Indian Premier League side Rajasthan Royals’ bowling coach Shane Bond believes bowlers need to reinvent themselves and add new dimensions to their game in order to counter the increasingly ‘ultra-aggressive’ approach of batters in T20 cricket. He said bowlers who successfully adapt and broaden their skillsets could eventually become ‘superstars’ in the format.
Rajasthan Royals’ difficulties with the ball continued on Saturday as they conceded 229 runs against Gujarat Titans in a heavy 77-run defeat. It was the seventh occasion in 11 matches this season that the Royals allowed the opposition to score more than 200 runs.
Speaking after the match, Bond admitted his side had not performed well enough despite being familiar with the playing conditions. “We simply haven’t executed well enough in conditions we understand. Our opponents have outplayed us. Bowlers need to improve and start thinking differently,” Bond said during the post-match press conference.
He stressed that bowling success depends on both smart decision-making and accurate execution, adding that Rajasthan lacked consistency in both departments during the game.
“There are two major factors—decision-making and execution. Tonight, our execution wasn’t consistent for long periods. And honestly, if you look across the IPL, that’s been a common trend,” he said.
With scoring rates continuing to rise and batting becoming more fearless in the IPL, Bond said bowlers can no longer rely on conventional methods and must become more adaptable.
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“Batters are coming out and attacking from the start, putting bowlers under pressure. So the question for bowlers is: ‘What can I do differently?’” he said.
Bond added that bowlers need to work more closely with analysts to understand batters’ scoring zones and patterns. He also said they must learn to vary their approaches, including changing run-ups, angles, and lines of attack.
“They need to spend more time analysing where each batter likes to score. A bowler may need to operate off a shorter run-up or a longer one. They should be comfortable bowling around the wicket and attacking from different angles,” he explained.
The ongoing IPL season has seen several 200-plus totals chased down comfortably, highlighting the growing dominance of batters in the format. “When bowlers keep repeating the same tactics game after game and continue getting the same results, then clearly something has to change. They need to evolve and develop new skills,” Bond said.
He pointed out that modern batters have greatly expanded their range of strokes, forcing bowlers to keep pace with that evolution.
“Batters today are playing uppercuts, reverse shots, scoops — they’ve added so many scoring options. Bowlers also need to expand their skillsets in the same way,” he said.
Bond believes this changing landscape presents a huge opportunity for bowlers willing to innovate. “If a bowler can develop those abilities, they can elevate themselves, earn significantly more money, and become a superstar. But I don’t think we’ve consistently seen that level of evolution across the board yet,” he added.
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