Overview:
The right-handed batter revealed that the captains had a word with the BCCI about the rule, but it will remain till 2027.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is under pressure as national players continue to slam the Impact Player Rule introduced by the governing body in the Indian Premier League. After Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has spoken against it, saying it diminishes skills in cricket. Most of the IPL 2026 captains were on the same page during the leaders’ meet ahead of the 19th season of the league.
While the decision-makers have confirmed that the Impact Player Rule will remain in practice until 2027, the skippers are not pleased. It has impacted the role of all-rounders, with the franchises opting for specialised batters and bowlers.
Shubman insisted that cricket should be an 11-player contest. He highlighted the fact that allowing an extra batter on the type of pitches and grounds used in IPL disrupts the balance of the match and diminishes the role of skill.
“I am not in favour of the Impact Player Rule, and it should not be there. Cricket is played with 11 players, and adding an extra batsman on the pitches and grounds we play in the IPL takes the skill out of the game,” Shubman Gill said.
Gill emphasised the importance of traditional skills in the sport. According to him, if a team loses a few wickets, a particular expertise is required to recover and keep the scoreboard ticking.
“There is a skill you need to have. When you have a certain number of batters in the playing XI and a few get out, there is a skill that you need to have to keep the scoreboard moving and take your team to a competitive total,” he added.
Gill pointed out that chasing 160 or 180 on a challenging wicket is more thrilling than going after 220 on a flat track.
“One extra player is making the contest one-dimensional and is taking the skill out of the match. Personally, it is more satisfying and thrilling if you chase 160 or 180 on a challenging course than going bang-bang while chasing 220 on a flat surface,” he explained.
The right-handed batter revealed that the captains had a word with the BCCI about the rule, but it will remain till 2027.
“It is going to be there till 2027. The captains spoke about it, and it is up to the BCCI to decide, but I don’t like it,” he concluded.
