The Impact Player Rule in IPL: Perspectives from Cricketers and Experts

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a global sensation with thrilling matches and dramatic finishes. The upcoming season of IPL 2025 is set to see some big new changes which has sparked a debate among the stakeholders. The Impact Player Rule is one of the points of contention that divides the franchises and cricketers’ opinions.

The recent meeting between the BCCI and the team owners of IPL heavily discussed the scrapping of the Impact player rule. It was introduced in the 2023 IPL season, permitting the teams to get an ‘Impact Player’ at any point during the game. The rule allows teams to swap an active player and bring a new one as a substitute that can impact the game in their favor.

While it has increased the unpredictability of the matches, it has many shortfalls, that have been a concern for the players and experts.

Concerns and critiques: The Impact player rule

The rule has been a hit for the fans bringing them nail-biting finishes but many analysts and cricketers have shown their discontent with it. Voicing the positives and negatives, this is what they said:

1. Rahul Dravid 

The former Indian skipper and coach of the national team expressed his concerns in a podcast on ESPN Cricinfo. He stated, “Though the Impact Player rule adds an element of surprise, it may disrupt the flow of the game, especially in tight situations where players have to constantly adapt. There’s a risk that we could see more disruption than entertainment.”

2. Sourav Ganguly  

The former captain and advisor of Delhi Capitals has listed the pros and cons of the impact player rule on various platforms. He backed the rule while addressing the media on the sidelines of the International Procurement and Supply Chain Conference organised by the Blue Ocean Corporation. He expressed, “It is a great tournament. The only thing you can do with the Impact Player is decide before the toss, so it’s a bit of skill there. So, have the Impact Player revealed before because that will require a lot of skill and a game plan. But, I am all for the impact player.” 

Ganguly highlighted how the new rule could affect young players in a video on his YouTube channel. “The impact player takes away opportunities from emerging talent. Youngsters need time to develop their skills on the big stage, and this rule might limit that.”

3. Rohit Sharma

The current Indian skipper and the captain of Mumbai Indians said that the rule affects the development of all-rounders. Talking to the ‘Club Prairie Fire’ cricket podcast, he said, “Eventually, cricket is played by 11 players, not 12 players. I am not a big fan of ‘Impact Player’, you are taking out so much from the game just because of a little bit of entertainment, for people around.”

4. Harsha Bhogle

The renowned cricket commentator finds the rule controversial because of its unfair and inconsistent nature. During an episode of his podcast, The Harsha Bhogle Show, he argued that the impact player rule may lead to a lack of adaptability among players. “A cricketer should be versatile enough to contribute in multiple roles. By allowing substitutions, we might remove that necessity,” he noted. 

On Twitter, he said, “Introducing the Impact Player rule during IPL means we have to redefine the player’s role. It’s critical to consider how this affects balance in team compositions. Will we have spaces for specialists or all-rounders? The lines are getting blurred!”

5. Sunil Gavaskar

The legendary cricketer and commentator expressed scepticism about the implementation in a discussion on Star Sports. He said, “The unpredictability this rule offers could overshadow traditional cricket strategies. Changing players at whim may take away the essence of certain roles- especially bowlers, who often thrive on rhythm and momentum.”

He pointed out that the impact rule might lead to teams hoarding only specialist players, which could defeat the purpose of a balanced team. “You might end up with ten bowlers and no batsmen! Where’s the fun in that?” he quipped, in an interview with Cricbuzz.

6. Zaheer Khan

In line with Sharma, the former Indian star pacer expressed that the rule produces half-baked all-rounders. “I completely agree it’s debatable, little concern for sure. But we need to find a way on how to deal with it. In Impact Player rule you will find half all-rounders but not a complete one,” Zaheer said in an online interaction with JioCinema.

7. Ricky Ponting

The Australian veteran Cricketer and legend shared his views on the impact rule during his analysis on ESPN Cricinfo. Ponting expressed his concerns about the chaos it could introduce. “In a tight match situation, I can foresee many discussions and disagreements, which could detract from the spirit of the game. Are we turning cricket into too much of a tactical chess match?” he pondered.

Key Takeaways

The IPL continues to thrive, embodying the spirit of competition, camaraderie, and sportsmanship. The beauty of cricket lies in its unpredictability, and while criticism is part of the game, it is important to embrace innovation. As players and analysts offer insights on the Impact Player rule, the cricket community must allow these dialogues to flourish. This will reflect both, the love for the game and the intention to safeguard its core values.