Published: June 1, 2026 at 5:35 pm
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has called for a rethink of T20 cricket’s playing conditions, advocating reforms that would restore balance between bat and ball and ensure bowlers remain an influential force in the game’s shortest format.
Speaking at the Cricinfo Honours Awards, Tendulkar reflected on the rapid evolution of T20 cricket and the growing challenges faced by bowlers in an era of soaring scoring rates and increasingly batting-friendly conditions.
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The cricket icon noted that while innovation has played a key role in the growth of T20 cricket, preserving the contest between bat and ball remains essential to maintaining the format’s excitement and unpredictability.
“I feel there are a few things which, on a personal note that I can say, I think the impact player needs to go away,” Tendulkar stated. “When in a T20 format you just have to play 20 overs, and then you are adding one more batter to that line-up where bowlers are already being challenged, I find that imbalance.”
As part of his vision for the future of the game, Tendulkar proposed a significant evolution of the traditional six-over powerplay. Under his suggestion, the first four overs would continue as the conventional batting powerplay with only two fielders allowed outside the circle. The remaining two overs, however, could be strategically deployed by the fielding captain at any point during the innings.
The proposal would not only introduce a fresh tactical dimension to T20 cricket but also provide captains with an opportunity to influence crucial phases of the game and respond dynamically to match situations. “So, you know, you are able to control the game better,” Tendulkar explained while outlining the concept.
Sachin moots one bowler getting 5 overs
The recommendation comes amid growing debate within the cricketing fraternity around the increasing dominance of batters in T20 cricket. With totals regularly crossing the 200-run mark and bowlers facing ever-shrinking margins for error, Tendulkar’s comments have reignited discussions around how the format can evolve without compromising the competitive balance that lies at its heart.
To rectify this imbalance, Tendulkar recommended that, “One bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs. Because invariably the best bowler of the side is going to bowl that fifth over. Wouldn’t you want to see that best bowler bowl more? The top batters are batting sometimes even 20 overs. Why shouldn’t the best bowler be bowling five overs?”
His observations underline a broader belief that the future growth of T20 cricket depends not only on entertaining strokeplay but also on preserving meaningful opportunities for bowlers and captains to shape the outcome of matches through skill, strategy and innovation.
The comments were made during the Cricinfo Honours Awards where Tendulkar was recognised as the Greatest Batter of the 21st Century by a distinguished jury of cricketing greats.
