'I personally do not see too much harm in it' - AB de Villiers stands in support of Impact Player rule
Impact Player rule has received mixed reactions since its introduction ahead of the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League.
The Impact Player rule has found support from the legendary AB de Villers amid criticism from some players during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Recently, star India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru speedster Mohammed Siraj said during one of his interviews that the Impact Player rule should be scrapped with immediate effect, as it is proving to be detrimental for the bowlers. His India team-mate and Delhi Capitals all-rounder Axar Patel also spoke along similar lines. Delhi Capitals pacer Mukesh Kumar also criticised the rule, which has seen teams using an extra batter to great effect and posting humongous totals.
Also Read: Impact Player rule faces criticism from Axar Patel, Mukesh Kumar
Amid the widespread criticism, former South African captain and Royal Challengers Bengaluru icon de Villiers came out in defence of the interesting rule, which is yet to be incorporated into international cricket.
"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. 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," de Villiers said on his official YouTube channel on Wednesday, April 24.
Runs galore in IPL 2024
The Impact Player rule was introduced ahead of last year's IPL. While some teams understood the dynamics of it, others were still learning on the go. However, things have changed drastically in IPL 2024 as the teams have given more emphasis on the Impact Player rule and devised their game plans around it.
Also Read: It's not easy looking at Yuzvendra Chahal go to 200 wickets and not be part of RCB: AB de Villiers
To put things into perspective, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru held the record for the highest team total of 263/5 for 11 years, heading into IPL 2024. However, that number has been breached on four occasions. The pitches have been great and the extra batter that the Impact Player rule allows has enabled higher scores.
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