New Delhi: Given the run-plundering at IPL 2026, bowlers shouldn’t be deemed negative if they look to contain batters rather than dismiss them, feels Bhuvneshwar Kumar though it risks an overkill and boredom among fans.

In the ongoing edition so far, 31 out of the 40 matches have seen scores of over 200, including a record 265-run chase from Punjab Kings against Delhi Capitals.

“The biggest change is that batters no longer hold back, even when the ball is swinging in the powerplay. Earlier, there was more respect for conditions, but now the approach is consistently aggressive,” veteran RCB pacer Kumar told JioHotstar.

“That’s where the mindset shift for bowlers becomes important, being defensive isn’t negative, it’s about bowling to a plan and targeting weaknesses.

“On flat wickets with no assistance, the approach becomes more defensive, not in a negative way, but with the focus on controlling runs and avoiding boundaries, especially against aggressive batters. But when there is some help in the air, the mindset shifts towards being aggressive and looking for wickets,” he said.

“Even if you get a bit of luck with edges or movement, the intent is to keep attacking and create opportunities rather than just containing.” Talking about his and Hazlewood’s brilliant display, Bhuvneshwar said it was all about focussing on the small details.

“A lot of it comes down to preparation and understanding situations. The planning, even down to small details, plays a big role, and having experienced players like Josh Hazlewood helps, because that communication on the field becomes crucial in adapting to conditions.”

Boring?

So many high-scoring matches risks onset of boredom among fans and it is their reaction that would ultimately decide if the balance between ball and bat would be skewed in favour of the later.

“From my point of view, I’m deeply entrenched in the game. I’m getting consumed by what’s happening in the here and now,” Sunrisers Hyderabad assistant coach James Franklin said.

“The opinion of whether it’s getting boring or not is probably up to the likes of yourselves and the consumers that watch it.

“We’re dealing with the here and now in terms of this in real time, this is how the games are panning out at the moment that are high scoring. We have to, from a coaching and a team point of view, work generally with that.”