‘DEGENERATION-X!’ - Netizens mock umpire's impact player introduction signal for IPL 2023

The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, is scheduled to begin on March 31, as the fans wait to see the world’s biggest T20 league in action once again. With the start of the T20 carnival, comes the inclusion of several new rules. One of the most significant rule changes that will be implemented in the IPL in 2023 is the addition of the impact player.

The rule allows the teams to add five substitute players apart from the regular playing XI. With the new rule set to be implemented, in the latest development, the tournament revealed the official signal that the umpires will have to put up that will indicate the use of the impact players. Umpires will need to cross their hands above their heads and clench their fists to signal the impact substitution.

What is the Impact Player rule?

The 2023 IPL will be the first edition of the competition to implement the impact player rule. It is to be noted that the impact player can only be an Indian unless the team has fewer than four overseas players in its starting XI. Every team will name five substitutes at the toss, and they can bring in any of those five subs to bat or bowl, hence using the sub as their impact player. The addition of the impact player rule is sure to have a massive influence on how the matches in the tournament are played.

It will be interesting to see which players will be named as substitutes and come in as potential impact players and make a positive impact for their side. With the release of the signal for the impact player rule, the IPL and BCCI came under a lot of fire from the fans, who ridiculed the signal on Twitter, comparing it to various actors and films along with some popular cricket stars.

Here's how Twitter reacted to the Impact Player signal:

Shawstopper@shawstopper_100

There should be so some music too or maybe siren-like no ball...It's quite similar to interference in WWE..or Royle Rumble where we aren't sure who's gonna come next...😂😂😅 twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns…

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

The sign from the umpire for Impact player rule in IPL. (📷 : The Indian Express)

11:26 AM · Mar 23, 2023

30

Prasad Gangan@prasadgangan

IPL Impact player rule 🤣🤣 #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/uy4Bt2EnJw

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

The sign from the umpire for Impact player rule in IPL. (📷 : The Indian Express)

11:23 AM · Mar 23, 2023

00

Jake Santiago@vitalsigns_era

Nah. They should do #JhoomeJoPathaan step twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns…

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

The sign from the umpire for Impact player rule in IPL. (📷 : The Indian Express)

11:22 AM · Mar 23, 2023

22

Kuptaan 🇮🇳@Kuptaan

close enough pic.twitter.com/92IpUdiByu

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

The sign from the umpire for Impact player rule in IPL. (📷 : The Indian Express)

11:21 AM · Mar 23, 2023

00

Elijah Impey 🍋🌶️@BreatheRaina

Rahane coming in as Impact player in IPL 🦁

04:48 PM · Mar 22, 2023

263

Arnav@arnav714

IPL umpires when the impact player comes onto the pitch

11:48 PM · Mar 22, 2023

20

Sandeep Kumar@sthakur870

@IPL introduces new impact player sign. Similarity? #IPL2023 #IMPACTPLAYER

11:33 AM · Mar 23, 2023

11

Cricketmaniacofficial@cricketmaniac01

SIGN FOR THIS YEAR'S IPL IMPACT PLAYER REVEALED #IPL2023 #RohitSharma𓃵 #INDvsAUS

11:49 PM · Mar 22, 2023

00

kaapiccino@kaapi_ccino

#IPL impact player be like #Vijay

10:58 AM · Mar 23, 2023

00

Varun@wizardrincewind

pic.twitter.com/L3CPmBTtho

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

The sign from the umpire for Impact player rule in IPL. (📷 : The Indian Express)

10:16 AM · Mar 23, 2023

2712

Nish Navalkar@YUVI_NISH

pic.twitter.com/xtaFJLlnBR

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

The sign from the umpire for Impact player rule in IPL. (📷 : The Indian Express)

09:16 AM · Mar 23, 2023

20

Pritam Sharma@VanDiablo

DEGENERATION-X!!!! twitter.com/criccrazyjohns…

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

The sign from the umpire for Impact player rule in IPL. (📷 : The Indian Express)

10:43 AM · Mar 23, 2023

10