Gavaskar Urges BCCI to Increase Boundary Sizes Ahead of World Cups

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to increase boundary dimensions at domestic venues ahead of the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup, saying Indian batters need to adapt to playing on larger grounds before the global tournament. The next 50-over World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, where boundary sizes are generally larger than those commonly seen at Indian stadiums. Gavaskar believes preparing under similar conditions during the home season will better equip players for the challenges they are likely to face overseas.

Writing in his Sportstar column, Gavaskar said it was "absolutely imperative" for the BCCI to make better use of the available space around playing fields. He pointed out that many Indian stadiums have sufficient room beyond the LED advertising boards, suggesting that moving the boundary ropes further back would naturally increase the size of the playing area. According to him, this adjustment would help Indian batters develop the ability to score consistently on grounds where clearing the boundary is more difficult.

The batting great also stressed the importance of adopting a smarter approach in One-Day International cricket rather than relying solely on aggressive stroke play. He said batters should identify bowlers who can be targeted while respecting those who are performing well. Gavaskar noted that every bowling attack has weaker links and teams should maximise scoring opportunities during those overs instead of attempting to attack every bowler indiscriminately.

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Commenting on modern batting strategies, Gavaskar said shot selection remains one of the most important aspects of success in the 50-over format. He advised batters to avoid allowing ego or reputation to dictate their approach, urging them instead to play according to the merit of each delivery. Even when chasing challenging totals of 380 runs or more, he believes there is enough time in ODI cricket for batters to settle before accelerating their scoring rate.

Gavaskar drew a clear distinction between T20 and ODI cricket, explaining that while the shortest format often demands aggressive intent from almost every delivery, the 50-over game offers greater flexibility. He said patience remains a valuable quality in ODI cricket, allowing players to build innings, rotate the strike and wait for favourable match-ups before launching an attack. This measured approach, he argued, is often more effective than constant aggression.

India will begin preparations for next year's ODI World Cup during the forthcoming home season, making Gavaskar's recommendations particularly relevant. His call for larger boundaries and more adaptable batting strategies reflects the need to prepare players for conditions they are expected to encounter in southern Africa. By recreating those challenges in domestic cricket, Gavaskar believes India can improve its readiness for one of the sport's biggest tournaments.

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