Delhi Capitals’ all-rounder Axar Patel feels his batting position has been affected by the Impact Player rule, while his teammate Mukesh Kumar wants the rule scrapped unless there’s something helpful for bowlers.
Axar and Mukesh kumar are among the Indian cricketers who have spoken against this rule, echoing the sentiments of India’s captain Rohit Sharma, who believes it’s hindering the development of allrounders in the country.
The Impact Player rule, introduced in 2023, allows IPL teams to substitute a player – either a batter or a bowler – during their innings if needed. However, it has stirred controversy this season.
Axar Patel, considering himself an all-rounder, admitted that the rule has disrupted his batting position.
“Those who make the rules seem to favor batters,” he said. “It’s tough for bowlers. I believe you can still excel if you have the skills, but the rule gives teams an extra batter as a safety net. So, as an all-rounder, I’m not a fan of it.”
Axar Patel mentioned discussing his concerns with Capitals’ captain Rishabh Pant.
“We’ve talked about it – Rishabh, Dada (Sourav Ganguly), and Ricky (Ponting). I could bat higher, but because of the rule, I end up lower down the order.”
Axar Patel’s teammate David Warner also expressed that the rule diminishes the role of all-rounders in T20 cricket but sees it as a chance for IPL captains to adapt tactically.
“The game is evolving. With a deep bench, teams want to maximize resources. It does impact all around me, but we’re adapting. And tactically, when you’re benched, if you’re not scoring runs, you can utilize that extra batter.”
However, Mukesh feels the rule is unfair to bowlers as it doesn’t offer them relief even after taking wickets quickly.
“If 12 players aren’t enough in international cricket, why have it in the IPL? Even with four wickets down, the next batter isn’t hesitant to play big shots. So, either the pitches need changing or stick to 11 players.”
Michael Hussey, Chennai Super Kings’ batting coach, sees the rule as making IPL games entertaining but acknowledges its challenges for bowlers.
“It’s tough for bowlers, especially on good batting tracks. But it’s entertaining for spectators. We’ve emphasized death bowling, especially with this rule. Some favor it for entertainment, but from a cricketing perspective, opinions vary. Overall, it’s been quite good.”