IPL 2025: Shardul Thakur Urges Fair Pitch Conditions Ahead of LSG’s Home Clash Against PBKS

LSG pacer says bowlers are being reduced to spectators on flat tracks, calls for balanced wickets and voices concern over the Impact Player rule’s influence on the game.

Lucknow, March 31: As Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) gear up for their first home game of IPL 2025 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday at the Ekana Stadium, pacer Shardul Thakur has made a strong case for bowlers, urging curators to prepare more balanced pitches that don’t overly favour batters.

Speaking ahead of the match, Shardul voiced what many bowlers have been quietly feeling this season. “It’s not just about what I want — it’s about what every bowler wants,” Shardul said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “Many of them might not get the chance to say it publicly, but we all want pitches where the game is fair and not completely tilted in favour of batters.”

The IPL 2025 season has already seen six teams breach the 200-run mark, with Sunrisers Hyderabad smashing a mammoth 286/6 in their opening game. Shardul pointed out that flat wickets, combined with the introduction of the Impact Player rule, are turning games into one-sided affairs.

“The Impact Player rule is certainly an entertainment factor. It allows teams to play an extra batter, which adds depth and firepower to the line-up. But the real concern is how flat the pitches are. You’re playing with an additional batter and on belters — that makes it almost impossible for bowlers to make an impact. We just want a fair chance to get wickets,” he explained.

Thakur also emphasized the mental pressure this creates for bowling units. “All we’re asking is for the contest to be balanced. If you want to see quality cricket, bowlers also need some assistance from the surface — be it a bit of seam, bounce or turn.”

Having joined LSG as a replacement for Mohsin Khan after going unsold in the last auction, Shardul has made an instant impact. With six wickets in just two games at an average of 8.83 — including a match-winning 4/34 against SRH — he is currently the third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

As LSG look to build momentum at home, Shardul’s voice adds to the growing chorus demanding more thoughtful pitch preparation and a relook at rules that may be tilting the T20 format too far in favour of the bat.