R Ashwin has raised serious concerns about the mental health of bowlers amidst the 2025 IPL season, suggesting that they may soon need the support of personal psychologists. The Indian cricket maestro, known for his sharp cricketing mind, made these observations reflecting on the conditions during the tournament.
The 2025 IPL season has already seen a flurry of high-scoring encounters, with three of the first five matches soaring past the 200-run mark in both innings. This scoring spree is attributed to the consistent flatness of pitches across all franchise venues and the introduction of the Impact Player rule, a combination that has tilted the game heavily in favor of batsmen and severely restricted the bowlers’ options.
The 2024 IPL season laid the groundwork for this trend, setting unprecedented records in runs scored, strike rates, and batting averages. The intensity has carried over into 2025, with Sunrisers Hyderabad coming close to their highest tournament score in the opening match of the season.
In a video discussion on his YouTube channel with his analyst friend Prasanna Agoram, Ashwin expressed, “You said bowlers are becoming defensive. I want to talk about that. I think bowlers will soon have to be accompanied by personal psychologists. I genuinely mean that.” This statement underscores the necessity Ashwin sees for mental health support among bowlers struggling against the onslaught of batting-friendly conditions.
Delving deeper, Ashwin emphasized the challenges bowlers face: “Okay, people say bowlers are becoming defensive. Let that argument stand. But in several instances, bowling has literally become impossible. On certain grounds, you can’t keep the stumps in play. You mentioned full tosses—but Yuzvendra Chahal bowled full tosses to Sai Sudharsan and got away with singles (on Tuesday in Ahmedabad). In fact, a full toss isn’t always a bad ball. On some pitches, deliveries that land on the wicket actually make it easier for batters. We all thought full tosses were easier to hit when we were young, but on certain surfaces, the ball pitches and comes onto the bat better than a full toss.”
Currently representing Chennai Super Kings, a team that boasts five IPL titles, Ashwin’s experience is pivotal. CSK’s home ground at Chepauk in Chennai traditionally supports bowlers, a factor that played a crucial role in their victory against Mumbai Indians in their first home match of the season, chasing down 156 runs in a thrilling last-over finish.
The Super Kings are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru next, with the match scheduled for Friday, March 28, at their fortress, the Chepauk stadium. This game will be a significant test for Ashwin and his teammates as they strive to maintain their winning streak in the tournament.