Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced strong concerns over the current state of bowling in IPL 2025, claiming that the ever-flattening wickets are making it nearly impossible for bowlers to contain batters. In his latest discussion with analyst Prasanna Agoram, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinner remarked that the situation has become so dire that bowlers might soon need to be “accompanied by personal psychologists”.
This season has already witnessed a run-fest, with three out of the first five matches crossing the 200-run mark in both innings. The trend, which began last year, has only intensified due to flat pitches across franchise home venues and the impact player rule that allows batters to be more aggressive than ever. IPL 2024 had already shattered records for runs, strike rates, and batting averages, and SunRisers Hyderabad nearly replicated their highest-ever tournament score in their very first match of IPL 2025.
R Ashwin elaborated on the challenges bowlers face, emphasizing that conventional wisdom about good deliveries no longer holds true. He pointed out how full tosses, traditionally considered easy to hit, have become a viable defensive option because pitched deliveries often come onto the bat even better. Citing an example, he noted that even Yuzvendra Chahal’s full tosses to Sai Sudharsan resulted in just singles during a match in Ahmedabad.
Currently playing for CSK, Ashwin is fortunate to have Chepauk as his home ground—one of the few venues still offering some assistance to bowlers. CSK began their campaign with a victory over Mumbai Indians, successfully chasing down 156 in the final over. Their next challenge awaits as they take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the same venue on Friday, March 28.
