A new rule has been introduced in IPL 2023. Under the ‘Impact Player Rule’ during the match, both the teams rest one player each and field a substitute player in their place.
After the toss, both captains must name 5-5 substitute players. Under this rule, now 12 players can play in the match instead of 11. The 12th player is called the Impact Player.
All the teams are trying to take full advantage of this rule this season. However, teams like Delhi Capitals failed to take full advantage of this new rule. Delhi used opener Prithvi Shaw as an impact player; that is, he came only to bat, but his performance as an impact player was very bad.
At the same time, the Royal Challenger Bangalore team is taking full advantage of this rule. Regular skipper Faf is injured, and currently, he has taken advantage of this rule from RCB, and former skipper Virat Kohli is handling this responsibility.
The 37th match of IPL was played between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals; in this match, Ambati Rayudu came in place of young Akash Singh as the number four impact player, but he got out without opening the account. After Rayudu’s dismissal, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar questioned this new rule.
Sunil Gavaskar has questioned the decision to come out to bat immediately without fielding. He said, “You come to bat without fielding and try to hit big shots. As a batsman, you cannot succeed.”
He explained this by giving the example of Prithvi Shaw. He further said, “No fielding, no scoring, Rayudu out without opening the account.”
