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Published : Apr 08, 2025 17:00 IST – 2 MINS READ
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Former India head coach Rahul Dravid. | Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak
Rahul Dravid, former India head coach and current Rajasthan Royals head coach, has weighed in on the Impact Player rule, acknowledging its influence on the Indian Premier League (IPL) while expressing concerns from a national team perspective.
“It has certainly added a different dynamic,” Dravid told Sportstar in an exclusive interview. “I’ll be honest: when I was India’s coach, I wasn’t particularly fond of the Impact Player rule. Not because it doesn’t make the game more competitive — it certainly does. It adds complexity and keeps matches alive till the very end. But from a national team perspective, it posed some challenges.”
Introduced in the IPL in 2023 after a trial run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, the rule allows teams to replace a player from the original XI at any point during a match. While it has enhanced the entertainment factor, it has also drawn criticism, including from India captain Rohit Sharma, who has stated he is “not a big fan.”
Dravid pointed out that the rule impacts the development of all-rounders. “As a coach, you want to develop all-rounders, and under the old 11 vs 11 format, certain players would have had more opportunities to bat or bowl in different situations. The Impact Player rule has changed that to some extent.”
One undeniable effect of the rule has been the surge in scoring rates. “Statistically, scoring rates have increased due to teams having an extra specialist batter. This means no team is ever truly out of a game. You can have a batter at No.8 or even No.9, which allows for aggressive hitting even after losing six or seven wickets,” Dravid said.
The rule has also redefined team strategies. “While having an all-rounder still brings balance, teams can now manage without one if they don’t find the right fit,” he added.
“Strategically, it has added layers to team selection and match planning. That said, I understand why it exists. It ensures every game remains competitive and allows an extra Indian player to feature in the league, which is a positive. Like with the auction and other rules, there are always pros and cons.”
With contrasting viewpoints on its long-term implications, the debate over the Impact Player rule is far from settled.
Keep an eye out for the full Rahul Dravid interview in the next edition of Sportstar for more insights on this and other key cricketing topics.
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EXCLUSIVE: Rahul Dravid on IPL’s Impact Player rule: “I wasn’t particularly fond of it as India coach” – Sportstar
