Amidst growing concerns about the Impact Player Rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, former India cricketer Zaheer Khan echoed Rohit Sharma’s worries, emphasizing its potential drawbacks for all-rounders’ development. Zaheer’s remarks have sparked debates surrounding team composition and player-nurturing strategies.
Expressing his reservations, Zaheer highlighted the rule’s tendency to foster incomplete all-rounders rather than nurturing complete ones. “I completely agree it’s debatable, little concern for sure. But we need to find a way on how to deal with it. In Impact Player rule you will find half all-rounders but not a complete one,” Zaheer Khan said, addressing the need for stakeholders to address the issue proactively.
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The timing of this debate coincides with the impending selection of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup, placing a spotlight on players like Shivam Dube. Dube’s potential inclusion as an all-rounder has been a topic of discussion, given his formidable batting performances. However, questions loom over his bowling prowess, as he hasn’t showcased his skills in IPL 2024 or domestic cricket yet.
Rohit Sharma, airing his concerns on the Club Prairie Fire podcast, pointed out the predicament faced by players like Washington Sunder and Shivam Dube. He emphasized that cricket is an 11-player game, not 12, expressing his reservations about the rule’s impact on all-rounders.
“It is not good for the all-rounders. Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube haven’t bowled this season. This is a concerning aspect. You play international cricket with 11 players, but you are competing with 12 players in the IPL. This rule was introduced to entertain the fans. I am not in favour of the Impact Player rule,” Rohit Sharma said.
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Rohit’s critique marks the first prominent dissent against the Impact Player Rule, introduced in IPL 2023. This rule enables teams to substitute a player from the XI with a 12th player at any point during the match after the toss, aiming to enhance entertainment for fans. However, concerns about its implications for player development continue to emerge amongst cricketing circles.
