New Delhi: Virat Kohli, the current Orange Cap holder in IPL 2024 with over 600 runs in 13 matches, has joined Rohit Sharma in expressing his displeasure with the IPL’s Impact Player rule. Introduced in the 2023 edition, the Impact Player rule has been controversial, as it allows teams to replace one player during a match, significantly favoring batters and putting bowlers at a disadvantage.
Kohli’s Criticism
Kohli, who is batting with a strike rate of 200 in the powerplays this season, voiced his concerns ahead of the RCB vs CSK clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. “I agree with Rohit Sharma on the impact player rule. The bowlers feel like every ball is a 4 or a 6 now,” Kohli told JioCinema. He emphasized that while entertainment is crucial, the balance between bat and ball is equally important. “This is a very high level of cricket and it should not be that dominant in my opinion,” Kohli added.
Impact on All-Rounders
The rule has also affected all-rounders like Shivam Dube and Venkatesh Iyer, who have found their roles diminished. Kohli highlighted that the rule’s implementation disrupts the balance of the game, allowing batters to play more freely knowing they have additional batting support. “That is the beauty of having an equal battle between bat and ball. Every team doesn’t have someone like Jasprit Bumrah. With one extra batter, this is the reason why I am batting with a 200-plus strike rate in the powerplay. I know I have a batter at no.8 so that I can play freely,” he said.
BCCI Review
Kohli mentioned that the BCCI would review the Impact Player rule post IPL 2024. “I know Jay Shah has said they’ll be reviewing this after the season and I am sure they will come to a conclusion where there will be a balance,” he stated.
Rohit Sharma’s Perspective
Earlier, Rohit Sharma had expressed similar concerns, noting that the rule could hinder the development of all-rounders. “I genuinely feel it is going to hold back the development of all-rounders because eventually cricket is played by 11 players, not 12,” Rohit said. He criticized the rule for altering the traditional format of the game to enhance entertainment value.
Players’ Reactions
Besides Rohit and Kohli, other players like Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, and Axar Patel have also voiced their concerns about the rule.
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