No Impact Sub; Sachin Tendulkar Suggests To Scrap Impact Player Rule

mumbai : Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar wants the controversial batsman rule to be scrapped and also suggests several changes to restore the balance between bat and ball in the Indian Premier League. The impact player rule, introduced in 2023, allows teams to replace anyone in the playing XI with one of five listed substitutes at any point in the match.

“I personally think there are a few things I can say, I think the impressive player should go,” Tendulkar said at the ESPNcricinfo awards.

“I feel like you only have to play 20 overs in the T20 format and then you add another batsman to that squad. I see this imbalance where the bowlers are already being challenged.”

With increasingly batting-friendly surfaces producing record scores in recent seasons, Tendulkar believes the rule has worsened the already unbalanced competition between bat and ball.

The rule has also come under criticism from several prominent players, including India captain Shubman Gill and former skipper Rohit Sharma, who have argued that the rule removes skill from the game and diminishes the value of all-rounders.

Tendulkar suggested changing the powerplay structure by adding a bowling powerplay alongside the existing batting.

“In a six-over powerplay with space restrictions, only two fielders are allowed outside the ring. Let the first four overs be the batsmen’s powerplay with the same space restrictions.

“Post this, the remaining two powerplay overs should be determined by the fielding captain as and when he wants to take them. These two consecutive overs will also have an extra fielder outside the ring at any stage of the game,” Tendulkar said.

“So you (field side) can control the game better.”

The big hitter also proposed increasing the bowling quota of one player per team from four to five, thus allowing sides to use top-class bowlers for a larger proportion of the innings.

“A bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs. Because always the best bowler of the team will bowl the fifth over.

“Wouldn’t you like to see more of the best bowler? The best batsmen sometimes bat even 20 overs. Why shouldn’t the best bowler bowl five overs?” he asked.