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IPL's Impact Player rule: A double-edged sword for All-Rounders and Bowlers

Do you support the IPL Impact Player Rule?

  • Yes - The rule injects excitement by allowing strategic substitutions

    Votes: 1 14.3%

  • No - It sidelines all-rounders and bowlers

    Votes: 6 85.7%
  • Total voters
    7
FearlessRoar

FearlessRoar

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Cricket-Not everyone happy with IPL's 'impact player' rule​


The Indian Premier League's "impact player" rule has led to skyrocketing totals and quenched fans' thirst for runs but not everyone is happy with the change, especially the all-rounders in the popular T20 tournament.

Introduced last season, the rule allows teams to bring in a substitute at any time for a player in the starting 11.

Teams have been using it to great effect in the current campaign, swapping out a bowler for a batter during a run chase and bringing up 200-plus totals frequently.

Sunrisers Hyderabad used the rule to their advantage a different way.

Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier this month, opener Travis Head smashed 102 off 41 balls as Sunrisers posted an IPL record 287-3, which bettered their own mark of 277-3 earlier in the season.

After their innings was over, Hyderabad replaced Head with bowler Mayank Markande, who claimed 2-46 in their 25-run victory.

But the whispers of discontent among some players have grown louder.

"I feel an all-rounder's role is in danger with the impact player rule," Delhi Capitals' Axar Patel told JioCinema after Wednesday's victory against Gujarat Titans.

"Every team is looking to play either a pure batter or a pure bowler as the impact player, and the all-rounders are not being used."

Patel smashed 66 and claimed 1-28 in the match to prove the value of an all-rounder as Delhi secured their fourth win in nine matches.

India captain Rohit Sharma said he is not a fan of the rule as it will hold back the development of all-rounders.

"You are taking out so much from the game just to make it little entertainment for the people around," Rohit told the 'Club Prairie Podcast', hosted by former Australia stumper Adam Gilchrist and England ex-captain Michael Vaughan.

"Guys like Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube are not getting to bowl, which for us is not a good thing," he said referring to the all-rounders, who are in contention for places in the India squad for the T20 World Cup in June.

While IPL fans are delighted with the boundary deluge, Chennai Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey sympathises with the bowlers.

"It's hard for bowlers, especially if conditions are good for batting..." the former Australia player said.

"It must be a great spectacle for the crowd to keep seeing these scores growing all the time and it probably puts a bigger emphasis on execution with the ball."

www.hindustantimes.com

Cricket-Not everyone happy with IPL's 'impact player' rule

CRICKET-IPL/:Cricket-Not everyone happy with IPL's 'impact player' rule
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Are you in favor of this rule? Is there a need for this rule?
 

All-rounder's role is in danger with Impact Player rule: Axar Patel​


New Delhi, Axar Patel, who is a very capable batter besides being a quality left-arm spinner, feels the "all-rounder's role is in danger" because of the 'Impact Player' rule, making him the latest cricketer to give a thumbs down to the IPL innovation that has polarised opinions.

Promoted to No.3, Axar made a counter-attacking 43-ball 66 and along with skipper Rishabh Pant, lifted Delhi Capitals from 44/3 to 224/4 in their Indian Premier League match against Gujarat Titans here on Wednesday.

Later, he picked up one wicket as DC successfully defended their total to win by four runs.

Sharing his thoughts on the Impact Player rule, Axar said, "As an all-rounder, I feel that an all-rounder's role is in danger with the Impact Player rule. Every team is looking to play either a pure batter or a pure bowler as the Impact Player, and the all-rounders are not being used."

"With the Impact Player, every team goes into the match thinking they have six batters or bowlers, depending on if they are batting or bowing. This also creates a lot of confusion sometimes," Axar told 'JioCinema'.

The rule has also been criticised by the likes of Indian captain Rohit Sharma and several former players as well.

Introduced in 2023, the 'Impact Player' rule allows teams to substitute players during innings, sparking debate and scrutiny in the current season.

Axar, who sees himself as an all-rounder, had earlier said that because of the rule, the value of an all-rounder has gone down.

Thanks to Axar and Pant's brisk 113-run association, DC put up a total that helped them register their season's fourth win.

"I didn't know beforehand that I would bat at No. 3. When our batting came, they told me that they were thinking I should go at No. 3 because three spinners were playing. First, they asked Rishabh and then we discussed, and I said that I'll go.

"Rishabh also wanted to go, but then I told him that they'll use spinners later as well, and he should go at No. 4 because he can handle the middle-overs," Axar said.

On his bowling, Axar said, "I am not doing anything new. I am just adding variations to the pace. I wasn't confident about bowling my slow ball earlier, but I have found that confidence regardless of the batter being right or left-handed.

"The pace variations are making a big difference now. With the high-scoring games we're seeing, it's important to have the right attitude."

www.hindustantimes.com

All-rounder's role is in danger with Impact Player rule: Axar Patel

All-rounder's role is in danger with Impact Player rule: Axar Patel
www.hindustantimes.com www.hindustantimes.com
 
Mumbai Indians star Rohit Sharma, speaking to Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan on a YouTube podcast, said the 'Impact Player' rule is affecting the role of all-rounders, which is not good for Indian cricket:

"It is going to hold all-rounders back. Eventually cricket is played by 11 players not 12 players. You are taking out so much from the game to make it entertaining. I am not a big fan of impact sub rule."

“Guys like Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar aren’t getting to bowl, which for us is not a good thing."

“I don’t know what you can do about it. It is entertaining, there are 12 players for you. Whoever that impact player is, you can change things later depending on what you need, how the pitch is behaving."

“If you bat well and you don’t lose wickets, you can add another bowler, it gives you an option of six or seven bowlers. You don’t require that extra batter because a lot of teams are batting well up front and you hardly see a No 7 or No 8 coming to bat.”
 
This rule is rubbish. Life is already tough for bowlers in the IPL, and this is taking a toll on them. Additionally, the demand for all-rounders has diminished. Most of the matches have turned into ridiculous run fests.
 
FearlessRoar said:
why do you support this rule?
Click to expand...
Isn't impact sub for both batting and fielding teams? Even football games have substitutes.
For me IPL is an entertainment league and I dont mind innovating few things. Some will work some will not in terms of making money and increasing viewership.
 
It shouldn't be there. Cricket was never about 11 players sport. What's stopping any league from adding 2-3 more impact players?
 
Main reason almot everyond doesn't like is this is not like internationals. Fundamentals should mirror international cricket. Changes like two bouncers per over are fine. Not a major change
 
IndoorCricket said:
Isn't impact sub for both batting and fielding teams? Even football games have substitutes.
For me IPL is an entertainment league and I dont mind innovating few things. Some will work some will not in terms of making money and increasing viewership.
Click to expand...
Sometimes it impacts career especially bowlers career who has nowhere to hide with everyone coming out with intent.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Sometimes it impacts career especially bowlers career who has nowhere to hide with everyone coming out with intent.
Click to expand...
I think T20 Cricket specially these days have made fans very cruel towards bowlers. On an absolute flat deck. Chances of you going over 10 an over are pretty high. But after the games fans will absolutely dismantle the bowlers career basing on the smashing the bowler got recently.
 
RidiculousMan said:
I think T20 Cricket specially these days have made fans very cruel towards bowlers. On an absolute flat deck. Chances of you going over 10 an over are pretty high. But after the games fans will absolutely dismantle the bowlers career basing on the smashing the bowler got recently.
Click to expand...
Apart from Bumrah every one has gone for big overs at some point. They showed strike rate of SRH against different lengths. Everything was above 150. Basically even good balls were deatroyed by Head and Abhishek
 
If an allrounder is good enough to bat or bowl he will get his chance. This rule gets rid of bits and pieces allrounders. As someone who is not a fan of such bits and pieces cricketers, I am fine with the impact rule. Wish it is applies to internationals too. If it is only for IPL than it is an issue and can impact (no pun intended) international combo for Indian team especially.
 
IndoorCricket said:
Isn't impact sub for both batting and fielding teams? Even football games have substitutes.
For me IPL is an entertainment league and I dont mind innovating few things. Some will work some will not in terms of making money and increasing viewership.
Click to expand...
Cricket is not merely entertainment, it is a sport
 
It is an experiment. Should stay that way. A failed experiment.

IPL should get rid of it next season.
 
Mitchell Starc believes not having Indian Premier League’s Impact player rule will force the captains to think more tactically when the T20 World Cup begins in the Americas next month. He told the media after KKR defeated Mumbai Indians by 24 runs here on Friday:

"The impact player rule changes things a fair bit. Everyone gets to bat a lot deeper having a batting and a bowling XI."

"I guess there’s a lot made of that rule and there’s been a lot of high scores, which is the nature of the wickets and the grounds we play on here. Impact player rule has had a fair part to play in that, when you are going to have batters and batting all-rounders come in at Nos 8 or 9, it’s a long batting lineup."

"There’s no fear in the powerplay when all you have to do is clear the infield and score runs. Certainly, there has been some really good batting, don’t get me wrong, it’s not just the rules that play a part there."
 
This helps guys like Travis head. He just bats and goes back and sits in the dug out. Same way Buttler doesn't field. He comes in fresh and chase the total without breaking the sweat. They don't feel the heat effect as t hey don't field.
 
Josh Hazlewood spoke against the concept of introducing an impact player in international cricket while speaking to local Australian sports media:

"I think it's just purely down to that impact (rule)."

"Batting lineups just seem to be never-ending now. I'm not sure it's a great rule. The conditions have come into play a little bit lately with bowlers having a bit of impact, but I mean, you've got (batters) like Tim David at number eight, sometimes number nine.”

"You don't really feel like you attack and try and get wickets in the Powerplay because what's the point when you've got those guys coming in at those eight, nine spots?.”

"Obviously the crowd loves it – there's 200-plus scores nearly every night – and it's good for batters, but it might need a bit of tinkering.”
 
Virat Kohli, while speaking to a local media outlet, has criticized the Impact Player substitution rule:

"I agree with Rohit. Entertainment is one aspect of the game but there is no balance."

"I think it has disrupted the balance and a lot of people are feeling this way, not just me."

"Bowlers are feeling like what they should do."

"I have never experienced anything like it where bowlers think they will concede four or a six on every ball."

"Not every team has a Bumrah or the mystery of Rashid Khan."

"I am telling you, with one extra batter there is a reason I am playing with 200-plus strike rate in the power plays. I know there is a batsman waiting at No. 8 as well."

"We are playing a high level of cricket and it should not be that dominant in my opinion. There is a beauty about having an equal balance between bat and ball."
 
Ravichandran Ashwin said in a live program on a local media outlet after their four-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL Eliminator:

"Even if the impact player rule wasn't there, scores would be this high."

"In my opinion, batters have more confidence and pitches everywhere have been standardised."

"In the future, all bowlers will need to be hitters because we know that no matter how well we bowl, we also need to be able to bat. The game is headed in that direction."
 
Sourav Ganguly has backed the impact player rule in IPL, he told the media during an interaction at an event:

''I like the impact player rule. My only thing with IPL is that I just want the grounds to be a bit bigger. The fences should go a little behind.''

''It is a great tournament. The only thing you can do with the impact player is decide before the toss, so it's a bit of skill there."

''So, have the impact player revealed before because that will require a lot of skill and game plan. But, I am all for the impact player.''
 
Heinrich Klaasen speaking after South Africa vs Sri Lanka match in ICC T20 World Cup:

“The impact sub rule allowed batsmen to play with much more freedom and the execution was at a different level on pitches that were good. In the IPL, you are measured by the number of sixes you hit and your strike-rate, that’s your bread-and-butter and no-one worries about your average,”

"But I hope the impact sub does not come into international cricket. It frees up the batting side too much and you can have a batsman at number nine with it, so there’s no need for anyone to hang around."
 
While this rule is giving chances to players like Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank Singh, it is killing the budding all rounders.

Rinku, Jaiswal, Riyan can all bowl decently. But they never get to bowl in IPL. Riyan bowls only 1 or 2 overs for Royals every match. Never his full quota.
 
All these gimmicks make a mockery of cricket.

This is why I do not consider IPL and The Hundred as real cricket.
 
FearlessRoar said:
Are you in favor of keeping the Impact Player rule for the next IPL season?
Click to expand...
Should be taken out immediately.

Always good to experiment. But this rule has changed the game to a run fest. Batting sides especially batting first have become fearless and go for it from ball one. Favors batting more than bowling.

Personally, I did not enjoy watching all the hitting in the 2024 season. Need to bring back some semblance of balance between bat and ball.
 
Aang_The_last_airbender said:
The more actively you oppose something more likely it's turning out to be true. Just a pattern I have observed :)
Click to expand...

Since I do not know the future, I may get certain things right and I may get certain things wrong.

For example, before final of WC 2023, I wrote Australia were favorites and they won.
 
Zaheer Khan said at a press conference organised by LSG:

"There has been a debate around the impact sub rule. I'm going on record to say that I'm all for it. It has definitely given opportunities to a lot of uncapped Indian talents. It is something you will see this in the mega auction when teams will be looking at them."

"That opportunity goes a long way with improving Indian cricket on the whole. The time spent in match time, it's something you cannot beat. That's the biggest plus." "As far as all-rounders are concerned, right now there is no space for a half all-rounder because of the impact sub (rule). But if you are a genuine all-rounder, (then) no one can stop you. There is always going to be a value addition with the ability with bat and ball."
 
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