IPL 2020 | Big hitters like Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya will struggle in UAE, opines Ramiz Raja

For the first time since 2014, the Indian Premier League has been shifted to be hosted in the Middle East, where the conditions have traditionally been on the slower side. This year too, the early signs are pointing out that the pitches prepared for the tournament might be on the slower end, favouring the spinners. 

Talking about the same, former Pakistan batsman Ramiz Raja opined that it would be a tournament of a struggle for big-hitters like Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya in the upcoming competition. However, at the same time, Raja added that alongside the big-hitters, it would also be a struggling phase for the pacers, who, according to him, might not get a lot of support from the pitches. 

“The big-hitters will struggle. Like Lynn, Pollard or Pandya brothers, Hardik Pandya probably although he plays spin well. But I feel that the team selection in this IPL will be slightly different. Fast bowling will be difficult, you will see a lot of variations,” Raja said on the YouTube show Cric Cast.

Unlike the pacers or the big-hitters, Raja reckons that the tournament might be heavenly for the spinners. Another aspect that worries Raja is the fact that the players would have to play the tournament behind closed doors, without the crowd’s buzz, which would make it incomplete. 

“I think the teams who have a good spin department will do well, that is the first thing. And behind closed doors, what will be the impact, because you will have to almost remain like a prisoner in a bio-secure environment and put up your best performance. So it becomes a difficult task. Because IPL without the buzz of the crowd is incomplete,” Raja added.