In 2023, the Indian Premier League introduced a tactical aspect to the T20 format, namely the impact player rule. The idea was to bring tactical flexibility to an already interesting format and make it even more appealing to viewers. The rule has made IPL more entertaining. However, many former players have expressed reservations about its implications and explained why they want it removed.
Rahane felt that this rule should be completely removed from the league structure as it would have a negative impact on the development of all-rounders in Indian cricket. His stance reflects widespread concerns that the Indian cricket team lacks fast-bowling all-rounders, a gap that has become more pronounced in recent years.
Cricbuzz quotes Rahane saying, “I think it should be taken out. I remember last year, before the IPL captains’ meeting, most of the captains said they don’t want the impact player rule. And I think the guidelines or the rules, they have it till 2027. So we don’t know if this year they will take it out or after this year (when) the big auction is coming up, and then they will take it out. But ideally, I feel there is no point or use in having an impact rule.”
One particular statistic provides insight into the diminishing role of all-rounders in the IPL. In IPL 2022, 21 out of 100 overs played were bowled by top 7 ranked players. In the last edition, that number dropped to 10. A ball-by-ball analysis revealed that before the rule was introduced, players batting in the top seven bowled around 8.3 overs per match across the two teams, in a sample from 2018 to 2022.
This number slipped to seven overs in 2023, 6.3 in 2024 and 5.4 in 2025. The analysis has been updated after match 56 of IPL 2026 and shows that the top seven players posted just 4.2 overs. With the new rules, teams are much less dependent on overs from capable batters. In other words, the role of the traditional all-round player is gradually being diminished by the impact player rule.
Rahane concluded, saying, “All-rounders are going out of the game, especially in the IPL. And I am a firm believer that you’ve got to develop your all-rounders. From the Indian team’s point of view, all-rounders are really important. So the impact player rule should be taken out.”
