Indian cricket’s veteran spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, has supported the IPL’s Impact Player rule. He believes the rule has given more importance to strategy and has made the game fairer. Notably, players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have criticized this rule, arguing that it reduces opportunities for all-rounders.
Ashwin Backs the Impact Player Rule
In a conversation with former captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Ashwin said, “I don’t think the rule is that bad because it increases the importance of strategy.” He added, “The other side is that it doesn’t encourage all-rounders. But who is stopping them? In this generation, they don’t do it (batsmen bowl or bowlers bat).”
Ashwin also mentioned that the rule can balance the game when dew affects play. He explained, “When matches become one-sided due to dew, the team bowling later has an extra option. If you are batting second, you can use the extra bowler as a batsman. This has given opportunities to players like Shahbaz Ahmed, Shivam Dube, and Dhruv Jurel.”
What is the Impact Player Rule?
The Impact Player rule was introduced in IPL 2023. According to this rule, each team must name four substitute players along with their playing XI. Any team can replace one player with an Impact Player from these four substitutes until the 14th over.
Also Read: Ravichandran Ashwin Bio: Age, Height, Education, Stats, IPL Salary, Net Worth 2024
The player who is replaced as an Impact Player cannot return to the field. The Impact Player will participate in the rest of the match. A team can replace any player within the designated overs, regardless of whether the player has batted or bowled. If the overs are reduced to less than 10, the Impact Player rule will not apply.