It’s one of the hottest terms right now. Reactions to the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League, which has been openly questioned by Indian captain Rohit Sharma, regarding its negative effects on Indian cricket have been trickling in from the cricketing community. The impact player rule, which was implemented in the IPL last year, allows clubs to change a player in their starting XI at any point during the game. In order to chase down runs, teams can change their lineup by inserting an extra batter in place of a bowler, or vice versa, if they are batting first.
However, a lot of people now believe that the Impact Player regulation is mostly to blame for this season’s extraordinary high-scoring tendency. Players and coaches have had difficulties as a result of the rule, and opinions on whether it should remain in place are divided.
Five of the six greatest team totals in IPL history have been accomplished in the last month alone, which many feel is evidence of the rule’s effectiveness. This year, surpassing the 220-run threshold has become the standard; eleven teams have already done so in the 2024 season, and we haven’t even reached the halfway point yet.
For the record, just seven times in the IPL 2023 was the 220-run threshold reached.
Thus far in this IPL season, the highest-ever scoring rate in an IPL season has been 9.42 runs per over. With an incredible 549 runs scored in just 40 overs, the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru match also created a new T20 aggregate world record.
While short boundaries and flat pitches certainly play a part in the run chase, the IPL’s Impact Player rule has emerged as a major force behind this season’s incredible run of runs.
“Whoever is establishing the guidelines believes it will function in the batter’s favour. There’s pressure, it’s challenging, and there’s room for improvement. You can take advantage of your skills if you possess them. The Impact Player rule gives every player one extra batter, so everyone is hot from the first pitch. In a media session in Delhi, all-rounder Axar Patel of the Delhi Capitals stated that “no one takes time to settle at the crease anymore.”
Because I am an all-rounder and know that they will either choose a proper batter or a bowler rather than an all-rounder, I am not a big admirer of the Impact Player rule.
“Whoever is establishing the guidelines believes it will function in the batter’s favour. There’s pressure, it’s challenging, and there’s room for improvement. You can take advantage of your skills if you possess them. The Impact Player rule gives every player one extra batter, so everyone is hot from the first pitch. In a media session in Delhi, all-rounder Axar Patel of the Delhi Capitals stated that “no one takes time to settle at the crease anymore.”
Because I am an all-rounder and know that they will either choose a proper batter or a bowler rather than an all-rounder, I am not a big admirer of the Impact Player rule.
Top-order hitters now have the freedom to use aggressive tactics right away thanks to the regulation, which has helped the event reach previously unheard-of scoring benchmarks. For example, in a recent game in Delhi, the opening combination of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, scored an incredible 125 runs in the powerplay, creating a new standard for explosive IPL openers.
One of the bowlers who fell victim to Head’s powerplay blitzkrieg, Mukesh Kumar, who gave up 22 runs in his fifth over against the SRH hitter, revealed his confusion over the rule. He made the case that the regulation is necessary even though international cricket does not have this need.
“What is the purpose of having 12 players in the IPL if they are not competing at the international level? With 12 players, even if four wickets are lost, the next player will come and play their shots without fear of being out or of stabilising the team. Thus, 12 should either not be permitted or the character of the tracks should be altered “explained Mukesh.
“If you’re talented, you’ll play.”
Cricket players who are currently playing have harshly attacked the rule, although coaches believe there is some value in using the 12th player option to increase their team’s winning prospects. Director of cricket at DC, Sourav Ganguly, cites the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Hardik Pandya, Glenn Maxwell, Rashid Khan, and Hardik Pandya as evidence that a talented all-round player will always find a spot in the team.
“A strong all-around player is still playing despite being a little bit (affected), right? Playing right now is Hardik Pandya. Look at Rashid; he’s having fun. Good ones will always play, since he’s in the 11th straight away. Mitch Marsh played for us, but he didn’t score enough runs, and Glenn Maxwell played, evidently taking a little rest. However, exceptional players will always stand out because they make contributions with the ball or the bat,” Ganguly stated.
“I don’t think it diminishes the all-rounder’s role, but then for average all-rounders, you have the option of bringing in a better batsman and a better bowler, but the good ones will always find a place in the side.”
Axar’s decision to bat lower in the order was brought up by this magazine, and the club’s head coach, Ricky Ponting, confirmed that it was more a function of individual team duties than the Impact Player ruling. He didn’t completely disregard the rule, though.
