200-plus scores have become an increasingly common sight in the latest edition of the acclaimed Indian Premier League. The recent game between the current champions Chennai Super Kings and the rising Sunrisers Hyderabad is a case in point. Scoring 200 plus used to be highly competitive, if not a match-winning score. Not anymore.
The red-hot Sunrisers, who had won four games back-to-back until the recent defeats to CSK and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), had set the tone for the season with four 200+ scores, which includes a tournament best of 287 against RCB, have been matched by other teams in the franchise who have cleared the 200 run mark routinely. It has now got to a point where 200 and above has become a par score for a team batting first, regardless of pitch conditions, if they are to remain competitive.
The question is, what has changed for this season of the Indian Premier League?
Lessons from Video Games
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To cast the mind back to the 5th generation of gaming consoles (the Play Station 1 era) and the computers of the time that ran games of the time, one may recall games like Brian Lara Cricket 1998. It’s a game that was limited by the technology of the time but not limited in terms of the ‘fun factor.’ One of the features that stood out was an in-game option called ‘slog-mode.’ Enabling this option meant that the batsman, would play only two kinds of shots: defend or attack. The workman-like scoring method that is characteristic of the game by taking ones, twos, and threes were thrown out.
This meant that the team set itself to score big in whatever number of overs. Provided they didn’t get bowled out, which the always-attack slog mode ran the risk of. It was good fun, though, at the time, it seemed quite unrealistic. Scoring 400 plus scores in a 50-over game (Though the game was long over before that). This was in the early 2000s. Fast forward to the early 2020s; things look quite different this year. It almost seems that real life is now mimicking fantasy, as cricket teams are now chasing bigger and bigger scores.
Indian Premier League: The 200plus League
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The fact that Indian Premier League teams are scoring 200plus scores almost routinely has not gone unnoticed. The question is, what is powering this change? Why are more and more teams scoring 200-plus scores, and how can the opposition chase them down? The simple answer is the quality of the players. It is for no simple reason the Indian Premier League is the best and the richest in the world. Fielding top-class talent and a strong contingent of up-and-coming players.
Added to this, one must add the evolving nature of the game. Cricket today is a different kind of sport. The rise of the T20 format itself is an indication of where the game is going. Along with skill and talent, entertainment is a key factor. The money, and interest involved in the game means teams are driven to score big. To keep the fans entertained and to put their mark on the field. The question is, if this keeps up, will the 300-run threshold be surpassed in an Indian premier league game? Only time will tell.
Also Read: Exciting News: The Countdown to India’s T20 World Cup 2024 Squad Announcement
About the Author
Damian Thar writes on a range of topics. In addition to his professional work, he writes essays on subjects like philosophy, history, and culture. He also writes and edits books; in his free time, he makes videos for social commentary. You can find his work here.
