Is cricket becoming a batter's paradise? Legendary Sunil Gavaskar certainly thinks so, and he's not holding back. With the ongoing IPL 2026 season witnessing scores of 250+ becoming almost routine, the batting legend has sounded a loud alarm over the growing imbalance between bat and ball, particularly in T20 cricket.

Gavaskar, never one to mince words, points to three key culprits: shrinking boundaries, stricter fielding restrictions, and the sheer power of modern bats. But his strongest criticism is reserved for the current wide bouncer rule. "Fast bowlers are bowling with one hand tied behind their backs," he argues, lamenting that pacers are penalized when a short ball sails just inches above the batter's head.

Writing in his column for Sportstar, the former India captain calls for a simple tweak: allow fast bowlers a margin of about one foot—roughly the length of a bat handle—above the batter's head when in stance. "That would give the fast bowler some relief and encouragement to fire in some more," he explains, advocating for a rule that gives quicks a fighting chance.

Gavaskar even revisits a dark period in limited-overs cricket when bouncers were completely banned. He recalls how lower-order batters were promoted as pinch-hitters, knowing they wouldn't face short-pitched fire. "When I took over as Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, we brought the bouncer back—one per over per batsman. The pinch-hitters disappeared. More importantly, the bowlers got one of their weapons back."

His message is clear: the game needs balance. For bowlers, especially fast bowlers, to survive and thrive in the T20 era, the ICC Cricket Committee must act. After all, cricket isn't just about sixes—it's about the thrill of a well-directed bouncer that tests a batter's courage.