AB de Villiers backed the IPL’s ‘Impact Player’ rule despite concerns from some players regarding the diminishing effect of all-rounders in the matches.
The ongoing IPL season has sparked debate surrounding the ‘Impact Player’ rule, a new addition implemented last year. While some players and experts have expressed concerns regarding the harm that the rule is doing, especially to all-rounders, former South African batter AB de Villiers has emerged as a vocal supporter of the rule.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers acknowledged the current trend of high-scoring matches in the IPL. “It is the batter’s game at the moment. They are having a feast, and it does not help that the wickets have been incredibly good at the IPL,” said the ex-Proteas cricketer, as quoted by News18.
However, he did not see the ‘Impact Player’ rule as a major contributing factor. In fact, de Villiers voiced his initial excitement about the rule’s potential. “I was excited when it was introduced. It is too early for me to call it but I personally do not see too much harm to it,” said de Villiers.
This viewpoint stands in contrast to players like Axar Patel, David Miller, and even Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who believe the rule diminishes the role of all-rounders.
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Notably, the ‘Impact Player’ rule allows each team to designate five substitutes in addition to their starting XI. During the match, a team can replace a player from their starting lineup with one of the substitutes, offering them a strategic advantage depending on the game situation.
Interestingly, IPL governing council chairman Arun Dhumal acknowledged the ongoing discussion after public comments and emphasised that the rule is not permanent. “Now that such an observation has been made, we will definitely look into it. We will discuss this with all parties involved and then take a call. We are open to any discussion once the season gets over,” Arun Dhumal told The Telegraph, highlighting the possibility of a re-discussion regarding the rule after IPL 2024.
Last Updated on April 25, 2024
