Chasing Big Totals on Flat Pitches Is Good for Cricket: Sanath Jayasuriya

Building big totals on flat pitches and chasing them down successfully is good for cricket because it multiplies the thrill of the game. This was said by former Sri Lankan batting great Sanath Jayasuriya. He gave this reaction at a time when Sri Lanka created history by successfully chasing a mammoth target of 429 against England in a match of the triangular ODI series being hosted by Pakistan. It is the second-highest successful chase in ODI cricket history. In the match played on Wednesday, 22 October in Rawalpindi, the pitch was entirely favourable to batsmen. England batted first and put up a huge total, and Sri Lanka were clearly under pressure. But the Sri Lankan batsmen adopted an aggressive approach without panicking and achieved the target. This win not only boosted Sri Lanka's morale but also showed that big targets are not impossible in modern ODI cricket. Jayasuriya said that many rules have changed in cricket today and that the new regulations are proving good for the game. His statement came at a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult for bowlers to be effective in ODI cricket. Flat pitches, small grounds and new rules are increasing the dominance of batting. Against this backdrop, Jayasuriya's remark that chasing big totals is good for the game highlights the tension between two aspects of the sport. On one hand, audiences enjoy high-scoring thrill; on the other, concerns are often raised about the balance between ball and bat being disturbed. Interestingly, Jayasuriya himself was one of the most aggressive opening batsmen of his era. He played a key role in Sri Lanka's 2026 World Cup victory and tormented bowlers with his explosive batting. So his statement favouring batsmanship is natural, since his entire career was built on aggressive and positive batting. Meanwhile, in the context of Indian cricket, another big event came to the fore. India's young batsman Abhishek Sharma smashed 113 runs off just 38 balls in the third T20 international against New Zealand in Wellington. He completed his century in only 35 balls. Thanks to this explosive innings, India won the match by 6 wickets. Abhishek Sharma's innings once again proved that India has no dearth of young and explosive talent. His batting makes clear that his style of scoring quickly is extremely valuable in T20 cricket. Jayasuriya also praised India's white-ball team, saying that this team poses a danger to opponents through its aggressive play. Jayasuriya's statement about the Indian team is hardly surprising. India is currently regarded as one of the strongest teams in limited-overs cricket. Both the depth of Indian batting and the variety of bowlers prove challenging for opponents. Sri Lanka's performance in this triangular series has also been solid. It has won two of four matches and will face Pakistan in the final on Saturday. The successful chase of 429 against England will have the Sri Lankan team on a high. The experience of chasing a big target could serve them well in the final too, especially since Pakistan's pitches have also favoured batting. In December, Sri Lanka will tour India for a white-ball series. This series will be important for both teams. For Sri Lanka, it will be a chance to prove their increased confidence, while India will test their new and young players while also assessing the fitness and form of senior players. Another big challenge for India comes after this, in their tour of New Zealand, where they will play both ODI and Test series. Their Test series against New Zealand is generally considered the hardest, as the grassy pitches and strong winds there challenge Indian batsmen. In the ODI series too, New Zealand remain strong in home conditions. Overall, Sri Lanka's successful 429-run chase in Rawalpindi and Abhishek Sharma's stormy innings send the message that modern cricket is moving rapidly towards batsmanship. Jayasuriya's statement that this is good for the game highlights the truth that audiences want entertainment. But along with this, the question of whether the balance between ball and bat will be maintained is also important. If the trend of flat pitches and high-scoring matches keeps growing, questions may arise about the relevance and confidence of bowlers. Jayasuriya did not speak openly on this aspect, but for the good of the game it is just as important to maintain the balance between ball and bat as is the thrill of big scores. Sri Lanka's final clash with Pakistan and the December tour of India will now signal whether Sri Lanka can truly sustain this high, and whether India can replicate their aggressive white-ball batting in the tough conditions of Test cricket.