BCCI Secretary Jay Shah declined to guarantee the continuity of the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL), indicating that its fate would be determined after consultations with captains and coaches. However, he underscored the significance of the rule, which enables IPL teams to include two additional Indian players in their XI.
Jay Shah said “Impact player was used as a test in IPL, it was done so that two Indian players could get a chance. It’s not permanent, we will have a discussion with the Indian captain, players, franchises, coaches & then take a call on it. The meeting can happen once the World… pic.twitter.com/ybidFb5BMF
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 10, 2024
‘It is like a test case’
“Impact Player is like a test case. We have implemented it slowly. The biggest advantage of it is that two Indian players are getting a chance [in each game], which is the most important. We will consult with the players, franchises, broadcasters [and take a call]. This is not permanent [but] I am not saying that it will go,” Shah told reporters at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.
Despite its prominence in discussions during IPL 2024, Shah emphasized that the rule is not permanent, and any decision regarding its future implementation would be made after deliberations with stakeholders following the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“[We’ll see] if it’s making the game more competitive or not. Even then, if a player feels that this is not right, then we will talk to them. But no one has told us anything yet, so it will be decided after the World Cup,” he added.
The Impact Player rule has been attributed to the substantial scores witnessed in IPL 2024, with figures like Rohit Sharma expressing concerns over its impact on the development of all-rounders in the country. As one of the prominent critics of the regulation introduced in IPL 2023, Sharma’s stance reflects broader debates surrounding its efficacy.
Mike Hussey Voices His Opinion
“It’s hard for bowlers, especially if the conditions are good for batting because the batting orders are lengthened and batters have more freedom to come out and continue to go hard,” Hussey said.
“So, 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. It can be really difficult at times for bowlers but we’ve put a big focus on death bowling, particularly with the Impact Player [rule],” he added.
On the other hand, CSK’s batting coach Mike Hussey acknowledged that while the rule has added excitement to IPL matches, it has posed challenges for bowlers by extending batting line-ups. Similarly, KKR’s fast bowler Mitchell Starc remarked that the Impact Player rule has contributed to bowlers facing difficulties during the ongoing IPL 2024 season.
Also Read: IPL 2024: Stephen Fleming Reveals Reason Behind MS Dhoni’s No. 9 Role
