Sunil Gavaskar has raised concerns over the lengthening duration of Indian Premier League matches and what he terms unnecessary on-field activity during games. While the IPL continues to entertain fans with thrilling contests and emerging young stars, many matches this season have stretched well beyond the expected three-hour window, sometimes crossing four hours.
This has started to test viewers' patience. Even though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced penalties for slow over-rates, delays remain a recurring issue.
Gavaskar's observations on field invasions
Gavaskar believes one major reason behind the slowdown is too many people entering the field during play. He pointed out that reserve players and support staff frequently walk onto the ground, even for small tasks like handing drinks.
"Often, one sees the unnecessary sight of reserve players stepping onto the ground to give a bottle of water to a fielder near the boundary. That should not be allowed, as it effectively means more than 11 players on the field while play is on, even if it is between deliveries," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-day. "During strategic time-outs too, one often sees half a dozen people on the field, including batters who are yet to come in. That is taking liberties too far. Apart from two reserve players carrying drinks and two members of the coaching staff, nobody else should be allowed on the ground."
Calls for stricter rules and faster play
He also stressed maintaining discipline and respect for the field, recalling advice from Richie Benaud.
"As Richie Benaud once told me at the start of my broadcasting career, the ground is a sacred place and should be entered only by those officiating and those playing. This is why, if I am not doing a pitch report or a TV show, I rarely step onto the field. Hopefully, the BCCI will also ensure that committee members with all-access accreditation do not cross the boundary. Please maintain the sanctity of the playing area," he added.
"Since all batters are already in the dugout, the allowance of two minutes can be reduced to one minute. If a batter is still not ready to face the bowler, then after a couple of warnings, penalty runs should be imposed."
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