IPL 2020: Sachin Tendulkar explains why chasing has become easier now

One of the common conventions in T20 cricket is to opt to field first. Teams like to put the other side into the field first and see how they go about things so they can later come out and chase down the target. However, there came a phase in IPL 2020 where the teams batting first strung together victories. In the later stages, the trend reversed and now we are seeing the teams opting to chase winning the matches. In his latest YouTube upload, Sachin Tendulkar explains what exactly is unfolding in the UAE.

“Teams are winning matches while chasing in the last few weeks. It wasn’t so initially in the tournament. What could be the reason? does change in weather play a part?” was the question asked to Tendulkar.

The Master Blaster explained that the temperatures have changed since the start of the tournament. They have dropped by quite a bit. Their effect was visible especially at Dubai and Abu Dhabi where chasing was difficult in the early stages. Tendulkar recalled an early four hit by Rohit Sharma off Deepak Chahar where the bowler had extracted a lot of lateral movement.

However, now that the temperatures have dropped, the sting of the pitch has lessened in the second innings. According to Tendulkar, the ball is getting wet quicker in the chasing innings. The wetness of the ball stops the bowler from getting a lot of help from the track as the ball starts skidding off the pitch. The seam stays hard and upright only for the first few overs, after which the ball becomes easier to hit.

In the last 10 league matches of this year’s IPL, teams batting second have ended up winnings eight encounters. In comparison, teams batting first were victorious in seven out of the first ten matches.