Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath has backed the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League, arguing that the tactical substitution adds an extra layer of interest to the tournament and gives another player a chance to contribute. Badrinath, who made 95 IPL appearances for Chennai Super Kings between 2008 and 2013, shared his views while responding to a fan on X.

The fan had asked whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should consider removing the Impact Player rule from IPL 2027. “I think it makes the IPL more interesting and gives an extra player the opportunity to contribute to the game,” Badrinath wrote.

I think it makes the IPL more interesting and gives an extra player the opportunity to contribute to the game. #AskBadri https://t.co/PlpdaOd1KH

— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) September 19, 2026

The BCCI introduced the Impact Player rule in IPL 2023. Under the current system, teams can make a tactical substitution during a match, replacing one player from their starting XI with another player from the designated list. The rule has generated considerable debate since its introduction, with several players and captains expressing reservations about its impact on the balance between batting and bowling. Badrinath, however, believes the additional tactical option adds value to the competition.

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His stance differs from that of India captain Shubman Gill, who has previously voiced his opposition to the Impact Player rule. Gill believes cricket should remain an 11-player contest and feels the additional batter can reduce the importance of certain skills during a match.

Speaking to reporters in March 2026, Shubman Gill explained his concerns about the rule and its influence on the nature of IPL contests. “Personally, for me, I don’t think there should be an impact player. I think cricket in general is an 11-player game, and on wickets where we play, on the grounds that we play, adding an extra batsman, I think it takes the skill out of the game,” Shubman Gill said.

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He further argued that teams should have to deal with the challenges that arise when regular batters are dismissed, rather than relying on an additional specialist batter. “There’s a certain skill in the game that you need to have when you have a certain amount of batters, and if a couple of your batters get out, there’s an amount of skill that you need to have to still get the scoreboard moving and get your team to a good score,” Gill added.

Gill also suggested that the rule could be contributing to higher-scoring matches while reducing the challenge presented by difficult pitches.

“Chasing 180 on a challenging wicket or 160 on a challenging wicket for me is personally way more exciting than chasing 220 on a flat wicket,” he said. While Gill acknowledged that the Impact Player rule can make matches more interesting, he made it clear that he personally does not favour its continued use in the IPL.