Sri Lankan cricketer Bhanuka Rajapaksa has made a controversial claim about the bats used by Indian players, triggering debate among cricket fans and experts.
According to media reports, Rajapaksa made these remarks in a recent interview with Cricwire of NewsWireLK. During the discussion, he suggested that Indian cricketers are using bats that are significantly different from those used by other players.
When asked how Indian batters have transformed power-hitting in international cricket, Rajapaksa made a striking claim. He said, “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.”
“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,” Bhanuka Rajapaksa said in an interview,… pic.twitter.com/RWaJGbaQ7F
— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) February 9, 2026
Rajapaksa further stated that these bats are not available for purchase by regular players and that only a few selected cricketers have access to them. He added that this is widely known within cricketing circles.
According to him, this advantage allows Indian batters to play big shots with less effort compared to other players.
However, neither the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nor any Indian player has issued an official response to the claims so far.
Rajapaksa is known for his flamboyant batting style and represented Sri Lanka in 5 One Day Internationals and 45 T20 Internationals between 2019 and 2025. He scored 89 runs in ODIs and 744 runs in T20Is, registering four half-centuries at the international level.
He has enjoyed a successful career in T20 cricket overall, scoring 4,187 runs in 225 matches at a strike rate of 136.83. His record includes one century, 17 half-centuries, and a highest score of 100.
Rajapaksa has also featured in several major T20 leagues around the world, including the Lanka Premier League (LPL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), SA20, Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Champions League T20 (CLT20), and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
