Ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) while all eyes are on the mega auction and how many players each team will be allowed to retain, a key issue has divided opinions among the cricket fraternity is the impact player rule, with Indian cricket greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma voicing their opinion against the provision.
For those unversed, the rule was brought in ahead of the 2023 IPL season and essentially allows a team to field 12 players, as they are allowed to substitute one player out at any point in the match. Most teams have used the rule to bring in an extra bowler or batter into the team, which has harmed the development of young Indian all-rounders.
During the 2024 IPL, Indian captain Rohit pointed out how it impacted India's planning for the 2024 T20 World Cup by not allowing the likes of Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar to bowl in matches. Meanwhile, Kohli stated that it took away the balance between bat and all.
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"I generally feel that it is going to hold back [development of allrounders] because eventually cricket is played by 11 players, not 12 players. I'm not a big fan of impact player. You are taking out so much from the game just to make it little entertainment for the people around. But if you look [at] genuinely just cricketing aspect of it…. I can give you so many examples – guys like Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube are not getting to bowl, which for us [India team] is not a good thing," said Rohit on theClub Praire Fire Podcast.
"I agree with him [Rohit]; I say it how it is. If you see in this IPL, okay, entertainment is [on] one side, but the bowlers are feeling like what they should do. I have never experienced anything like it where bowlers think they will concede a four or a six every ball. This is a very high-level of cricket, and in my opinion, it shouldn't be that dominant [in one aspect]. There is a beauty in having an equal battle between bat and ball," said Kohli to Jio Cinema
"Not every team has a Bumrah or a Rashid Khan or a mystery bowler. So what will you do? I am telling you, one extra batter is the reason why I am playing with a 200-plus strike rate in the powerplay. I know there is a batsman coming in at No. 8 as well. As a batsman, I can say this rule is good, but the match should be exciting. Only fours and sixes are not exciting in cricket. Exciting is that you can defend 160 as well. So I think a bit of balance has been tipped over," Kohli added.
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However, the impact player rule has had a leading voice in its support in the form of star Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has spoken about the rule on multiple occasions. Ashwin stated that the rule gives value to tactical strategies made by teams and also stated that it has given young Indian players a chance.
"Why I think the Impact Player rule is not so bad is because it gives a little more value for strategy. The other side of that argument is it doesn't encourage all-rounders. But no one is stopping them. In this generation, they don't do it [batters bowling and vice-versa]. It's not like they're discouraged because of the Impact Player rule. Look at Venkatesh Iyer, he's currently rocking for Lancashire. There's an opportunity for innovation, and it makes the game fairer," said Ashwin on Kris Srikkanth's Youtube channel.
"Shahbaz Ahmed, Shivam Dube, most importantly, Dhruv Jurel… If not for the Impact Player rule, he may have never gotten the chance. So the emergence of a lot of players has happened. I'm not saying that's the only way for players to emerge, but it's not so bad," Ashwin added.
Also Read:Kohli, Rohit Views Turned Blind Eye As Ashwin Lends Support To Controversial IPL Rule: ‘Makes The Game Fair’
Zaheer Khan has become another prominent name to come in support of the controversial rule after his appointment as the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). On similar lines to Ashwin, the 2011 World Cup winner pointed out the rule giving chances to young Indian players and stated that genuine all-rounders will always find value.
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"I will put it on record; I am for it. It has given chances to a lot of uncapped Indian players. You will see that in this mega auction when teams will be looking at them. The opportunity goes a long way toward improving Indian cricket as a whole. As far as all-rounders are concerned, there is no space for a half-all-rounder because of the impact sub. But if you are a genuine all-rounder, no one can stop you. There will always be a value addition if you have that kind of ability with bat and ball," said Zaheer in a press conference organized by LSG.
The impact player rule is reportedly a subject that came up for discussion during a meeting the BCCI held with all 10 teams last month in Mumbai. However, there is no indication till date that the rule will be removed and it is likely to stay for the 2025 season.