Following Indian captain Rohit Sharma's criticism of the Impact Player rule introduced by the BCCI in IPL 2023, the cricket board has responded to his remarks.
Sharma stated that he is not a fan of the rule, which was devised to increase entertainment value but has received mixed reviews from players, as it could hinder the development of all-rounders. The BCCI introduced the Impact Player rule in the previous season, but debate around it has intensified since the national team captain shared his views about its negative effects.
Rohit recently participated in an interview on the Club Prairie Fire podcast alongside Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan:
“I do not support the Impact Player rule, as I believe it will hamper all-rounders. The sport is played by 11 players, not 12. This rule diminishes key aspects of the game solely for the sake of spectator entertainment.”
The BCCI has responded to Rohit Sharma’s criticism by stating that the board is willing to re-examine the controversial rule. IPL council chairman Arun Dhumal has said that the stakeholders will meet after the ongoing IPL season concludes to decide on the rule, noting that ‘its implementation is not set in stone’.
IPL Governing Council Chairman Arun Dhumal stated:
“Given this observation has been made, we will investigate it without a doubt. We will talk with all parties involved and then make a decision. Any rule has its advantages and disadvantages. Once the season concludes, we will welcome discussion.”
The Impact Player rule allows captains to substitute a player during a match. Teams often swap batters for bowlers and vice versa to suit the game situation. As a result, all-rounders have suffered the most as they are unable to fully showcase both skills. CSK’s Shivam Dube is a case in point. His powerful batting has made a significant impact on the IPL. However, due to the Impact Player Rule, which restricts the use of bowlers, his bowling remains unproven. Had Dube bowled and performed well, his World Cup selection chances would have been much higher.