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Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has shared his valuable insights on increasing the boundary sizes in India for better preparation for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027, so the batters get a better feeling of the major tournament, as in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia there are large boundaries in some venues and the ground dimensions will also be different.
The upcoming tournament will be held from October 4 to November 21. Apart from the ODI World Cup in 2027, and in the following year, Australia and New Zealand will host the T20 World Cup. The boundaries will be longer than the Indian side is used to under home circumstances, and the conditions will also be challenging.
Sunil Gavaskar points out on how to increase boundary sizes
While writing in his Sportstar column, Sunil Gavaskar stated that as soon as the new season for the India National Cricket Team begins, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) needs to make changes in the boundaries and increase the size, as there is much space in space for people to walk behind the LED advertising boards.
“It’s absolutely imperative, when the new Indian season begins, to get the boundary sizes increased so that our batters get used to that before the World Cup next year. At virtually every ground, there is plenty of space for people to walk behind the LED advertising boards, so it tells you that if this space is utilised, the boundary size will automatically increase,” Gavaskar wrote in his Sportstar column.
Why Indian spinners can get help from increased boundary dimensions?
He also pointed out that the larger boundaries will help the spinners to bowl a bit slower, and also the medium pacers can use their slower ones and cutters a bit better, and it will not go into the stands easily. Sunil Gavaskar cited the example of Adil Rashid and Will Jacks.
“This will also give our spin bowlers the opportunity to bowl a bit slower so that they can get the loop and turn that a slower delivery produces. The medium-pace darters they currently bowl actually help the batter use the pace, get under the ball and power it into the stands. Adil Rashid and Will Jacks bowled almost 8 to 10 km/h slower than the Indian spinners and so were far more effective than them.”
"It’s necessary to play smart cricket"- Sunil Gavaskar shares valuable insights for India batters
Sunil Gavaskar also pointed out that the Men in Blue batters need to play the game with their minds and opt to play safe cricket against the best of bowlers. They do not need to hurry in the ODI format as they can target bowlers who are a bit weak in the line-up to compensate for the previous overs, as he believes that no team has five best bowlers in the line-up.
“It’s necessary to play smart cricket. So, figure out the bowler who doesn’t need to be counter-attacked. Then target the bowlers against whom you can make up for the quiet over from the better bowler.”
Sunil Gavaskar said, “No team in the world has five top bowlers, and there will always be eight to 12 overs in a T20 game where the runs can be looted. Similarly, in the 50-over format, a little patience won’t hurt even if the team is chasing a big score like 380-plus.”
