Cheteshwar Pujara and Sanjay Bangar believe the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) has transformed the landscape of T20 batting, with teams adopting an ultra-aggressive approach that has produced record
scoring rates and unprecedented run chases throughout the season.
The ongoing edition has already delivered extraordinary numbers. After 35 matches, teams have collectively scored at a run rate of 9.79, while the Powerplay scoring rate has climbed to a record 10 runs per over. Batters across franchises have attacked from the very first delivery, with young stars such as Abhishek Sharma, Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh and Ishan Kishan leading the charge.
‘Batting Approach Evolved’
Pujara believes this dramatic rise in scoring reflects a major tactical shift rather than a temporary trend.
“This season feels different because it’s not just one phase, it’s the entire batting approach that’s evolved. Yes, the Impact Player rule has given teams the freedom to go harder for longer, but the sheer volume of 200-plus totals and, more importantly, how often they’re being chased down is outstanding,” Pujara was quoted as saying to JioStar.
The numbers underline the change. There have already been 29 totals of 200 or more this season, compared to just 15 at the same stage four years ago. Teams have also completed 10 successful chases of 200-plus totals, surpassing the previous IPL record with more than half the tournament still remaining.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the standout performers of the season. The 15-year-old shares the record for the fastest fifty this year, reaching the milestone in just 15 balls on three occasions. Among players who have featured in at least eight innings, he also has the highest strike rate, at 238.09.
Highlighting the impact of fearless young batters, Pujara added, “Players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Priyansh Arya and Devdutt Padikkal are setting the tone with fearless intent, but it’s the collective mindset across teams that stands out. In today’s game, it’s not about building an innings anymore; it’s about scoring as many runs in the least number of balls possible and hitting as many boundaries while doing that.”
‘Most Explosive IPL Season’
Bangar agreed, emphasising the growing importance of strike rate in modern T20 cricket.
“This has easily been the most explosive IPL season we’ve seen. The intent from ball one is on another level, especially in the Powerplay, where teams are no longer feeling their way in but going flat out,” he said.
“You look at players like Abhishek Sharma or Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, they’re setting the tone straightaway and forcing bowlers onto the back foot. Strike rate is everything now, it’s the currency of T20 batting, and that’s why averages have almost become irrelevant in T20 cricket,” Bangar noted.
Crediting the quality of the wickets as well, he concluded, “All this is possible because of great batting surfaces and great work by BCCI curators across the country.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
