BCCI planning to introduce 'Power Player' in IPL 2020

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the best, if not the best T20 league across the world. A lot of new things were introduced in the tournament which also includes the strategic time-out, the concept which the BBL is set to implement in the upcoming season. The BCCI now is planning to introduce a new concept ‘Power Player’ in the next season.

The teams will now be allowed to substitute a player at the fall of a wicket or at the end of an over at any point during the game. However, the substituted player should be in the 15-man squad which has to be announced before the match. The BCCI official confirmed that the concept has been already approved but will be discussed further IPL Governing Council meeting on Tuesday at the BCCI HQ.

If all goes well in the meeting and the idea goes ahead, the BCCI is planning to try the concept first in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

“We are looking at a scenario where a team will not name the Playing XI. They will announce the 15 and a player can be substituted at either the fall of a wicket or at the end of the over at any point in the game. While we are looking to introduce it in the IPL, trying the concept first in the upcoming Mushtaq Ali Trophy could be the ideal way forward,” the official was quoted as saying by Outlook India.

BCCI official explains the Power Player concept

The BCCI official also explained the concept citing an example and told how it can potentially change the match situations. This will also take a lot of strategising and out of the box thinking from the captains and the management of the two teams playing the match.

“Imagine you need 20 runs off the last six balls and you have Andre Russell sitting in the dug-out as he wasn’t a hundred percent and wasn’t part of the original XI. But now, he can just walk in and go slam-bang and win you the game.

“Similarly, say you need to defend six runs off the last over and you have someone like a Jasprit Bumrah sitting in the dug-out. So, what does the captain do? Brings in Bumrah at the end of the 19th over and there you go. The concept has the potential to change the game,” the official further added.

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