs to get the award. However, this season, 600 seems like child's play.

Breakthrough delivered 👌

Anshul Kamboj gets the better of Shardul Thakur. #TATAIPL 2026 | #MIvCSK | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/vkBKeocOG2 pic.twitter.com/Faa010oB3L

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 23, 2026

On the other hand, Purple Cap leaders have grabbed 14 and 13 wickets so far in eight games. If the leaders do not reach the playoffs, how many more will they grab in the six league matches? Given the current struggles of the bowlers, even a target of 20 wickets seems unrealistic.

Boring & injustice

Ipl is a joke for bowlers, if you want to motivate next generation cricketer then I don't think anyone want to become bowler.

Don't cry later on once jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami kind of blower will retire and we will never get anyone like them.pic.twitter.com/MUOB80DKdf

— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) April 25, 2026

The imbalance between batters and bowlers, and the scores above 200 in almost every game, have turned the tournament into a boring affair. There was more chatter around the KKR vs LSG match, which saw wickets fall at quick intervals and scores restricted, leading to a super over. Remember, times have changed; now bowlers are also considered stars of cricket, unlike earlier. Now, bowlers also enjoy a similar status, and therefore nobody enjoys watching Bumrah or Cummins get hit every ball.

Look at Vipraj Nigam’s reaction when Karun Nair dropped both an easy catch and an easy match at the same time.🙏 pic.twitter.com/wh4Jr47gH4

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) April 25, 2026

Overall, fielding and boundary size are two more factors for which batters found a lifeline on multiple occasions. For example, on April 25, 17 matches were dropped across the two games, giving a glimpse of poor fielding and prompting several to question whether the games were scripted.

Maybe not this season, but IPL definitely needs to find ways to balance the game. If not, the tournament's popularity could fall.