Impact Player Rule Fuels High-Scoring IPL Matches, Says Gujarat Titans Captain Shubman Gill
The ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season has witnessed a surge in high-scoring matches, with 12 scores exceeding 200 runs. Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill believes the Impact Player rule has played a significant role in this trend.
The Impact Player rule allows teams to substitute a player during the match, providing them with an additional option to bolster their batting or bowling lineup. Gill believes this rule gives batters the confidence to play aggressively against bowlers, knowing that they have a cushion in case of wickets falling.
“I think the Impact Player has a bit of a role (in making the matches high scoring),” Gill said after Gujarat Titans’ four-run loss to Delhi Capitals. “Even if you lose extra wickets, there’s an extra cushion for the batters to keep going, and it gives them the license to keep going till the end.”
In the match against Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans bowlers initially restricted the opposition to a manageable total. However, Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel’s 113-run partnership turned the tide in Delhi’s favor. Gill admitted that his team gave away a few too many runs in the latter stages of the innings.
“At one stage, we thought we would be able to restrict them around 200-210,” Gill said. “We gave away a few extra runs in the last couple of overs.”
Despite the loss, Gill remains optimistic about Gujarat Titans’ chances in the tournament. He emphasized the importance of execution for bowlers, especially on small grounds where chasing is easier.
“The good thing about chasing is that you know what you are chasing,” Gill said. “It’s a small ground, and it’s chaseable. Execution becomes very important [for bowlers]. If there’s nothing in the wicket for the bowlers, then you have to execute your plans – or your yorkers.”
Gujarat Titans will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their next match on Sunday.
