Former CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath believes the Impact Player rule does more harm than good to the sport and to
youngsters like Vaibhav Suryavanshi as well. The youngster was in great form with the bat in IPL 2026, winning the Orange Cap with 776 runs at a strike rate of over 237. However, at 15, Vaibhav was often replaced by a bowler during Rajasthan
Royals’ (RR) fielding innings, resulting in him rarely being on the field.

Questioning the Impact Player rule, Badrinath said on his YouTube channel, Cric it with Badri, “Because of the Impact Player rule, Vaibhav Suryavanshi was hardly in the field this IPL. At 15, if he only bats and never fields, it’s neither good for him nor the sport. The same applied to Shivam Dube this IPL season.”

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Meanwhile, former Indian fielding coach R Sridhar echoed Subramaniam Badrinath’s sentiments about Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s usage as the Impact Sub in the IPL as well. Sridhar also believes the youngster could struggle to survive an extended period by only batting without adding anything on the field as well.

“The Impact Player rule has made the IPL faster and more entertaining. But it’s not good for Suryavanshi if he doesn’t field. Because how long can he play with just the one skill, and what if you lose batting form? That’s why he has started bowling in the Duleep Trophy. It’s impossible to survive in modern-day cricket with only one skill. It’s impossible to hide on the field in this day and age with all the cameras around,” S Badrinath concluded.