India’s seasoned off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, has expressed strong support for the Indian Premier League's (IPL) 'Impact Player' rule, stating that it adds a layer of fairness and enhances strategic depth in the game. The rule, which was introduced in the 2023 season, allows teams to substitute a player—whether a batter or bowler—based on the evolving demands of the match during their innings.

Debate among senior players

While many in Indian cricket have embraced the rule, not everyone is on board. Senior cricketers like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have criticized the Impact Player rule, claiming it may hinder the development of Indian all-rounders and create an imbalance between batting and bowling. The pair has voiced concerns that the rule might distort the natural flow of the game, but Ashwin disagrees.

"Why I think the Impact Player rule is not so bad is because it gives a little more value for strategy," 'ESPNCricinfo' quoted Ashwin as saying on former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth's YouTube show, which is in Tamil.

"The other side of that argument is it doesn't encourage all-rounders. But no one is stopping them. In this generation, they don't do it (batters bowling and vice-versa).

"It's not like they're discouraged because of the Impact Player rule. Look at Venkatesh Iyer, he's currently rocking for Lancashire. There's an opportunity for innovation and it makes the game fairer," Ashwin added.

Ashwin’s defense of the rule

Ashwin, now 37, believes the rule is a game-changer, especially in conditions like those impacted by dew. He cited the example of a recent IPL Qualifier 2 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals. During this match, Sunrisers replaced opener Travis Head with spinner Shahbaz Ahmed, after putting up a competitive 175 for 9. The move paid off, with Ahmed taking three crucial wickets, including Ashwin's, and ultimately earning the Player of the Match award.

Ashwin pointed out that the strategic substitution allowed Sunrisers to tilt the balance of the match in their favor. He also emphasized how the rule has helped several players showcase their talents, potentially accelerating their chances of representing the national team.

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"When dew has the potential to make games one-sided, teams bowling second get an extra option as a counter. If you're batting second, you can tactically make a substitution by off-loading the extra bowler for a batter," he said.

"Games are tighter, an extra player is getting to play. Barring Kolkata or Mumbai, where scores skyrocketed, they haven't been a drastic change elsewhere. Like at Punjab Kings' home venue (Mullanpur), they were all 160-170 games."

"Shahbaz Ahmed, Shivam Dube, and most importantly, Dhruv Jurel. If not for the Impact Player rule, he may have never gotten the chance. So, the emergence of a lot of players has happened. I'm not saying that's the only way for players to emerge, but it's not so bad," he said.

In Ashwin’s view, the Impact Player rule holds great potential for maintaining match balance and offering emerging players a significant platform for success in the IPL.