'They need to...' Former WI bowling great Andy Roberts schools ICC on 'concern for bowlers' in modern-day cricket, especially leagues like IPL

The ongoing Indian Premier League 2024 has ignited a big debate around the ‘concern for bowlers’ in modern-day cricket. The 200+ and 250+ totals becoming a new normal has emerged as one of the big headaches for the bowlers to find room for themselves to survive in the modern-day generations’ cut-throat competitive cricket.

There have been 4 times in the ongoing IPL 2024 when the team total crossed the mark of 250+ runs, three times it has been scored by Sunrisers Hyderabad; while RCB scored 262 runs while chasing the mammoth target of 288 runs.

Meanwhile, the former legendary West Indies pace bowler Andy Roberts has come up with a very blunt opinion in which he schooled the International Cricket Council (ICC) to step in to make things a bit easier and make this competition fairer for the bowlers in the modern-day cricket.

“One inch down the leg side, it’s a wide; one inch above the head it’s a no-ball. So they know where all the balls are going. Once you know where the ball is heading, you prepare for that shot. I don’t know what I would do if I were playing today,” said Andy Roberts to ‘Indian Sports Fans’ Founder Sunil Yash Kalra in a live TV show on India News.

“You have less than two feet to make an error. They need to make the rules a bit fairer. Everything is made for batting. ICC needs to step in and make a few changes,” he added later.

Kohli's coach Rajkumar Sharma supported Andy Roberts' statement for bowlers

Meanwhile, star Indian batter Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma was also a part of the panel on this show. He also spoke in favour of bowlers and echoed the opinion of the ‘great’  Andy Roberts.

“See, there are a lot of things; the batters are playing the kind of shots which are making the bowlers helpless; the reverse sweeps, switch hits, and scoops are leaving very little room for the bowlers to sustain. But still, a few bowlers are getting success namely Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult etc. These guys bowl with a big heart. While speaking of spinners, I don’t think anyone other than Yuzvendra Chahal is trying something brave,” he added later.