During a recent IPL 2026 match, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) chased down a formidable target of 244 runs against Mumbai Indians with eight balls to spare. This victory is part of a larger trend this season, where teams have successfully chased down 200-plus totals a record 10 times. Experts, including SRH bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan, attribute this shift in batting dominance to the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to add an extra batter, thus encouraging aggressive batting strategies. Muralitharan emphasizes that while this makes for entertaining cricket, it raises concerns about the balance between bat and ball in the game. The IPL continues to attract a younger audience, with a 68% increase in OTT viewership among 18-24 year-olds during the tournament. However, there are worries that the current trend of high-scoring games may affect the appreciation of traditional formats like ODIs and Test cricket, as fans become accustomed to the fast-paced nature of T20 matches. The cricketing authorities may need to consider these implications as the sport evolves.