NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa sparked a major controversy by making serious allegations against the Indian team, claiming that the bats used by Indian batters are different from those used by other teams and give them a significant advantage.
Sri Lanka opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a 20-run win over Ireland in Colombo but struggled in the middle overs before their spinners fired in unison to guide them to a comfortable victory.
In a post-match interaction with NewsWire, Rajapaksa alleged that Indian batters were using bats that produced significantly more power compared to those used by players from other teams.
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"Indian players have bats that are far superior to the best bats we get. It feels as though a layer of rubber has been applied. I can't imagine how that's possible. These bats can't even be bought by others - all players know this," Rajapaksa was quoted as saying.
Rajapaksa's charge hinted at possible bat tampering or the use of specially designed equipment.
The remarks follow earlier allegations from some Pakistani journalists and former players, who had questioned the ICC's pitch preparation in Colombo. They suggested that the surfaces were tailored in a way that limited assistance for Pakistan's spinners by offering more grass.
The claims drew attention, especially given Pakistan's long-standing reputation for producing quality fast bowlers rather than relying heavily on spin.
