'All about power-hitting': Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga claims T20 cricket has killed talent in subcontinent
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'All about power-hitting': Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga claims T20 cricket has killed talent in subcontinent originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- 1996 World Cup-winning Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga claims T20 cricket has killed the talent and skills of subcontinental players.
- Ranatunga believes the pursuit of power-hitting has eroded the technique needed for red-ball cricket.
- The former captain also urged patience and care for teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga claims T20 cricket has killed talent in the subcontinent
Rarely one to hold back a strong opinion, Sri Lankan legend Arjuna Ranatunga has once again waded into cricket's most divisive debate. Ahead of India's Test tour of Sri Lanka in August, the 1996 World Cup-winning captain delivered a scathing verdict on the impact of the modern game.
In the eyes of the outspoken Sri Lankan great, the explosion of T20 cricket has come at a devastating cost. He believes the relentless pursuit of power-hitting has stripped a whole generation of subcontinental batters of the technique required to prosper in the traditional red-ball format.
His concerns extend beyond mere technique to the very commitment of today's stars. Ranatunga fears the lure of lucrative franchise contracts has fundamentally altered players' priorities, lamenting a shift in values that he feels threatens the long-term health of international cricket across the region.
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Arjuna Ranatunga blames T20 for lost technique
The former captain did not mince his words on the subject. "T20 cricket has, in many ways, killed the talent and skills of players across the region—India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, everyone," Ranatunga told The Hindu, pinning the blame squarely on the shortest format. He argued that the demands of modern audiences have reshaped the game entirely.
"Today it's all about power-hitting because that's what people want," the World Cup-winning captain explained, suggesting the art of building an innings has been sacrificed at the altar of pure entertainment and brute force.
He no longer sees batters of the calibre of Sunil Gavaskar or Sachin Tendulkar emerging and questions whether today's players will mentor the next generation. Damningly, he claimed cricketers once played through broken fingers for their country but now sit out with niggles for club deals.
On the subject of India's teenage sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, however, Ranatunga was protective rather than critical. "Most importantly, let him be a child. He's still a kid," he said, urging patience and care for the 15-year-old amid the enormous hype surrounding him.
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A debate with two sides
There is certainly considerable substance to Ranatunga's traditionalist lament. The decline of red-ball technique among some white-ball specialists is a legitimate concern, and his point about shifting player priorities in the modern franchise age resonates strongly with many purists who cherish the longer format.
Yet the argument arguably overlooks T20's undeniable positive legacy. The format has produced astonishing innovation, fielding standards and a fearlessness that has enriched all three formats.
Sweeping claims that it has killed talent feel unfair on a generation of gifted, adaptable modern cricketers thriving worldwide.
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