IPL 2026: Pitch Controversy Explained: Why Teams Feel Home Conditions No Longer Matter
NEW DELHI: Scores above 220 are starting to feel normal in this IPL season. A major reason behind the run-fest has been the kind of batting-friendly pitches being prepared across venues. While fans and cricket experts continue to enjoy the frequent high-scoring thrillers, several IPL franchises are becoming increasingly concerned about one major issue, the disappearance of home advantage.
According to franchise insiders, the strict measures introduced by the BCCI regarding pitch preparation have made conditions almost identical across venues, reducing the edge that home teams traditionally enjoyed in the IPL.
“As much as one would like to think that we are in control of the surface that we want to play on, there is a clear mandate from the BCCI that they look after the surfaces and they are the ones who ensure that there's no local side that gets benefit out of the surfaces. So you play what is presented to you. And yes, it's been a bit of an up-and-down curve for us to understand what we are going to get at Delhi, which is our home,” Badani said after their loss to Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.
The Delhi Capitals coach also highlighted the inconsistency in pitch behaviour at the venue.
“There has been a game where we scored 75. In one game 265 was chased down. Again, this was a surface which spun. Ideally, you want to have some consistency. It’s not about us. I think the whole competition is quite neutral that way,” he added.
The board has reportedly adopted a system similar to domestic cricket, where a BCCI-appointed curator works alongside the local curator to ensure there is minimal interference from franchises during pitch preparation.
For the IPL playoffs and final, the BCCI’s central team of curators is expected to take full control of the venues.
The recommendations reportedly include:
“There are few teams who have stronger spin-bowling attack. They would prefer a little slower and sluggish pitches. Some teams have very potent seam attack and they prefer a little more help for the new-ball bowlers. But now every pitch is almost similar. It doesn’t matter if one team is travelling or not. The players expect similar conditions across all venues,” a franchise member close to the development told TOI.
This shift towards uniform conditions has reportedly affected how teams prepare for matches, especially those built around spin-heavy or pace-heavy bowling attacks.
“The batters go in with the expectation that pitch will play true and flat. But whenever there’s a little more purchase from the pitch for the bowlers, they struggle to adapt,” said a franchise source.
This could explain some of the unexpected batting collapses seen during the season whenever bowlers have managed to extract movement or turn from the surface.
Because of this, scoring rates may come down in the later stages of the tournament. It will also be interesting to see whether the franchises and the BCCI can eventually find a balance between maintaining fair conditions and allowing teams to enjoy some level of genuine home advantage.
According to franchise insiders, the strict measures introduced by the BCCI regarding pitch preparation have made conditions almost identical across venues, reducing the edge that home teams traditionally enjoyed in the IPL.
Franchises Say Pitch Control Is No Longer in Their Hands
The concerns became more visible after Delhi Capitals’ latest defeat at the Ferozeshah Kotla. Delhi have now lost four of their five home matches this season, and team coach Hemang Badani admitted that even franchises are unsure about the kind of surface they will get at their own home ground.“As much as one would like to think that we are in control of the surface that we want to play on, there is a clear mandate from the BCCI that they look after the surfaces and they are the ones who ensure that there's no local side that gets benefit out of the surfaces. So you play what is presented to you. And yes, it's been a bit of an up-and-down curve for us to understand what we are going to get at Delhi, which is our home,” Badani said after their loss to Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.
The Delhi Capitals coach also highlighted the inconsistency in pitch behaviour at the venue.
“There has been a game where we scored 75. In one game 265 was chased down. Again, this was a surface which spun. Ideally, you want to have some consistency. It’s not about us. I think the whole competition is quite neutral that way,” he added.
BCCI Recommendations Favour High-Scoring IPL Matches
According to sources, the BCCI’s pitch preparation recommendations are designed to limit assistance for bowlers and encourage high-scoring IPL games.The board has reportedly adopted a system similar to domestic cricket, where a BCCI-appointed curator works alongside the local curator to ensure there is minimal interference from franchises during pitch preparation.
For the IPL playoffs and final, the BCCI’s central team of curators is expected to take full control of the venues.
The recommendations reportedly include:
- Boundaries not exceeding 77 metres
- Pitches offering very little lateral movement
- No excessive spin
- Uniform grass cover to avoid dry surfaces
Teams With Strong Bowling Units Feeling the Impact
Several franchises believe the new approach has reduced the importance of team-specific strengths and home conditions.“There are few teams who have stronger spin-bowling attack. They would prefer a little slower and sluggish pitches. Some teams have very potent seam attack and they prefer a little more help for the new-ball bowlers. But now every pitch is almost similar. It doesn’t matter if one team is travelling or not. The players expect similar conditions across all venues,” a franchise member close to the development told TOI.
This shift towards uniform conditions has reportedly affected how teams prepare for matches, especially those built around spin-heavy or pace-heavy bowling attacks.
Batters Struggling When Pitches Offer Help to Bowlers
Another franchise source said modern IPL batters have become so accustomed to flat pitches that they struggle whenever surfaces offer even slight assistance to bowlers.“The batters go in with the expectation that pitch will play true and flat. But whenever there’s a little more purchase from the pitch for the bowlers, they struggle to adapt,” said a franchise source.
This could explain some of the unexpected batting collapses seen during the season whenever bowlers have managed to extract movement or turn from the surface.
Will IPL Scores Drop Towards the End of the Tournament?
As the IPL season moves closer to the playoffs and temperatures continue to rise during the Indian summer, pitches are expected to become slower and more worn out.Because of this, scoring rates may come down in the later stages of the tournament. It will also be interesting to see whether the franchises and the BCCI can eventually find a balance between maintaining fair conditions and allowing teams to enjoy some level of genuine home advantage.
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