During the ESPNcricinfo Awards ceremony in Ahmedabad, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar shared his concerns regarding the increasing dominance of batters in T20 cricket, particularly ahead of the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. He proposed several rule changes aimed at restoring balance between bat and ball. Tendulkar strongly advocated for the removal of the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute players during matches, arguing that it further favors batting. He also suggested modifying the powerplay structure, allowing the bowling captain to strategically deploy the last two overs. Additionally, he proposed increasing the maximum overs a bowler can bowl from four to five, emphasizing that top bowlers should have more opportunities to impact the game. Tendulkar's suggestions have ignited discussions within the cricketing community, highlighting the need for adjustments to ensure bowlers remain influential in T20 matches.