Wasim Jaffer wants BCCI to get rid of IPL rule to get more all-rounders in Indian cricket

Former Indian batsman Wasim Jaffer came up with a big suggestion for the BCCI.

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has asked the BCCI to get rid of the impact player rule in the IPL, saying that this rule is hampering the growth of all-rounders, which the Indian team needs the most.

The Impact Player rule, applied in the IPL since the 2023 season, allows teams to make one substitution during the match. The player substituted in can contribute with both bat and ball, according to the team’s needs.

With the Impact Player rule, teams can rely less on all-rounders. Previously, a T20 squad would include six batters, four bowlers, and one all-rounder. The more all-rounders a squad possessed, the more ‘balanced’ it appeared.

Teams can now play with six specialist batters and five bowlers, with an additional batter or bowler available depending on the match situation. The rule, which is increasingly being used in domestic matches as well, simply allows them to be balanced even without all-rounders.

“It’s not encouraging the all-rounders to bowl much”- Wasim Jaffer on Impact Player rule

Wasim Jaffer, however, feels that the impact player rule is harmful to the growth of all-rounders. The rule doesn’t apply in international cricket yet and the Men in Blue rely heavily on all-rounder Hardik Pandya. There have been talks about the Indian team’s failure to groom new all-rounders, especially pacer all-rounders to back Hardik Pandya.

“I think IPL needs to take away the impact player rule, as it’s not encouraging the all rounders to bowl much and lack of ARs and batters not bowling is a major area of concern for Indian cricket. Thoughts?,” Jaffer wrote on X.

It remains to be seen whether the impact player rule remains in the upcoming IPL 2024 with BCCI taking cognizance of the issue created by this rule. If BCCI indeed takes away the impact player rule, it may affect the plans and strategies of Indian Premier League franchises, in the upcoming IPL 2024 auction.

In the previous auctions, all-rounders like Yuvraj Singh, Chris Morris, and even Pat Cummins have been some of the most expensive signings because of their dual roles.

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