IPL 2023: Impact Player rule likely to apply only for Indian players

The Impact Player rule iis likely to apply only for Indian players n the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. Last Thursday (December 1), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced the Impact Player concept for the upcoming IPL edition, although the board is yet to provide details on how it will work. 

The Impact Player rule will allow a team to name a substitute during an ongoing match. Teams can name four substitute players and can bring in one during the live match in place of any player from the starting eleven. 

"From IPL 2023 Season, a tactical/strategic concept will be introduced to add a new dimension to IPL, wherein one substitute player per team will be able to take a more active part in an IPL match.The regulations pertaining to the same will be issued shortly," BCCI had said in a note on December 1. 

As per a Cricbuzz report, all the franchises have been informed by BCCI that an overseas player cannot replace the Indian player and can not come in as a replacement for another overseas player playing in starting eleven. This rule will prevent teams from fielding five overseas players at any given time in the game and will hence conform with exisiting rule of playing a maximum of four overseas players in the match.

However, teams are likely to take advantage of this rule in the upcoming edition as they can introduce a specialist batter in place of a bowler while chasing and can bring in a specialist bowler in place of a batter while defending, which will hamper the credibility and importance of all-rounders. 

The BCCI already implemented this rule in the domestic T20 tournament Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last month, with Delhi all-rounder Hrithik Shokeen becoming the first-ever Impact Player in the tournament during the game against Manipur.

"The concept is to allow one substitute player per team to take a more active part in a match. This would add a new tactical /strategic dimension to the game. A number of team sports allow teams to make tactical substitutes i.e. football, rugby, basketball, baseball. The substitute is allowed to perform or participate like any other regular player," the BCCI had said.