While Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s astonishing rise has left Greg Chappell impressed, the former Australia captain believes the teenager’s record-breaking IPL season also exposes a deeper problem within T20 cricket.
Writing in a column for ESPNcricinfo, Chappell argued that modern T20 cricket has tilted too heavily in favour of batters, making extraordinary performances appear increasingly routine.
The former India coach was full of praise for Sooryavanshi, who scored 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 at a staggering strike rate of 237.3.
“At just 15 years of age, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not merely make a mark on the tournament, he detonated it. Amassing 776 runs with a strike rate of 237.3, he systematically dismantled some of the most sophisticated bowling attacks on the planet. His record-shattering 72 sixes eclipsed Chris Gayle’s legendary single-season milestone, establishing a benchmark that defies conventional cricket logic,” Chappell wrote.
However, Chappell argued that performances of such magnitude should not be possible unless the game has become heavily skewed in favour of batters.
“If a child who has barely completed his physical development can step onto the global stage and effortlessly humiliate elite international bowlers, it exposes a systemic illness within the sport,” Chappell said.
According to Chappell, the imbalance has been worsened by innovations such as the Impact Player rule in the IPL, which effectively allows teams to field an additional specialist batter.
“The structural parameters of modern T20 have turned a rare, magical masterclass into an assembly-line expectation. This imbalance has been institutionalised by the short-sighted introduction of the Impact Player rule in the IPL, a tactical luxury that effectively grants the batting side an extra specialist hitter without consequence,” he added.
Chappell warned that T20 cricket was approaching a tipping point and risked becoming little more than a batting exhibition unless steps were taken to restore balance between bat and ball.
To address the issue, the former Australia captain proposed three significant changes to the format.
GREG CHAPPELL’S 3 SUGGESTIONS TO SAVE T20 CRICKET
1. Limit batting teams to six wickets
Chappell proposed reducing the number of wickets available to a batting side from ten to six. He argued that modern teams treat wickets as disposable because of the depth in their line-ups, and that a six-wicket limit would make collapses more costly while encouraging smarter risk-taking.
2. Introduce more grass on pitches
The former Australia captain suggested that T20 pitches should retain at least 3mm of live grass to generate seam movement and carry for fast bowlers. He also proposed preparing surfaces with contrasting ends – one grassy and one dry – to create greater tactical variety.
3. Change the LBW law
Chappell recommended changing the LBW law so that any ball projected to hit the stumps would result in a dismissal, regardless of where it pitched. He believes the change would remove a significant advantage currently enjoyed by batters and give bowlers a greater chance of success.
