'The game of cricket has always been of 11 players' - David Miller joins growing list of disapprovers of Impact Player rule

The 'Impact Player' rule, which was introduced in 2023, has recently sparked a debate within the cricketing fraternity. Joining the voices of dissent, hard-hitting South African and Gujarat Titans batter David Miller has become the latest cricketer to express his disapproval of the substitution rule

The 'Impact Player' rule allows teams to substitute one member of their playing XI during a match. Initially met with skepticism, franchises gradually embraced the concept of a 12-a-side contest, utilizing the rule to strengthen their lineups and sideline pure all-rounders.

Also read: KKR coach Ryan ten Doeschate opens up on implications of Impact Player Rule

The game of cricket has always been of 11 players: David Miller

While the rule has contributed to increased scoring and entertainment value, concerns have appeared from the players' perspective. Ahead of the Gujarat Titans' clash against the Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, David Miller shared his opinion on the 'Impact Player' rule during the pre-match press conference. 

“The impact player rule, I am not a big fan of it. IPL has been a trial and is creating a lot of hype around it. The game of cricket has always been of 11 players. As Rohit mentioned, it is not the same in international cricket so we should keep the same,” Miller said.

Also read: Mukesh Kumar on Impact Player rule

Earlier, Rohit Sharma, Axar Patel, Mukesh Kumar, Ryan ten Doeschate, and Mohammed Siraj, also showed their apprehensions regarding the Impact Sub rule and believed that it has reduced the role of the players.

“It’s like having six bowlers and eight batters and taking the all-rounders out of contention. I don’t know what they’re going to decide if they want to keep it, but it is difficult for certain allrounders to bowl,” he added.

The implementation of this rule in the 2024 season has led to a significant increase in high scores. Among the six highest totals ever recorded in the history of the IPL, five have occurred during the ongoing season, with teams easily surpassing the 220-run mark on multiple occasions.