IPL 2026: ‘Not a fan’ - Kieron Pollard on Impact Player rule

The debate around the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League continues to intensify, with Kieron Pollard becoming the latest prominent name to voice his concerns. The Mumbai Indians batting coach didn’t hold back, clearly stating his stance on the rule.

Having been part of the IPL ecosystem since 2010, Pollard highlighted how the rule is affecting the role of all-rounders, suggesting that it could have wider implications on international cricket as well.

“If you ask me personally whether I like it or not, I can say straight away: I'm not a fan,” Pollard was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“In terms of getting rid of it, that's beyond my pay grade, per se. But as I said, it has definitely pushed up scores in T20 cricket. Has it had the same impact in international cricket? I haven't really looked into that in detail, because it's a different dynamic - if you lose a couple of wickets in a league game, you still have the cushion to consolidate,” he continued.

“So the powers that be need to assess whether it's actually good for the game, good for television, or simply beneficial for individuals. With the Impact Player rule, there are certain skill sets that may not be fully utilised in international cricket. Hopefully, they will review whether it's truly beneficial. If not - and if the rules remain - you just have to get on with it,” he added.

Pollard’s remarks add to a growing list of players who have previously questioned the rule, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Shubman Gill, and Axar Patel.

“I don't like this rule, honestly, because I am an all-rounder. Earlier, you would pick an allrounder for batting and bowling. Because of this rule, the team management goes for a particular batsman or bowler, thinking 'Why do we need an allrounder?,” Axar Patel had said at the start of the IPL 2026. 

The Impact Player rule, introduced in 2023, has remained a talking point ever since. Despite the criticism from several players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and IPL authorities have indicated that the rule will stay in place for at least another season, following recent discussions with team captains and management.