Shreyas Iyer has extended support for the Impact player rule that began in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the 2023 season. While the rule has gained its fair share of criticism due to not encouraging all-rounders, it is giving a huge boost to batters, as per Shreyas Iyer. On the contrary, stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been vocal about the rule and how it discourages bowlers.
Shreyas Iyer thanks “Impact Player” rule
“The impact player rule has completely changed the mindset of all batsmen. And even though we didn’t have that rule in SMAT, still that perception of all the players is to go out there and basically excel from ball one. And when you have that kind of belief, even if you just strike from ball one, it kind of gives you that boost that you can take on every delivery,” Shreyas Iyer was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
Iyer highlighted that ever since the rule came into effect in the IPL, the mindset of the batters has changed. With extra cushion available, batters tend to go hard from ball one, and it continued in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) as well. This is despite the fact that BCCI removed the rule from SMAT last year.
Back in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, BCCI introduced a new rule in the form of the ‘Impact Player/Substitution’. This not only converted the game of 11 players to 12 but added a brand new dynamism. Fast-forward two years, the rule came under huge scrutiny for hindering the development of all-rounders. However, the BCCI, who came up with a host of changes on IPL retention and much more, decided to continue with the Impact Player rule.
“And you know that you have got great depth in the batting line-up, so the players can come in and basically go bonkers from ball one. That is something that has boosted a lot of batsmen’s confidence going forward. And the change is obviously inevitable. You can’t control the emotions of the batsmen. And if you feel, personally as a batsman, that you can take on any bowler, you just go for it,” he added.
Impact Player rule in IPL: Good or bad?
Why is the Impact Player rule in IPL hotly debated? Why are some in favour of it, while others want this tweak to discontinue? Well, it is simply because of the rule’s duology of effects. While it certainly offers something new and leaves some open-ended areas to get fulfilled with innovations, the Impact Player rule is also affecting in hampering to nurture all-rounders. If India want next Hardik Pandya, then this might not be worthy enough to continue. It has led to huge totals, bowlers getting smashed to all around the park, but has also forced teams to think outside the box.
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