In 2023, in the sixteenth edition of the Indian Premier League, the BCCI introduced a new addition called the Impact Player. The question arises, “What is an impact player in IPL?”
Impact Player is a strategic addition introduced in the IPL for the first time in history.
The concept is new to the league but already exists in international cricket formats. Read on to find out about its implications and benefits.
What is an Impact Player in IPL?
Meaning
As per the Impact player rule, the BCCI allows each team to register five substitute players in addition to the eleven resident players of the team.
The rule was recently implemented in the IPL after being tested out at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament.
The Substitution rule already exists in IPL. What was the need to introduce the concept of Impact Players?
The concept of Impact players is distinctly varied from substitute players. The latter are only allowed to replace a team member in case of an injury. Additionally, they are prohibited from batting and bowling on the field.
They can only act as fielders or non-strike run makers on the field.
Earlier, the captains of both competing teams would hand over a sheet with the names of eleven players to the referee before the toss happened.
Now each teams get to substitute one of their permanent players with an impact player.
The simple rule of substitution does not allow the team to utilize the player tactically and reap benefits from his specialised expertise. Hence, the introduction of this new rule could potentially serve as a boon for the IPL teams.
Implications and Benefits of ‘Impact Player’
Enter the Impact Player concept. Now during an IPL match, a team can change the course of the game by substituting one of their permanent players with any one of their five registered impact players.
The timing of the substitution is also flexible. The Impact Player can be introduced at any point during the match. For instance, the team may decide to swap him during the innings break, after the fall of a wicket, at the beginning of an innings or end of an over.
The Substitution of the Impact Player allows the team to be tactical and strategic. For example, a team can substitute a bowler with a batter if they need quick runs or replace a batter with a bowler to defend a score.
However, the substituted or replaced player can no longer take part in the match.
Furthermore, the Impact Player can either be an Indian or an international player.
However, there’s an overall cap of four overseas players in all 11-member teams. This implies that if a team already has four permanent overseas players, the Impact Player must be a domestic player.
Impact Player: Strategy and tactics
The IPL tournament is already a tactical and strategically heavy game that requires players to be calm, and intuitive during a match.
Introducing the Impact Player rule adds a new layer of strategy to the tournament, making it exceedingly more dynamic, unpredictable and intellectually driven. This concept enables IPL teams to respond better to in-game situations and could be a plausible game-changer.
The choice of a suitable impact player during a match can lead the team to victory even during close encounters.
On the other hand, if the choice of the impact player is not one that optimally puts the player’s strengths to good use, then the team is destined to lose!
Tushar Deshpande: The First Impact Player
Tushar Deshpande is an Indian national cricketer who made his debut for the Indian Cricket Team in July 2024. He plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket and for the most loved IPL franchise, Chennai Super Kings in the yearly tournament.
Prior to his first-class debut, Tushar made history in 2023 by becoming the first cricketer to be used as an impact player in the history of IPL.
He was one of the five registered Impact Players of CSK when the decision came from the Captain himself.
In an IPL match against Gujarat Titans, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to bring in Tushar as a pacer in place of Ambati Rayudu. However, the player failed to make any significant impact on the game.
Dhruv Jurel: The Best Impact Player
Jurel was first bought by Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022 but did not get a chance to play that season. The wicket-keeper-batter then made his debut in 2023 as an impact player for the same team.
He stunned everyone with his power-hitting moves. He is arguably one of the best impact players to play in the Indian Premier League. Furthermore, he is also Rajasthan Royals’ best acquisition since Sanju Samson.
Jurel has lightning-fast reflexes when batting. His excellent on-field skills and acumen proved to the world that he is much more than just a substitute player. His consistent skills led to Forbes India calling him “India’s New Jewel In Making”.
The Future Impact of Impact Players
The Impact Player rule has brought a refreshing new dimension to the Indian Premier League.
Now that we know ‘what is an impact player in IPL’, let us talk about the rule’s future in the coming seasons.
The rule will potentially enable and encourage teams to think on their feet. Subsequently, it will help the players to adapt swiftly to the ebb and flow of the game.
By offering the flexibility to make critical in-game adjustments, this innovation keeps both on-field cricketers and fans on their toes, heightening the drama and excitement of every match.
As teams continue to explore and refine their strategies around this rule, it promises to make the IPL even more thrilling and unpredictable in the seasons to come.
