How T20 has changed the game of cricket

T20 cricket has captured the minds of sports fans

When the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) introduced Twenty20 (T20) cricket in 2003 for professional inter-county competition, little did they realize that the concept would change the game forever. What started as a pure form of entertainment has not only galvanized the game, but has also given cricket aficionados a reason to come back to the stadiums and cheer their teams and heroes at the top of their voices. Be it Lords or the Eden Gardens, T20 unites every fan with one common string — the love and enthusiasm for fast paced, exciting cricket.

The impact of T20

Big hitting, monumental team totals and record-shattering personal achievements are just some of the outcomes of the concept. Figure this out. After the inaugural World T20 in South Africa in 2007, there have been 10 instances of a team scoring in excess of 400 in ODIs. Before this, the number was just five. Similarly, five players have made individual scores of 200 or more in ODIs after the maiden World T20. Two of them were scored in the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2015.

While earlier a score of 300 and above was considered a safe bet in ODIs, T20 has given batsmen much-needed confidence and temperament to chase down 300-plus totals. Following the first World T20, there have been 27 instances when a team has successfully chased down a total of 300 or more in ODIs. Today, no captain knows what a safe score is.

With just 120 balls at their disposal, T20 has made batsmen innovative and play unorthodox shots that are not a part of the cricketing manual. Dilscoop, switch hit, reverse sweep and the helicopter shot are some unconventional hits that have become a part of the game. They may not look classical but are highly productive.

Not only batsmen, but also bowlers have invented themselves following the onslaught they face in a T20 game. One such example is the carrom ball. An ancient art of bowling dating back to the 1940s that lost its sheen midway, the carrom ball is a much-wanted weapon in the arsenal of bowlers these days. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajantha Mendis have used this ball to a great effect to fox batsmen.

Make the game popular

With dwindling interest in Test cricket and ODIs, T20 is playing a vital role in making the game popular among non-cricket playing nations. While empty stands are usually seen during a Test match, there is hardly any space when a T20 match is played at the same venue. T20 competitions such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), KFC T20 Big Bash, and Bangladesh Premier League are highly successful and enjoy excellent TRPs.

In a fast-paced world, everyone wants a quick result. While one needs to wait for 5 days in Test cricket and 8 hours in ODIs to know the outcome, in T20 the verdict is out within 3 hours. Fast and furious, T20 has made players more competitive and has taken the game to a whole new level.