Sachin Tendulkar believes the IPL needs a fairer swing between batting and bowling if the format is to stay competitive and challenging for both departments. Ahead of the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Gujarat Titans, the batting icon suggested that the league should do away with the impact player concept.
Speaking at the ESPNcricinfo awards for the greatest international cricketers of the 21st century, Tendulkar said he personally feels the impact player rule should be removed. He framed his argument around what he considers a growing imbalance in T20 cricket, where the bowling side already faces heavy pressure across 20-over innings.
Tendulkar’s view is that adding an extra batting option within the same limited-overs structure creates an unfair advantage. In his words, the T20 format requires teams to play 20 overs, and introducing another batter through the impact player mechanism only further stretches the contest in favour of batters, even as bowlers are already being tested repeatedly.
The impact player rule was introduced in 2023. Under the system, a franchise can replace one member of its playing XI with another player selected from a pre-decided group of five named before the toss. Critics have argued that the rule gives batters more freedom and flexibility, a trend they say is visible in the steady rise in scoring rates and team totals across recent seasons.
Tendulkar also proposed additional changes that, in his opinion, could help restore a more even contest between bat and ball. His first suggestion was to split the powerplay into two distinct phases—one designed for batters and another tailored for bowlers. He also called for a structure where a single bowler is allowed to bowl five overs in every innings.
Elaborating on the powerplay plan, Tendulkar said that during the initial six-over period with field restrictions, only two fielders are permitted outside the ring. He proposed keeping the first four overs as a batters’ powerplay under the same restrictions, and then assigning the final two overs of the powerplay based on the decisions of the fielding captain. In his explanation, those two consecutive overs would also come with one extra fielder outside the ring at any point during the phase, giving the defending side greater control over how the game unfolds.
For his final recommendation, Tendulkar pushed for a more prominent bowling role in the innings. He argued that the best bowler in a team will almost always be used for the fifth over anyway, and questioned why that advantage should not be embraced. He also pointed out that top batters often face the maximum overs, so—by the same logic—the leading bowler should be given the opportunity to bowl five overs.
