Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s premier spinners, attributes the high scores in the IPL not solely to the impact player rule but to the evolving skills of batters. He also emphasizes the need for bowlers to enhance their batting abilities to meet the modern demands of cricket. This IPL season has seen some extraordinary batting performances, with teams surpassing the 200-run mark 41 times and crossing 250 on eight occasions during the league rounds. The ongoing edition even witnessed the highest team total in IPL history, a staggering 287 runs.
“Even if the impact player rule wasn’t there, scores would be this high,” Ravichandran Ashwin stated during JioCinema’s Match Centre Live after their four-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL Eliminator. “In my opinion, batters have more confidence and pitches everywhere have been standardized. In the future, all bowlers will need to be hitters because we know that no matter how well we bowl, we also need to be able to bat. The game is headed in that direction,” he elaborated.
While Indian captain Rohit Sharma has criticized the impact player rule, suggesting it hampers the development of all-rounders, star batter Virat Kohli has noted that it disrupts the balance of the game. The rule was formally introduced in the 2023 IPL season after being tested in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a domestic T20 competition.
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BCCI secretary Jay Shah recently mentioned that the impact player rule was implemented on a trial basis and is not permanent. He indicated that the board would consult with stakeholders before making a final decision on the controversial rule.
Reflecting on his own season, Ashwin shared that he had to overcome an abdominal injury and only began to find his rhythm in the latter part of the competition. This was particularly challenging coming off a demanding five-match home Test series against England, where he was the leading wicket-taker in India’s 4-1 victory.
“My tournament has gone in two halves. The first half was coming off the Test series, so my body didn’t feel fresh. My arm speed wasn’t there and I also had an injury, an abdomen tear. I played through the injury but didn’t get much bowling time or repetitions,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s views on impact player rule pic.twitter.com/EPQbJoERFL
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His perseverance paid off as he was adjudged man-of-the-match for his impressive figures of 2/19, which helped restrict Royal Challengers Bengaluru to 172/8.
“I am someone who depends on bowling repetitions. Over the last 6-7 games, I feel like my rhythm came back. I was able to bowl off-spin. I changed my action slightly. My plan was simple. I came with a single-minded focus on changing the line and length of my deliveries and it was executed well,” added Ashwin.
Ravichandran Ashwin also praised Riyan Parag’s maturity, noting the significant progress the Assam batter has made since his debut as an 18-year-old in IPL 2019.
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“It’s important to give batters, especially junior batters, role clarity. Riyan came into the team as a 17-year-old child and he’s matured over the years, getting role clarity for the first time this season. I never doubted his ability. The shot he hit over the covers tonight, not many batters can hit that. Based on his talent and how his season has gone, I think he can reach wherever he wants to,” he concluded.
Through his insights, Ashwin sheds light on the dynamic nature of modern cricket and the evolving skill sets required to excel at the highest levels.
