Shark Tank judge Anupam Mittal has a radical proposal for IPL 2025: ’Replace bowlers with bowling machine’

Amid the 18th season of the Indian Premier League 2025 underway, Anupam Mittal, founder and CEO of Shaadi.com, has ignited a controversy suggesting bowling machines should replace bowlers to make the tournament more interesting and exciting.

Taking to X, the Shark Tank judge wrote, “Everything is a wide, no, 4 or 6 🙈 #IPL should just replace bowlers with bowling-machines (sic).”

Following the tweet, it has gone viral and garnered over 12.9 views.

Here's how the social media users reacted:

One wrote, "Cricket’s charm is in the unpredictability."

A second user commented, "Anupam ji, What's the next billion dollar bhujiya? Namkeen ka Aajkal meetha swaad araha hai."

A third wrote, “Anupam ji, What's the next billion dollar bhujiya? Namkeen ka Aajkal meetha swaad araha hai.”

"Agreed, The Game is completely rigged in the batsman's favour. No longer a fair contest between Vat and Ball, feels like watching someone play a video game," a fourth user commented.

"U meant something fishy...wat will bowlers do? Replacing Machines or AI is an option but not necessary.Yeah,you guys need to fill your pockets for that Y in ur company there are employees keep AI n robots so u can save heavily on salaries n fill ur pockets fully to buy lambo....." a fifth user said.

A sixth user said, "it’s boring to see such high scoring games- don’t understand why the IPL doesn’t get that."

"Anupam ji aapka idea bura nahi hai ..!!" a seventh user wrote.

"Exactly same thought. IPL is a mockery of Cricket. Pitches like Chennai and Delhi will only produce good competition between ball and bat. Others pitches are just highways. Bowlers look like jokers there," an eighth user commented.

"U definitely lack expertise..so u better don't get into this ipl," says a ninth user.

IPL brand value:

According to a report by Economic Times, the IPL, which began in 2008, has now become one of the biggest sporting events in the world and has a brand value of $12 billion.

IPL 2025 began on 22 March and will continue till 25 March. A total of 74 matches will be played across various cities in India.