The Impact Player rule, introduced in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL), has sparked controversy among Indian cricketers. Delhi Capitals allrounder Axar Patel and teammate Mukesh Kumar have joined India captain Rohit Sharma in expressing concerns about the rule’s impact on allrounders and bowlers.
Axar believes that the rule has affected his batting position, as teams prioritize using a specialist batsman as the Impact Player. “As an allrounder, I know that they will either take a proper batsman or a bowler, not an allrounder,” he said.
Mukesh, a fast bowler, argues that the rule is unfair to bowlers, as it provides no respite even if they dismiss four batters quickly. “With 12 players, even if four wickets are down, the next player is not scared of getting out or making the team stable, they come and play their shots,” he said.
David Warner, Axar’s teammate, acknowledges that the rule has diminished the role of allrounders but sees it as an opportunity for captains to adapt tactically. “We are adapting as cricketers, so we’re enjoying that and and it’s also tactically when you’re sitting on the bench, you know, if you’re not scoring runs, then you can put that batsman in,” he said.
Michael Hussey, Chennai Super Kings’ batting coach, believes the rule has made IPL games more entertaining but admits it can be challenging for bowlers. “It’s hard for bowlers, especially if the conditions are good for batting because the batting orders are lengthened and batsmen have more freedom to come out and continue to go hard,” he said.
The Impact Player rule has sparked a debate about the balance between entertainment and fairness in cricket. While it has added an element of unpredictability and excitement to the IPL, it remains to be seen whether it will have a long-term impact on the development of allrounders and the role of bowlers in T20 cricket.
