Sri Lanka batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa has issued a clarification on comments made during a recent interview, saying his remarks were intended as praise for Indian cricket and were partly misunderstood due to translation.
In a clarification shared following the interview, Rajapaksa said Indian cricket is “incredibly advanced,” pointing to its systems, infrastructure and equipment standards, and described Indian bat manufacturers as among the best in the world. He added that, in hindsight, he could have provided clearer context, stressing that his comments were made with respect.
Rajapaksa’s clarification followed discussion around his remarks on the power-hitting ability of Indian players and the bats they use, which he said feel noticeably different from those commonly available elsewhere.
Speaking earlier in an interview with Hari TV journalist Lahiru Mudalige, Rajapaksa said Indian batters appear to use bats that generate significantly more power, describing the sensation as though an additional layer of rubber had been applied to the bat.
“It might sound silly, but that’s honestly what I felt,” Rajapaksa said, adding that the bats he encountered were unlike those typically available for purchase. He suggested they may be made from a special type of willow.
Rajapaksa, who has previously played in the Indian Premier League, said he had seen such bats up close during his time in India and had even experienced using one himself.
He did not state or imply that Indian players were using illegal equipment or breaching cricket regulations, with his comments reflecting personal feel and observation rather than any allegation of misconduct, rule violations or unfair advantage.
The Sri Lankan batter also highlighted India’s strong batting culture and development pathways, crediting the Indian Premier League as a key reason for the depth of talent in Indian cricket. He described the IPL as the best T20 league in the world, providing players with exposure to elite competition, coaching and high-pressure situations from a young age.
Rajapaksa further pointed to differences in playing environments, noting that Indian players grow up playing on smaller grounds where six-hitting is a regular part of batting practice.
“In Sri Lanka, we mostly play on big grounds,” he said. “It’s not easy to clear the boundary regularly, so our batters get used to hitting into gaps and running hard instead.”
He added that years of practicing power-hitting on smaller grounds, combined with experience gained through leagues like the IPL, allow Indian batters to develop confidence and muscle memory to clear boundaries at most venues, while Sri Lankan players tend to shape their batting around placement and strike rotation due to local conditions. (Newswire)