Learn about what is the Impact Player rule in cricket?, how it works, and its influence on match strategies and team dynamics. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) launched a new tactical substitution rule called the Impact Player for domestic T20 tournaments, starting with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022.
This rule was created to make cricket more exciting and competitive. It takes inspiration from substitution rules used in other sports like football, basketball, baseball, and rugby.
The BCCI first tested the Impact Player rule during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before adding it to the Indian T20 League.
What is special about the Impact Player rule?
The Impact Player rule lets teams make a strategic substitution in T20 matches by swapping one player from the starting XI with another during the game.
Teams must list five substitutes along with their playing XI before the toss. Only one of these substitutes can become the Impact Player, giving the new player an active role in the match. This adds an exciting strategic element to T20 cricket.
The Impact Player can bat and bowl their full overs and replace any player in the starting XI before the 14th over of either inning. Teams have the flexibility to decide if and when to use this option.
Also Read: MS Dhoni Captaincy- Check His Win Records with All Teams in Every Format
The captain, coach, or team manager must inform the on-field or fourth umpire before the end of the current over to activate the substitution. For batting teams, the Impact Player can be brought in after a wicket falls or during the innings break.
However, this rule doesn’t apply in matches shortened to less than 10 overs.
The Impact Player has no strict role limits. They can replace a dismissed batter (as long as only 11 batters are used) or a bowler who has already bowled some overs and still get to bowl their full four overs.
Impact Player Rule in the Indian T20 League
The Impact Player rule in the Indian T20 League works like in other tournaments. Teams must name five substitutes at the toss and can use one of them as their Impact Player.
The Impact Player can enter the game at specific times, such as at the start of an inning, after an over ends, when a wicket falls, or when a batter retires. If brought in during an over after a wicket falls or a batter retires, the Impact Player cannot finish that over.
The player replaced by the Impact Player cannot play any further part in the match.
Also Read: Fastest Players To Take 500 Wickets In Test Cricket
For the batting team, adding an Impact Player doesn’t increase the total number of batters, which stays at 11. One player from the original XI will not bat.
For the bowling team, the Impact Player can bowl their full four overs, regardless of how many overs the replaced player bowled.
In the Indian T20 League, the Impact Player must be an Indian player unless the starting XI includes fewer than four overseas players. In that case, a foreign player can be chosen as the Impact Player.
Who Became the First Impact Player in Indian T20 League History?
Chennai pacer Tushar Deshpande made history as the first Impact Player in Indian T20 League history.
During the 2023 opener against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, he replaced Chennai’s middle-order batter Ambati Rayudu.
In the 2024 season, Bengaluru’s Yash Dayal became the first Impact Player of the year.
He replaced Dinesh Karthik during the second innings of the opener between Chennai and Bengaluru.
Also Read: Hardik Pandya’s Record As Captain