Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar has called for sweeping changes to T20 cricket, arguing that the format has drifted too far in favour of batters. With the ongoing IPL 2026 seeing an unprecedented wave of scores of 200-plus, Tendulkar believes the balance between bat and ball must be restored, and he has specifically urged that the Impact Player rule be removed.
Tendulkar targets the Impact Player rule
Speaking at the ESPNcricinfo Awards in Mumbai, Tendulkar said the Impact Player mechanism should be scrapped. His view was that adding an extra batter to the playing group further widens the gap at a time when bowling is already under heavy pressure.
“I feel there are a few things which, on a personal note, I can say. I think the Impact Player rule needs to go away. In a T20 format, you are already playing just 20 overs, and then you are adding one more batter to the line-up. When bowlers are already being challenged, I find that imbalance,” Tendulkar said.
Reshaping the powerplay: two phases, different control
Tendulkar also put forward an idea to restructure the powerplay into two distinct segments—one governed by the batting side and another controlled by the bowling captain. He suggested keeping the standard fielding restrictions early on, then allowing the fielding team to decide when to take advantage of the later phase.
- In the initial six-over powerplay with field restrictions, only two fielders are permitted outside the ring.
- Tendulkar wants the first four overs to operate as the batters’ powerplay, using the same restriction structure.
- For the remaining two overs, the bowling side should make the call on when to use that period.
- Those two consecutive overs would also come with an additional allowance—one extra fielder outside the ring at any point during that phase of the game.
Let the best bowler bowl a fifth over
To further improve competitive balance, Tendulkar proposed a change to bowling quotas as well. He argued that allowing a bowler to bowl five overs would reward the side’s leading bowler and create more meaningful contest between bat and ball.
At present, bowlers can deliver a maximum of four overs in T20 cricket, but Tendulkar believes the top performer in each team should be given the opportunity for an additional over.
- He suggested that one bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs.
- His reasoning: “Because invariably the best bowler of the side is going to bowl that fifth over.”
- He added that seeing the most effective bowler take on batters for longer would be more compelling than the current limit.
- Tendulkar pointed out that top batters often face and bat for up to 20 overs in T20 matches, and questioned why the best bowler shouldn’t also be allowed to bowl five.
“One bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs. Because invariably the best bowler of the side is going to bowl that fifth over. Wouldn’t you want to see that best bowler bowl more? The top batters are batting sometimes even 20 overs. Why shouldn’t the best bowler be bowling five overs?” Tendulkar concluded.
