With coloured bats being the latest trend in the tow, India’s limited-overs skipper has been advised to play with a coloured willow the next time he comes out to bat in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Spartan Sports, an Australia-based sporting gear and equipment company want their ambassador Mahendra Singh Dhoni to play with the coloured bat in the next IPL.
Calling the Indian captain an amazing role model, Cameron Merchant, the cricket manager at the Spartan Sports, said:“Dhoni is more than welcome to use a coloured bat (in IPL). He is such an amazing role model, influential cricketer and kids look up to him.”
The coloured bat came into the spotlight after West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell came out with a black bat in the Big Bash League. However, the bat was later banned by Cricket Australia as it caused discoloration to the ball. It was not the first instance of a coloured bat in the BBL as previously Aiden Blizzard used an electric green bat in January this year, while former Melbourne Renegades star Chris Gayle played with a golden bat in BBL-05.
As per the rules of CA, a player must use the Club’s primary colour or black when playing with a coloured bat Merchant said that the company is unsure how the black bat discoloured the ball.
“Aidan Blizzard (Sydney Thunder) has used a green coloured bat whereas Mitch Johnson (Perth Scorchers) has used orange bat,” Merchant said.
“The coloured bat is allowed in T20 franchise competitions around the world. Cricket Australia have allowed it with the colours to be the same majority as clubs, i.e Sydney Thunder are black and green so we can have either a full green bat or black bat,” he added.
“Spartan Sports originally came up with the idea with Chris Gayle with the original coloured bat of the Golden bat in last years’ BBL,” he added.
“We thought how can we make the game even more exciting and appealing for the fans and kids and make them smile. If it gets kids enjoying the game and participating in cricket then we are happy.”
“We are unsure how Russell’s bat had marks on ball but we have gone to precautionary measures and quality control to make sure that it is completely covered so that at no time will the ball come in contact with any colour,” he concluded.