The Impact Player concept in the IPL is again under the microscope, with Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard delivering an unusually direct assessment. Pollard said he is not a fan of the rule, adding that it risks reducing the value of specialist all-round skills in the format.
Quick facts
- Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians batting coach) said he is “not a fan” of the Impact Player rule.
- Pollard believes the rule can leave all-rounder skills “under-utilised,” with possible knock-on effects for international cricket.
- He noted the rule has pushed up totals in T20 cricket, but questioned whether it has the same effect internationally.
- Players including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Shubman Gill and Axar Patel have criticised the rule at different times.
- Axar Patel said before the season that he “doesn’t like this rule” because it changes how teams think about all-rounders.
- Shubman Gill argued that cricket is fundamentally an 11-player game and feels the rule can make it more “one dimensional.”
- The Impact Player rule has been in place since 2023.
- During a recent meeting with captains and managers, IPL and BCCI officials indicated the rule will continue for at least another season.
Speaking on the rule’s broader impact, Pollard said that while he cannot decide on policy changes himself, the idea has clearly altered how T20 games are played. He pointed out that in the IPL, the ability to modify the XI can lift scores, but he questioned whether international cricket experiences the same outcomes.
Pollard’s view was that international matches operate differently. He suggested that losing a couple of wickets in a league game still allows teams to regroup and apply a cushion to their innings, which may lessen the rule’s influence compared to the IPL’s high-tempo environment.
He then urged the governing bodies to evaluate whether the Impact Player mechanism is truly beneficial for the sport as a whole, and also for the product—specifically television and viewer appeal. Pollard added that certain skill sets, particularly those associated with all-rounders, may not be fully expressed at the international level under the rule. His closing stance was pragmatic: if the regulations remain unchanged, teams and players will simply have to adapt.
All-rounders voice concerns
Criticism of the Impact Player rule has not been limited to one camp or one franchise. Pollard referenced that multiple high-profile names—including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Shubman Gill and Axar Patel—have questioned the concept at various points.
Axar Patel was among the most direct, saying before the start of the season that he did not like the rule because he is an all-rounder himself. He argued that earlier teams could select an all-rounder for both batting and bowling roles, but under the Impact Player system, managements may favour a specific type of batter or bowler and then wonder why an all-round option is needed in the first place.
Shubman Gill echoed the sentiment, saying he believes there should not be an Impact Player. Gill framed his argument around the traditional structure of cricket, describing it as an 11-player game, and suggested that adding an extra batting option can take away something essential from the balance of the contest.
Gill also highlighted how the chase dynamics can shape excitement. He compared the thrill of chasing 180 or 160 on a difficult surface with the less compelling nature of chasing 220 on a flat track, implying that the Impact Player rule may steer matches toward a more predictable pattern of scoring.
The Gujarat Titans captain also spoke recently about how the extra player can make T20 cricket less varied, describing it as pushing the game toward greater uniformity rather than allowing fuller contesting. In that context, the rule’s intent—greater flexibility—was portrayed as potentially narrowing the range of outcomes on the field.
The Impact Player rule has been part of the IPL setup since 2023. With the season moving forward, the BCCI and IPL leadership have already indicated their position: during a recent meeting with captains and team managers, they told franchises that the rule will remain in place for at least another season.
