Even if the Impact Player rule wasn't there, scores would be this high: Ravichandran Ashwin

The impact player has changed the dimension of how cricket was perceived. An option to induct an extra batter or bowler at any point of the game has given an edge to the teams. While there are concerns over the role of all-rounders being sidelined, fans are enjoying the mayhem as evident in Indian Premier League 2024. With bowlers being thrashed all over the place, Ravichandran Ashwin does not credit the role of an impact player as runs galore.

IPL 2024 has seen a never-before approach by the batters. For instance, Sunrisers Hyderabad openers. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma notched highest-ever powerplay total of 125 in T20s. However, Ashwin feels that the batters have become more aggressive and come with an intent. He also predicted that even bowlers would take batter's jobs in the coming future.

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"Even if the impact player rule wasn't there, scores would be this high. In my opinion, batters have more confidence and pitches everywhere have been standardised. In the future, all bowlers will need to be hitters because we know that no matter how well we bowl, we also need to be able to bat. The game is headed in that direction,” Ashwin said after the IPL 2024 Eliminator. 

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli condemn Impact Player rule

The Impact Player rule was introduced ahead of the 2023 season of the IPL. The rule replicates the same format as seen in Football. Moreover, BCCI secretary, Jay Shah affirmed that the rule has been rolled out on a test basis. He also added that the final call on the permanency of the rule will be taken after thorough meetings with stakeholders.

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The rule is not a favourite one amongst certain cricketers and one of the lots is star India players, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Rohit was vocal in his opinion that the rule would deplete the creation of all-rounders in Indian cricket. On the other hand, Kohli was concerned about the balance of the game getting compromised.