IPL's effect on bat making
Hindustan Times explores how IPL has affected the way bats are being made, and how much of a boom it has contributed to the bat making industry
01-May-2013
Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has brought more credence towards the use of bigger bats as the boundaries are reined in and the crowd expects sixes galore. In a feature with the Hindustan Times, the owners of Sareen Sports (SS) and Sanspareils Greenlands (SG) discuss the evolution of batting blades and how the business has boomed, especially during IPL season.
"Everyone wants customised heavier bats for T20, bats that can hit sixes. Pollard wields the heaviest (1400gm). Yusuf also prefers a heavy bat. Other big names on this list are Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Chris Gayle (around 1300gm)," says Paras Anand, owner of Sansparaeils Greenlands.
Apart from big hitting, the other reason for the choice of heavier blades Anand feels is the short duration. "Using a heavy bat in Tests and ODIs puts more pressure on the arms and back. But in T20 games you play just 60 to 70 balls."