Sachin Tendulkar has reignited the debate around the Indian Premier League’s Impact Player rule, saying the move has pushed the balance even further in favour of batters in an already high-scoring T20 era. Speaking at the ESPNcricinfo Awards, the batting legend argued that the rule, introduced in 2023, has made the contest between bat and ball even more uneven.
The Impact Player rule allows teams to replace one member of their starting XI with a nominated substitute at any stage of the match. While the concept has added tactical flexibility and made team selection more aggressive, it has also drawn criticism for reducing the role of all-rounders and limiting bowlers’ influence.
“I feel there are a few things which, on a personal note, I can say. I think the Impact Player needs to go away.” He explained, “I feel when in a T20 format you just have to play 20 overs, and then you are adding one more batter to that line-up. Where bowlers are already being challenged, I find that imbalance.”
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Tendulkar’s remarks come at a time when IPL scores have continued to rise sharply, with batting-friendly surfaces and fearless strokeplay making life increasingly difficult for bowlers. In that backdrop, the former India captain also suggested a structural tweak to the powerplay that, in his view, could give captains more tactical control and help bowlers regain some influence.
At present, teams get a six-over powerplay at the start of the innings, with only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Tendulkar proposed dividing that phase into two parts so that the bowling side could deploy the remaining overs later in the innings. “Those two consecutive overs should be determined by the fielding captain as and when he wants to take them.”
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He also felt the workload distribution for bowlers should be revisited. Tendulkar suggested that one bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs instead of the current maximum of four.
“One bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs. Because invariably the best bowler of the side is going to bowl that fifth over. Wouldn’t you want to see that best bowler bowl more? The top batters are batting sometimes even 20 overs. Why shouldn’t the best bowler be bowling five overs?”
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Tendulkar’s views are likely to add fresh fuel to an already active discussion around whether the IPL has gone too far in favour of batting. The rule has previously been questioned by several top Indian cricketers, including Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, both of whom have raised concerns about its long-term impact on balance and strategy.
For many traditionalists, Tendulkar’s comments carry weight because they come from someone who has seen the game evolve across eras. His message is clear: T20 cricket can keep its excitement, but it should not come at the cost of the contest itself.
