The ‘Impact Player’ rule in the IPL has sparked controversy after receiving criticism from several players and experts, including Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma. This rule, introduced in the IPL in 2023 but not yet part of international matches, has drawn scrutiny for its perceived negative impact on all-rounders.

Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, ahead of the IPL 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders, echoed Rohit Sharma’s sentiments by expressing concerns about the rule. Siraj highlighted the already flat surfaces in IPL matches, lamenting the lack of support for bowlers in the competition.

“Please remove this impact sub thing…” 

Mohammed Siraj said, “It’s important to be comfortable, if you think too much, it’ll lead to negativity and frustrations, so I always try to be as positive as possible, try to close all negative connotations around me. Please remove this impact sub thing (laughs), the wickets are already flat and there’s nothing for the bowlers in it, previously, it used to be slow at times, but the batters now come out swinging at absolutely everything.”

“My game plan is to be consistent, if a good ball gets hit, so be it. It was a long time that teams made 250+, but it has become such a common feature now (thanks to impact sub and the flat pitches). It’s been a long time since I’ve played a day game, I last played a day game during the Test series against England, but we’re professionals and we have no excuses,” Siraj added.

Earlier Rohit opens up for the rule 

“I am not a big fan of Impact sub rule. It is going to hold all rounders back, eventually cricket is played by 11 players not 12 players. You are taking out so much from game to make it entertaining for people around. If you look just from the cricketing aspect of it I feel guys like Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar aren’t getting to bowl, which for us is not a good thing,” Rohit had said on ‘Club Prairie Fire’ podcast.

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“I don’t know what you can do about it. There are 12 players for you, it is entertaining, you can bring on the impact player after watching how the game is going, how the pitch is behaving. If you bat well and you don’t lose wickets, you can add another bowler, it gives you an option of six or seven bowlers. You don’t require that extra batter because a lot of teams are batting well up front and you hardly see a No 7 or No 8 coming to bat,” he had explained.