The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been a platform for innovation and evolution in cricket. One such innovation that has sparked considerable debate is the introduction of the Impact Player rule. Amidst this ongoing discussion, former India coach Ravi Shastri has voiced his support for the rule.
The Impact Player rule allows a team to introduce a 12th player from a list of five names given at the time of the toss. A team can replace any player in the playing XI with this 12th player, depending on the situation. This rule, introduced in 2023, has been a hot topic of debate during the IPL 2024.
Ravi Shastri on positive effects of Impact Player rule
Shastri, in an interaction with Ravichandran Ashwin on his official YouTube channel, stated, “The Impact Player [rule] is good. You have to evolve with the times. You know, it happens in other sports as well. It’s got tighter finishes. You have to evolve with the times and I think it’s a good rule. You saw the number of tight finishes we had in last year’s IPL. So, you know, it has made a big difference.”
Shastri emphasized the need to adapt with time and praised the rule for its positive impact on the game. He believes that the rule has contributed to many compelling finishes in the ongoing IPL edition. He also mentioned that critics of the rule will eventually have to relook at it.
However, the rule has faced criticism from several current players and coaches. India captain Rohit Sharma was the first high-profile player to criticize the rule, stating that the rule has hampered the development of all-rounders in the country.
Despite the criticism, Shastri’s support for the rule is noteworthy. He argues that when any new rule comes in, there will be people who will try and justify why that’s not right. But in time, when you see the scores – 200 and 190 – and then like you mentioned individuals grabbing that opportunity and making the most of it, people will start re-looking at how they think about it.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has also weighed in on the debate. He refused to commit to the continuation of the Impact Player rule in the IPL, saying it would be decided after consulting with captains and coaches. However, he emphasized the importance of the rule, which permits two additional Indian players to be included in an IPL team’s XI.
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