Getting runs in first three years of IPL was easier: Gambhir

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Gautam Gambhir feels that scoring in the first three editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was easier as compared to seasons thereafter.

In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Gambhir spoke about the changes he has witnessed in the last 10 years of IPL.

"I feel getting runs in the first three years of the IPL was far easier than it is now," he said.

The 35-year-old attributed this to smart bowling being adopted by the bowlers.

"The reason is, bowlers have become smarter, have different game plans and have different field placements. They come round the wicket, bowl wide yorkers, have different variations, bowl different slower balls, the knuckleball," he insisted.

The KKR skipper asserted that one big change that has been seen in the league has been the field placements being made by the teams.

"One big change, in fact, has been in the field placements. People have become far more innovative. In 2008 it was very conventional. We never had fields like three points and a deep cover and a long-off," he said.

"There always used to be a short third man, a backward point and a cover - a more conventional field. There was a time when teams placed four fielders on the off side and the rest on the leg side," he added.

The left-handed opening batsman further stated that the players have innovated new-new strokes, for example switch hits.

"There is a range of different strokes as well. I don't remember in the first two or three years batsmen playing so many switch hits. Okay, people used to whack the ball out of the ground, but that was done the conventional way, not the unorthodox way," he said.

"Look now: people lapping, reverse-lapping, scooping, switch-hitting. With different strokes, there have been different innovations and different field placements, which has made it very exciting. But it has also made it tough for the batsmen," he added.

KKR are currently at the second spot in the league standings with 16 points from 13 games.

They will play their last league match against Mumbai Indians at the iconic Eden Gardens on May 13.