As the Indian Premier League approaches its 19th season the temptation for those who only watch the tournament is to believe that the giant wheel is set to turn once again in much the same way it has for the last decade. But for those who play and coach in the second richest competition on earth the truth is very different.
“Each year there are different nuances and trends, small tactical changes which become features of that tournament,” said Eric Simons who has been assistant coach at the Chennai Super Kings for just under a decade.
“It’s hard to predict what they might be but I do wonder whether we might see more one-sided matches like what happened to South Africa in the World Cup semifinal and New Zealand in the final.”
The previously unbeaten Proteas were thrashed by 9-wickets with seven overs to spare while the conquerors were humiliated by 96-runs in the final with India becoming the first team to retain the title.
“When the momentum in a game starts to shift, it can move very quickly,” Simons said. “Scores over 200 are now commonplace and teams batting second aren’t yet comfortable chasing scores like upwards of 220. But they can be ruthless in chasing 170 if the team batting first slip up. Maybe there’ll be less close games this year.”
If that narrative is to change, the onus will be on the bowlers to ‘find a way.’ As one of the foremost bowling coaches in the world, Simons embraces the challenge, “There may have to be a shift of emphasis from ‘technical’ to tactical. Bowlers have the skills to bowl different deliveries – the question is ‘when’ to bowl them, not how.
“Up until now bowlers have been reactive towards a batsman on the attack. They watch him as they are about to bowl and react by bowling the ball in a place where it’s hard to hit. Perhaps it’s time to be proactive from the start by bowling in areas which make the batsmen uncomfortable, to make them hit the ball in areas which aren’t their strength,” Simons said. “He might still score well on the day, but the saving could make the difference.”
The former Proteas coach spoke about the importance of manipulating the strike by keeping batsmen in the ‘red zone’ away from the strike by bowling deliveries which were ‘easy’ to score singles from, especially in the Power Play. “More often than not the team which scores the most sixes wins the match, so the more balls you keep the biggest hitters at the non-strikers end, the more you improve your chances,” Simons said.
It’s not just on the field where this tournament may be different. Having survived through a last-minute move to South Africa in its early years and then a relocation to the UAE during Covid, the crisis in the Middle East is causing logistical headaches for all ten franchises as their overseas players and support staff are forced to seek alternative routes to India.
“The majority of the overseas contingent have flown through the Gulf in past years but, understandably, the teams aren’t keen to risk delays, or worse. Along with all the other South Africans, I have always travelled through Dubai but this time it was via Addis Ababa where I spent about 25 minutes on the ground. It was the fastest transfer I’ve ever experienced but, I’m here now and ready to go.”
South Africa has 16 players spread across eight teams, the most ever and more than any other country outside hosts India. Those involved in the T20 World Cup have not yet arrived having been given extra ‘time off’ following their week-long delay in leaving India after the tournament ended.
The IPL begins with the opening match between defending champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28.
South African players in IPL 2026:
Delhi Capitals: Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi
Lucknow Super Giants: Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Anrich Nortje
Mumbai Indians: Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch
Rajasthan Royals: Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kwena Maphaka
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Heinrich Klaasen
Gujarat Titans: Kagiso Rabada
Chennai Super Kings: Dewald Brevis
Punjab Kings: Marco Jansen