Axar Patel on the Impact Player Rule in IPL

While in 2024, Rohit said that he is not a fan of the strategic rule and that it hinders the development of all-rounders in Indian cricket, the following season, Hardik said that it has become very difficult to pick an all-rounder from the side unless he is equally good with both the bat and the ball.

Responding to a PTI query seeking his views on the rule, the Indian T20 vice-captain weighed in on the issue ahead of his second season as Delhi Capitals captain. “I don’t like this rule as I am an all-rounder too (laughs). Earlier, we used to select an all-rounder for this role (batting and bowling). Now the team management is working with a particular batsman or bowler, they say why do we need an all-rounder? I don’t like it as I am an all-rounder too, but at the same time, rules are rules. We have to abide by them. But personally, I don’t like it,” he said.

While Axar bowled 264 balls in the previous season, he bowled only 204 balls in the last IPL season. He said it was not due to the Impact Player rule but a finger injury that bothered him heading into the IPL. “I didn’t bowl much. It wasn’t because of the Impact Player. After the Champions Trophy, my spinning finger was cut. Later, it got worse due to the stitching of the ball. Later, there was a deep cut, I couldn’t apply pressure and rotation to the ball. So I was bowling only when necessary and moving my finger. After seven matches, the situation got better and I bowled often,” said Axar, who was tasked with guiding Delhi Capitals to their first IPL title.