Great to have low-scoring games amid high score matches: Moeen Ali
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has seen its fair share of high-scoring matches, with teams amassing totals of 250-275 runs or more in several encounters. However, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fans were treated to a different kind of contest on Wednesday, as the teams battled it out in a low-scoring game at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
The match, which KKR ultimately won by 15 runs, was a thrilling encounter that saw both teams struggling to post big totals. The pitch, which was often found to be assisting the bowlers, resulted in a tightly contested game that kept the fans on the edge of their seats.
KKR’s Moeen Ali, who was instrumental in his team’s victory, echoed the sentiments of many when he expressed his delight at the low-scoring contest. “It’s great to have these games in between those (high scoring) games,” Moeen said in a post-match interview. “Big scoring games are great to see but it also gives a false sense of security.”
Moeen’s statement highlights the importance of balance in cricket. While high-scoring games can be thrilling to watch, they can also lead to complacency and overconfidence. On the other hand, low-scoring games require teams to be more disciplined and strategic in their approach, making them more challenging and rewarding to win.
The KKR all-rounder also pointed out that low-scoring games can be beneficial for teams in terms of setting a good defensive field and bowling a tight spell. “In these games, you need to be more careful with your bowling and fielding,” he added. “You can’t just go out there and attack, you need to be more precise and accurate.”
Moeen’s sentiments were echoed by his KKR captain, Shreyas Iyer, who praised his team’s bowling effort in the match. “I think our bowlers did a great job in containing them (RR) to a low score,” Iyer said. “We knew that if we could stop them from scoring big, we would have a good chance of winning.”
The low-scoring game in Guwahati was a welcome change of pace for fans who have been witnessing high-scoring matches in the IPL 2025. The contest was a testament to the importance of balance in cricket, and the need for teams to be adaptable and strategic in their approach.
In recent years, the IPL has seen a trend towards high-scoring matches, with teams often opting to play aggressively and score big totals. While this has led to some thrilling encounters, it has also resulted in a lack of balance in the game.
The low-scoring game in Guwahati was a reminder that cricket is a game of strategy and adaptability, and that teams need to be able to adjust their approach depending on the pitch and conditions. It also highlighted the importance of bowling and fielding, which are often overlooked in the excitement of high-scoring matches.
As the IPL 2025 continues to unfold, fans can expect to see more high-scoring matches, but also a few low-scoring games like the one in Guwahati. And for teams like KKR, who are looking to make a deep run in the tournament, a balance between batting and bowling will be key to their success.
