‘Ridiculously small boundaries flatter batters’: Sunil Gavaskar tells BCCI how to fix India’s overseas batting woes

India’s recent overseas performances have once again sparked debate over whether the team’s batting lineup is truly equipped to succeed in challenging conditions. Following series defeats against Ireland and England, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has offered a practical solution, urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to increase boundary sizes at domestic venues instead of focusing solely on pitch conditions.

The Indian team endured a difficult run, suffering a 2-0 series defeat to Ireland before being comprehensively beaten 4-0 by England in a five-match series. Much of the criticism was directed at India’s batting unit, with several players struggling to adapt after thriving on high-scoring pitches during the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Gavaskar says boundary size is the real issue

Writing in his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar dismissed the argument that flat pitches are primarily responsible for India’s batting struggles overseas.

According to the former India captain, the real difference lies in the size of the boundaries.

He explained that many shots which comfortably clear the ropes in the IPL often end up being straightforward catches on larger grounds in countries such as England.

Gavaskar argued that smaller boundaries reward mistimed shots, giving batters a false sense of confidence that does not translate well when playing international cricket on grounds with significantly bigger dimensions.

A direct message to the BCCI

To help Indian players prepare for future overseas assignments, Gavaskar suggested that the BCCI should move advertising boards and boundary ropes further back wherever stadium space allows.

He noted that many Indian venues have enough room behind the LED advertising boards, making it possible to increase the playing area without major infrastructure changes.

According to Gavaskar, exposing batters to larger boundaries during the domestic season would encourage them to play more controlled cricket and reduce dependence on power-hitting that works only on smaller grounds.

ALSO READ: ‘Where Is the Consistency?’ Srikkanth Questions Tilak Varma’s Spot, Pushes Rajat Patidar for India T20I Return

He believes this adjustment would be particularly important ahead of the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, where Indian batters are likely to encounter much larger playing fields.

Spinners could also benefit

Gavaskar believes larger boundaries would improve more than just batting standards.

He said Indian spinners would gain the confidence to bowl with greater flight and slower pace, allowing them to extract more turn and deceive batters in the air.

At present, he argued, many Indian spinners bowl quicker deliveries that are easier for batters to use, especially on smaller grounds where clearing the boundary requires less effort.

To support his point, Gavaskar highlighted the performances of Adil Rashid and Will Jacks during the England series, noting that both bowled significantly slower than India’s spinners and achieved greater success by generating more loop and variation.

Preparing for global challenges

As India prepares for another busy international season, Gavaskar’s suggestion has added a fresh perspective to the ongoing discussion about player development.

Rather than changing pitches dramatically, the batting great believes increasing boundary sizes could better simulate overseas conditions, helping Indian batters refine their shot selection while giving bowlers greater tactical freedom.

Whether the BCCI adopts the recommendation remains to be seen, but the proposal has already reignited debate over how Indian cricket should prepare its players for success beyond home conditions.