The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most exciting T20 leagues in the world, and the 16th edition of the tournament is set to begin on March 31. With the tournament just around the corner, many significant changes have been made to the rules of the game, the biggest of which is the impact player rule.
Impact Player, Deciding the Playing XI after the toss, reviewing wides and no balls, and the over rare penalties – Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar explain the new rules in place for #IPL2023.#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/N82XTEFFv6
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 25, 2023
Under the impact player rule, every team can name five substitutes during the toss, whom they can bring in at specific points in the game as an impact player. This new rule has sparked a lot of interest among players and coaches alike, with many coming forward to give their take on the rule.
One of the most notable comments on the impact player rule came from Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach Sanjay Bangar. According to him, the addition of the rule means that it will now be 12 players playing against 12 players. This is because most teams will want their specialists to occupy their batting or bowling slots, making it more difficult for players to contribute in both departments, especially lower down the order at No. 7.
Bangar’s comments were later echoed by RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mike Hesson. Hesson believed that the impact player rule would add a little bit of intrigue to the game and bring some new strategies to the table. He also felt that there was a potential for the all-rounder to play a big part in the game under this new rule.
It will be interesting to see how teams adapt to the impact player rule in the upcoming IPL. With only five substitutes allowed, teams will have to be strategic in their choices, especially given the limited opportunities for players to contribute in both batting and bowling. The rule change could also see a greater emphasis on all-rounders, who can provide flexibility and value to a team.
Overall, the addition of the impact player rule promises to make the 16th edition of the IPL even more exciting than previous seasons. Fans and players alike will be watching closely to see how teams adapt to this new challenge and what strategies emerge as a result.
