How Ravichandran Ashwin's Kutti Stories show sparked conversations on cricket issues?

2. Two Bouncers rule & Impact Player rule (Discussed with Ravi Shastri)

Ashwin caught up with former India head coach Ravi Shastri for an intriguing episode of Kutti Stories with Ash in May 2024. During the interaction, Ashwin asked Shastri about rules like two bouncers and Impact Player, which BCCI had introduced in the IPL in recent seasons.

"I played in an era where six (bouncers) were allowed. I believe that the physical factor is important you know to really judge top-class players. Because in the era till the two bouncers came, guts were needed for a lot of players to score. I would like to see there always be a challenge between bat and ball. What I hate is one-way traffic in any of the formats of the game. There has to be a challenge and the physical element has to be there, especially with the helmets and protective gear being available in modern-day cricket," Shastri said.

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About the Impact Player rule, he said: "Impact Player is good. You have to evolve with time. It happens in other sports as well. It's got tighter finishes you know. You have to evolve with time you know and I think it's a good rule. You saw the number of tight finishes we had in last year's IPL. It has made a big difference."

Ashwin brought up one of the major criticisms of the Impact Player rule where people have lambasted it for reducing the roles of the all-rounders. "When any new rule comes in, people will try and justify why that is not right. But in time, when you see the scores, 200, 190, and they like you mentioned, individuals grabbing that opportunity and making the most of it. You know people will start relooking at how they think about it," Shastri said.